Andy Santerre (born November 24, 1968) is an American former professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He is best known for his unprecedented success in the NASCAR Busch North Series (now ARCA Menards Series East), where he won four consecutive championships from 2000 to 2003.
Early Life and Racing Career Santerre was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, but is often associated with his family roots in Cherryfield, Maine. He began his racing career in local short track events before moving into NASCAR's regional touring series.
NASCAR Busch North Series Dominance Santerre's career is most significantly defined by his remarkable run in the NASCAR Busch North Series (renamed the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East during part of its existence). Driving for his own team, Andy Santerre Racing, he achieved an extraordinary feat by winning the series championship four consecutive times:
- 2000 NASCAR Busch North Series Champion
- 2001 NASCAR Busch North Series Champion
- 2002 NASCAR Busch North Series Champion
- 2003 NASCAR Busch North Series Champion
During this period of dominance, Santerre amassed numerous victories, establishing himself as one of the most successful drivers in the series' history. His total of 30 wins in the series places him among the all-time leaders.
NASCAR National Series Ventures Prior to his Busch North success, Santerre also competed in NASCAR's national touring series:
- NASCAR Busch Series (now Xfinity Series): Santerre competed part-time in the Busch Series from 1996 to 2003. In 1999, driving the No. 47 for multiple teams, he ran a full season and was awarded the NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year title. He achieved a career-best finish of 4th place at Myrtle Beach Speedway in 1998.
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (now Craftsman Truck Series): He made a handful of starts in the Truck Series between 1995 and 1998, with a best finish of 11th at Martinsville Speedway.
Post-Driving Career After retiring from full-time driving, Santerre transitioned into various roles within motorsports:
- Team Ownership: He continued to own and operate Andy Santerre Racing, fielding cars in the K&N Pro Series East and providing opportunities for aspiring young drivers.
- Team Management and Driver Development: Santerre later joined Richard Childress Racing (RCR), a prominent NASCAR Cup Series team, where he served as a team manager and director of driver development. In this role, he played a key part in guiding the careers of several up-and-coming drivers within the RCR organization.
- Competition Director: He has also served as a competition director for various racing teams, leveraging his extensive experience as a driver and team owner.
Santerre's career stands as a testament to his skill and dedication, particularly his unparalleled championship run in the Busch North Series, solidifying his legacy in regional stock car racing.