Matt Kobyluck the First Native American Crowned As Camping World East Champion

NASCAR's Camping World East garage was abuzz with not only preparations for the race but with the many racing possibilities ahead for the series' main event at Dover Downs.  The No. 15 car of Brian Ickler was fast in all practices and had secured the pole position. Everyone in the garage was convinced that Ickler had the car to beat for the race.

Andy Santerre, four-time champion driver turned team owner, also had a fast car and a fast driver in Peyton Sellers. His team had secured the outside pole position to start the race.

There was also buzz about the championship. With a great run at the Monster Mile, Matt Kobyluck, in his Mohegan Sun machine, could clinch the title. But, this concrete track had not always been kind to Matt in the past, so this certainly was not a sure bet.

Other NASCAR notables were also in this race. Veteran Steve Park has been great in the series and has really been enjoying his renewed racing career.  Bobby Hamilton Jr. also decided to join in the fray, with so many of the divisions racing at Dover Downs for the weekend.

The major topic of conversation throughout the garage, however, was Jeffrey Earnhardt having to step out of his DEI number 8 ride to make way for Aric Almirola. Word had it that DEI wanted to give their 23 year old driver Almirola more seat time as he prepares for a full time run in the Cup series in 2009. 

While Almirola was pleased to step into the car, most in the garage area were united in feeling like Jeffrey was getting the short end of the stick. Drivers tend to stick together in this smaller NASCAR circuit and many, while understanding DEI's position, still were empathizing greatly with young Earnhardt.

Having a great vantage point right behind Andy Santerre's pit box, we all stood for the pre-race activities and then the pace laps.  When the green flag waved, it was on between the 15 of Ickler and the 44 of Sellers.  By Lap 8, they were racing fender to fender, with Peyton high and Brian low.  On Lap 11, Ickler finally managed to shake Sellers to take the lead.

Lap 12 saw the first caution, with Eddie MacDonald having engine troubles. After some time off the track for repairs, MacDonald's number 71 limped back out on the track to finish the race in the twentieth spot.

On Lap 17, the leaders began to hit lapped traffic and the No. 44 car caught up to the No. 15 car.  Unfortunately for both, they got into each other, with the Ickler clipping Sellers in the rear, collecting them both.

Both cars pulled on to pit road, ironically pitting right next to one another. Although tempers were flaring, both teams concentrated on fixing their damaged race cars, furiously pulling sheet metal off of fenders with their hands and baseball bats. Sellers made his point by pulling off first from his pit stall, narrowly missing Ickler's back right quarter panel.

Another DEI car, the No. 11 of Jesus Hernandez, took the lead and led the pack to the restart.  The number 44 was on a mission and started picking spots off from the rear of the field, one at a time.  But the real mover was points leader Matt Kobyluck in the Mohegan Sun car, creeping up towards the front of the pack.

While Sellers was on the move forward, Brian Ickler was on his way back to pit road.  His car was severely damaged, blowing steam and practically catching fire as he pulled into his pit box. 

The team popped the hood, but they knew it was over and their day was done. Ickler, with the fastest car on the track, climbed out of the car and helped his team push it back to the garage.

The other car on the move was the No. 8 DEI car of Aric Almirola.  By lap 46, he had gained the lead. Also, Matt Kobyluck had worked his way into the fourth position.

On lap 50, Santerre's team decided to pit to continue to work on the damaged car.  Unfortunately, Peyton was too fast exiting and the NASCAR officials called him out for a pass through penalty, further adding to the woes of his day.

Lap 54 saw the No. 21 car of Jonathan Smith crash hard into the wall. The Connecticut driver was able to climb out, but the car did not fare as well, having to be towed off the track.

On lap 59, the wily veteran Kobyluck blew past young Jesus Hernadez to take the lead.

On lap 68, the No. 37 car of Alex Kennedy wrecked, but then came down the track to collect three other cars. The race was then red flagged to clean up the mess from that melee. After the red flag was lifted, many in the field pitted and the running order was shaken up yet again. 

The race ran under green until lap 120, when the No. 63 car of John Salemi wrecked. After the clean up, the race was restarted and at lap 125, Davis took the lead. In hot pursuit, however, were Almirola and Kobyluck. 

On lap 137, Almirola managed to take the lead, with Kobyluck in hot pursuit. Marc Davis and Matt Kobyluck continued their battle for second and third, while Almirola sailed out front in clean air.

The race continued under green until lap 150: the final lap. Almirola took the checkered flag, with Marc Davis finishing second, Matt Kobyluck finishing third, veteran Steve Park finishing fourth and Bobby Hamilton, Jr. rounding out the top five. Peyton Sellers was able to rebound for an eighteenth place finish.

While Almirola celebrated his first ever Camping World East race win, the night belonged to Matt Kobyluck. He and his team celebrated mightily, carrying the championship flag and hoisting the trophy with NASCAR's President Mike Helton.

Kobyluck, a ten year veteran and the only Native American to ever win the championship in the series, could not have been happier. For him, wife Lori, and his family, this has been a very personal journey.

And with the loyal support of his broader family, the Mohegan Tribal Nation, Kobyluck has finally marked this major milestone in his racing career.

So, heartiest congratulations to Matt Kobyluck on his crowning achievement. This has been the most special season for this larger than life race car driver. Now, as Kobyluck states, "The pressure is off and we can just go win the last race at Stafford!" 

And after that, the championship celebration, traditionally held at the Mohegan Sun resort, will truly begin.