DEI scouting Maine driver as next superstar
By David Exum/ Bostonherald.com
Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Maine native Ryan Moore may be the next superstar on the horizon at Dale Earnhardt Inc.




     Richie Gilmore, general manager at Dale Earnhardt Inc., says Moore is a probable to compete in the Busch Series for DEI in 2005.




     “(Moore) will race a limited schedule next year,” said the 40-year-old Gilmore, a native of Rochester, N.H. who started working at DEI in 1998 as head engine builder and became general manager in 2004. “We’re looking at maybe seven races for (Moore), so that he can keep his rookie status,” said Gilmore.




     The 21-year-old Moore is the 2003 Busch North rookie of the year and the son of former Busch North champion Kelly Moore.




     “Ryan’s on the top of our list,” said Gilmore, in terms of finding a new driver to put behind the wheel of the No. 8 DEI-owned Busch Car in 2006. Martin Truex Jr. is driving the car now, but is expected to move to Nextel Cup. Truex is having an excellent season in the Busch Series, NASCAR's second-tier division. Truex is leading the series standings and has four wins.




     “We’ve been really impressed with Ryan and we think there’s a lot of (Truex) in his driving style. Ryan’s very aggressive, but for a 21-year-old kid, he’s really easy on equipment and we’d like to get something put together.”




     Moore crashed early in last Saturday’s Mohegan Sun 150 at Watkins Glen and finished 33rd.