Andy Santerre was riding high in the NASCAR Busch Series in 1999 after battling Dale Earnhardt Jr. to pick up his first series victory. But, as is often the case in racing, the good fortune didn't last. Through the ups and downs, Santerre discovered the racer inside and has since found peace, happiness-and fast cars-in the Busch North Series.
Hi. My name is Andy Santerre and I am a racer! I came to that unique realization about three years ago after six years of racing professionally. It was strange really, almost like an epiphany-to be a "racer" instead of just racing cars for a living. Until that moment in time, I never thought there was a difference between the two, but there is a world of difference.
I never really put any thought into what I was doing in the early days of my racing career; it was a hobby, an activity that my Dad, my buddies, and I could do together. I had always wanted to own a garage or a car dealership or a trucking company. Racing was just what I did in my spare time; it didn't define who I was.
I was given an opportunity by Mike and Pam O'Connor in 1993 to drive their No. 15 O'Connor GMC Buick. I quit my full-time job delivering fuel oil and packed my bags for the three-hour move to Augusta, Maine, and a chance at a life I never imagined three months prior. We raced the NASCAR Busch North Series, and I got my first real taste of success on a NASCAR Touring series.
I consider my first few years on the Busch North Series my college education-it was trying at times and I failed some tests, but the experience was invaluable. It was during this time period that I realized a love for building and maintaining the race cars. I found I enjoyed learning about the cars, the motors, the tires, shocks, and the chassis. The more I understood about the cars and chassis, the more successful I became on the racetrack.
An opportunity presented itself, and I was given the chance of a lifetime to move to Charlotte, North Carolina, to compete in the NASCAR Busch Series. I made the move and won the 1998 NASCAR Busch Series "Rookie of the Year," but in all honesty, I wasn't satisfied with my season. I went to every track on the schedule, but I didn't race, at least I wasn't as competitive as I wanted to be. I wanted to be a racer, not just a driver.
I realized I was a racer after I broke my leg in the season-opening race of the 1999 NASCAR Busch Series season. I spent five months recovering, and I had a lot of time to reflect on my future. It was then that I realized I didn't miss the glamour of the sport, the celebrity, or the recognition. I missed strapping into my race car with 42 other competitors and pitting my abilities and 3,300-pound machine against theirs.
That was what I missed and that was the definition of being a racer. I enjoy the good and the bad, the ups and the downs because you can't have one without the other. I made myself a promise from that point forward that I would find enjoyment in racing, and if I wasn't having fun, I was going to go in a different direction.
Not three weeks after I got back into the seat of my MONRO Muffler Brake & Service car, I won a Busch North race at New Hampshire International Speedway. One week later, I was swapping paint with Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the lead in the NAPA Auto Parts 250 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. I made the pass with 15 laps to go and went on to win my first NASCAR Busch Series race.
Afterward, my team and I began struggling. Weekends at the racetrack became so stressful. I decided to cut back to a limited schedule so I could focus on being more competitive and showcasing my talents on tracks suited to my driving style.
My decision limited my opportunities within the Busch Series, and after two years I was without an opportunity to race for another team and did not have sponsorship enough to field my own team. I was faced with the prospect of having to quit racing all together or step back to the Busch North Series where I began my NASCAR career. I decided to step back to the Busch North Series.
I race to be competitive, win races, and enjoy myself, not to gain national fame or riches. As long as I am competitive and racing to win, I am fulfilled because racing is not just what I do; it is a part of who I am.