After a successful stint running the Busch Grand National series, including earning Rookie of the Year honors in 1998, Cherryfield’s Andy Santerre is flying solo in the Busch North series these days.

Santerre was one of the owners of the Santerre-Reece Motorsports Team a year ago but the team shut down on Oct. 10 because it couldn’t land a primary sponsor. He ran 11 races between Santerre-Reece and some fill-in rides and had four top-20 finishes.

Santerre had some BGN nibbles during the offseason but nothing to his liking so he is back in Busch North and won the season-opening race at Lee USA Speedway nine days ago, the Sanel Auto Parts 150.

He started 11th.

He has signed a contract to run the full 19-race Busch North series with primary sponsor LesCare Kitchens of Waterbury, Conn., and major associate sponsor Castle Chemical of Rochester, N.Y.

“I’m pretty excited about running the whole series,” said the 33-year-old Santerre. “To win the first race makes it even more exciting. I’m real happy to be back. I’ve seen a lot of old fans and friends. It’s going to be a fun year.”

Santerre has just one aspiration this season.

“My goal is to win the points championship,” said Santerre. “That’s what inspires me to do this. I want that championship on my resume. That’s one thing I didn’t do when I was here before. I finished second and I was third twice.

“I’ve learned a lot down here [in North Carolina] and I feel this will be my best chance yet. With a little luck, I think I can do it,” added Santerre.

He said he probably could have landed a full-time Busch Grand National ride “but I would have run [no better than] 25th to 30th every week and I wasn’t interested in doing that. I wanted to have the same chance to run up front as the other guys.

“I was disappointed there wasn’t anything [competitive] available in Busch Grand National but times are real tough. There are a lot of great drivers looking for rides,” said Santerre.

Santerre works out of Scarborugh native Joe Bessey’s shop in North Carolina and has three BGN Chevy Monte Carlos he has altered to meet Busch North specifications.

“I get to the shop at 8 in the morning and leave at 10 or 11 at night,” said Santerre. “I am the only employee I have here right now, the only one who works on the car.”

Crew chief Roger Tryon lives in Connecticut and his crew is from New England.

Santerre and a friend, Mike French, will drive a one-ton Chevy truck and a 40-foot trailer containing his race car to the races.

Litchfield’s Dave MacMaster is the only Maine member of the crew and he is a motor specialist.

The next race for Santerre and his No. 44 Monte Carlo will be at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon on May 11. There will also be a Busch Grand National race.

“That’s a big one. It is one of the most covered races by the media and has the most fans. I’ve always run well there and it is Mother’s Day weekend,” said Santerre who added that he could run both races if he gets the chance.

They will be the first races on the track after its recently completed modification to add a second racing groove.

“I don’t know a lot about what has been done. There should be more side-by-side racing. That’s a step in the right direction,” said Santerre.