Moore seeks ride with Earnhardt

Ryan Moore of Scarborough will audition for potential sponsors and a full-time NASCAR Busch Series ride with Dale Earnhardt Inc. Saturday afternoon when he drives the No. 81 Chevy Monte Carlo for DEI at the season finale: the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

It will be his third Busch race. Starting time is 4 p.m.

The 22-year-old finished 34th in his Busch debut, the New England 200 on July 16 at New Hampshire International Speedway, after starting 19th. He was spun out by Tim Fedewa on lap 165 and that ended his day.

On Sept. 9, his car overheated during the Emerson Radio 250 at Richmond International Raceway and he finished 32nd. He started 17th.

Moore said he tested at Homestead-Miami Speedway two days last week “and we were really happy after the second day. The car was driving real good. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a real fast track, and I like fast tracks.”

Moore is hoping to land a full-time Busch ride with DEI next year.

“We’re trying to get some sponsors together. We’re still looking. Everybody at DEI has been really good to me. I’d like to continue to work with them. This is where I want to be. If nothing comes about, I’ll have to do something different,” said Moore.

Moore said it will be difficult for him to develop in the Busch Series if he can only run a part-time schedule.

“You need to be in the seat every week. That’s the only way to get good,” said Moore. “Football, basketball, and hockey teams practice every single day. That’s the only way to reach the top of your game.”

Paul Menard will race full time for DEI next season, and Mark McFarland is going to drive for a new Busch team created by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Moore said there was no truth to the rumor that he was released by DEI after he was suspended for a month by Busch North officials for bumping Sean Caisse’s car twice after a race at Lime Rock Park (Conn.) on Oct. 1.

“I had some issues with him and Busch North officials didn’t do anything to punish him like they should have. So I took matters into my own hands. When I was a rookie, they really tamed me down,” said Moore.

“I learned a huge lesson. You have to keep your cool on and off the track,” said Moore.

He said the rumors were drummed up “by a bunch of people in front of computers talking about other people. But you have to shake that stuff off.”

He has moved to Mooresville, N.C., where he has a condo.

He enjoys the lifestyle and being part of the DEI team and is just hoping they can land the sponsorship necessary so he can drive full time in the Busch Series next year.

“It’s hard to get a company to sponsor a race car for $6 million. I’ve got to be patient,” said Moore.