NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS NORTH For Nov 14th 2014
By Lou Modestino
Two of the leading short track sanctioning bodies in the United States and Canada, the American Canadian Tour (ACT) located in Waterbury, VT and the Pro All Star Series (PASS) from Naples, Maine have reached an agreement entering the 2015 season.
The first ever “double-header” event to be held between the two groups will take place at the opening event for the 2015 PASS season at the Oxford Plains Speedway(OPS), Oxford, ME on Saturday, April 18, 2015. Both the ACT Late Models and the PASS Super Late Models will compete in 150-lap feature events to open the race season at the historic Oxford Plains Speedway. ACT has a traditional opening day event at the Lee USA Speedway with the annual New Hampshire Governor’s Cup race on Sunday, April 12, 2015.
“This agreement between PASS and ACT is going to be very good for the New England and Canadian race fans, and certainly for full fender race teams. ACT Late Model teams spent many years racing at Oxford, and they always put on some terrific shows. This will also allow a number of the ACT teams, who also have PASS Super Late Models, to compete with the stars of PASS. We see this as a win-win for teams and fans,” said Tom Mayberry, President of PASS and owner of the Oxford Plains Speedway.
The agreement between the two groups will also include a clearing of the ACT schedule on the weekend of the historic Oxford 250 to be held on August 29-30, 2015. There will be no ACT race or rain date scheduled on the date of the 2015 Oxford 250.
Tom Curley, President of ACT said, “I see this project between ACT and PASS as a work in progress. We expect that other possibilities can result from this initial negotiation, and we are excited about working with Tom (Mayberry) going forward. It certainly should provide for an exciting new era of racing in our region for both the fans and race teams.”
In a joint announcement between Robert Hart, owner and promoter of the New Smyrna Speedway (NSS) and Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour (ACT), the popular ACT Late Models from throughout New England, New York, and Quebec will return to the annual World Series of Asphalt Racing in New Smyrna Beach, Florida on February 16-17, 2015. The teams of ACT will compete in the American Racer Cup, a two feature event, over two nights of racing.
“We are very happy to welcome the ACT teams back this February to our World Series of Asphalt Racing at New Smyrna Speedway. The teams that were here several years ago put on some of the best racing we have seen in a long while. We had many fans ask us to try and bring them back to New Smyrna. We are very pleased that they will return to New Smyrna Speedway in 2015,” said Hart.
The 2014 ACT Champion, Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. (Pole), Hudson, NH bested the field of twenty eight (28) teams to win the overall two days of racing in 2011. Pole also won the opening 100-lap feature, and Brian Hoar, Williston, VT won the 100-lap feature on the following night.
An excited Pole said, “This is just great news. That was a lot of fun racing in the middle of the winter and it gives us something to look forward to for the next few months. I really loved the track and it would be a great way to start the season by defending the Cup in February.”
Sunday, February 15, 2015 will feature the NASCAR K&N Series opening event of the year to be held at the New Smyrna Speedway. ACT will run 100-lap features on consecutive nights beginning Monday, February 16, 2015 and Tuesday, February 17, 2015. The American Racer Cup will go to the best finisher combining points from both events. Total posted awards will be over $35,000.00.
“We appreciate the invitation for our ACT teams to once again compete at New Smyrna Speedway. It is a first class facility and our cars adapted well to the design and speed of the fast half-mile race track. I know the teams that were there in 2011 had a great time, and I would expect that this February will be the same. We have had great response from teams and we all are looking forward to the trip,” said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour.
Eddie Macdonald wins the final event at Riverside Speedway. Macdonald started in third and stayed near the front all race, claiming victory. Hometown driver Luke Shannon took home second and Brad Babb took home third. Early in the morning I noticed that the 15vt that Babb was driving was sporting the new name of the speedway on his rear quarter panel; Speedway 51. Babb’s car is owned by Joey Lacquerre the recent winning bidder for the speedway that had gone to auction. The name is a tribute to Lacquerre’s grandson who life was recently lost to a tragic ATV accident. Macdonald has major plans for the facility in the years to come.
Robbie Curtis won the Pure Stock/Rough Rider feature. Jamie Heath took the win in the Street Stock feature, with Jason Kenison coming in second and Jamie Swallow Jr. in third. Jay Bennet took top honors in the Limited Latemodel/Tiger feature with Jeremy Hall taking second and Jenna Randall third. Kyleigh Gilcris notched another win for the Daredevils with Justin Normand and Matt Mason rounding out the top three.
The banquet for the competitors will take place next Saturday Nov 15 at the Town and Country Inn in Gorham New Hampshire.
On Sat., Nov. 1 the Riverside Speedway was auctioned off and the top bidder was Joey Lequerre. He paid $96,000 which included $76,000 for the venue and $26,000 in back taxes. The previous owner of Riverside Speedway was C.J.Robinson of Scituate, MA
Young stock car driver Jessey Mueller has officially been named the champion of the Northern Modified Challenge Series (NMCS). The 19 year-old from Olmstedville, NY put together an impressive run of victories and podium finishes during the season to become the second champion in series history. The NMCS is a unique tour that pits open-wheel Modified stock cars against each other on both asphalt and dirt surfaces.
Mueller started off the 2014 schedule the same way he did in the series’ inaugural season, with a victory at the legendary Thunder Road International Speedbowl 1/4-mile in Barre, VT on Memorial Day weekend. Mueller did well in twin 30-lap features on the 4/10-mile at Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY in July, with a runner-up in the opener and an eighth-place run in the nightcap – his only finish outside the top-three.
The champion’s defining moment came on August 1 at the Carrara Masonry & Concrete C.J. Richards Memorial 67 at the half-mile asphalt track at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT. Mueller’s engine blew in a dramatic cloud of smoke during the qualifying round, but his family team was able to swap in a new power plant and rebound for the victory later in the evening.
A third-place finish at Airborne in September was followed by another third and a victory in twin 50-lap races at Devil’s Bowl’s Mekkelsen RV Vermont 200 Weekend. Mueller opted to sit out the final event, the Autosaver Ford/Springfield Buick-GMC 100 on the new 1/3-mile dirt track at Devil’s Bowl in November, but had already mathematically clinched the championship.
Veteran drivers Leon Gonyo and Vince Quenneville, Jr. fought for the runner-up position in the NMCS championship the entire season. Both drivers split victories in the twin 30s at Airborne in July, but Gonyo was a tick better down the stretch with a pair of second-place finishes to take overall position. Quenneville settled for third place ahead of Airborne track champion Nick Heywood. Jason Durgan took fifth overall. The season’s eight races were won by Mueller, Gonyo, Quenneville, Bobby Therrien (Airborne), Ron Proctor (Devil’s Bowl), and Adam Pierson (Devil’s Bowl dirt). The Northern Modified Challenge Series is sanctioned by Devil’s Bowl Speedway management.
FINAL 2014 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Northern Modified Challenge Series
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown-Points
1. (19) Jessey Mueller, Olmstedville, NY – 334
2. (4) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY – 323
3. (78) Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon, VT – 303
4. (29) Nick Heywood, Plattsburgh, NY – 253
5. (17) Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, NY – 245
6. (27) Ron Proctor, Charlton, NY – 219
7. (20X) Jamie LaFountain, Keeseville, NY – 208
8. (1X) Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT – 185
9. (80) Andy Heywood, Morrisonville, NY – 162
10. (30) Jayson Criss, Plattsburgh, NY – 157
Feature Event Winners:
5/25 – Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl – 1/4-mile asphalt – Jessey Mueller
7/26 – Airborne Park Speedway – 4/10-mile asphalt – Leon Gonyo
7/26 – Airborne Park Speedway – 4/10-mile asphalt – Vince Quenneville, Jr.
8/01 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway – 1/2-mile asphalt – Jessey Mueller
9/06 – Airborne Park Speedway – 4/10-mile asphalt – Bobby Therrien
9/14 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway – 1/2-mile asphalt – Ron Proctor
9/14 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway – 1/2-mile asphalt – Jessey Mueller
11/01 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway – 1/3-mile dirt – Adam Pierson
After a long season that has seen championship races contested in both the United States and Canada, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model National Championship will be decided on Saturday at Southern National Motorsports Park. The 9th Annual Mason Dixon Meltdown will determine the 2014 champion and the contenders could not have come from more varied backgrounds than points leader Ben Rowe and rookie upstart Tyler Dippel.
Turner, Maine’s Ben Rowe has grown to become a true short track legend over the last decade, winning more PASS Super Late Model races than any driver in history. Not only has Rowe won 4 PASS North Super Late Model championships, but he also claimed the PASS South Super Late Model title in 2009. And he is no stranger to success in the Mason Dixon Meltdown, as the only driver to win the race twice, taking the checkered flag in 2007 at Concord Speedway and again in 2009 at South Boston Speedway.
Despite his accolades, which also include 2 previous PASS National Championship title reigns in 2009 and 2011, Rowe has been impressed with his young counterpart.
“You know I didn’t know a lot about Tyler [Dippel] coming into this year, but he’s really been impressive,” said Rowe. “The thing that surprised me the most was that he came to the tracks up North, tracks that he had never seen before, and not only held his own, but ran really well. We’ll definitely have our work cut out for us when we get down to Kenly this weekend.”
Despite being a teenager, Dippel has had quite extensive career, especially for a driver of his age. Dippel cut his teeth racing powerful Dirt Modifieds, primarily in his home state of New York. And the young driver has stayed busy in 2014, not only racing PASS Super Late Models on asphalt from South Carolina to Quebec, but continuing to race on dirt when his schedule has permitted. Dippel recently opened eyes competing in his Modified at the Dirt Track At Charlotte during the World Finals. But, now the focus returns to PASS for Dippel and trying to win a National Championship at Southern National.
“Basically, it’s just four points, so whoever finishes in front of the other driver is going to win the championship,” says Dippel, who has finished strong in his PASS National outings this year, including a sixth place effort in his first try at the Oxford 250 . “Our experience at Southern National hopefully will work out for us. It’s been an amazing year and I’m really happy at how our first year on asphalt has gone and to have a shot at the championship is really cool.”
Unlike the previous two PASS South events at Southern National Motorsports Park this year, the Meltdown will have an added element of strategy. At 200 green flag laps, the Meltdown will be 50 laps longer than the earlier races held at Southern National. Teams will be allowed to change two tires at lap 125, setting up a 75 lap dash for cash and the championship.
“You’re definitely gonna have to save a little more and have something left for the end,” said Dippel. “But, being able to get two tires, I think you will see some guys be able to push it and race hard the final 75 laps. We might have to race a little differently though with the championship on the line.”
While Rowe and Dippel battle for the PASS National Championship, Tyler Church, Cole Timm, and Jared Irvan will be competing for the PASS South Super Late Model title. In addition to Rowe, fellow New Englanders Joey Doiron, Derek Ramstrom, Steve Legendre, and Wayne Helliwell, Jr. and Quebec’s Eric St. Gelais will be making the trip to Southern National. Christopher Bell is hoping to continue his streak of finishing no worse than second in the last two events and will be joined by Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate Karl Weber. Tate Fogleman, Trevor Noles, Brandon Setzer, Tanner Rumburg, Jody Measamer, and Lucas Jones will each be seeking their first career PASS South wins.
Action at Southern National Motorsports Park for the 9th Annual Mason Dixon Meltdown kicks off practice for all divisions on Friday, November 14 from 1 – 4:20 PM. On Saturday, November 15, practice will start at 10 AM, with qualifying at 1:15 PM, and racing slated to start at 3 PM. The PASS South Super Late Models will race for 200 laps, along with main events for the PASS Pro Late Models, Pee Dee/Coastal Supertrucks, and USAC Eastern Midgets.
Thunder Road International Speedbowl officials announced that the Pro All Star Series (PASS), based in Naples, Maine, will make their first ever appearance at Thunder Road in Barre, VT during the 53rd Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic on Sunday, May 24, 2015.
The Super Late Models of PASS will join Thunder Road’s ACT Late Models in the Memorial Day twin bill. The PASS Super Late Models will race 150 laps, and the Thunder Road Late Models will race for the Mekkelsen Memorial Day Classic 100 honors.
“This is exciting news for our Thunder Road fans. Having the return to Thunder Road’s high banks with Mike and Ben Rowe, joined by Cassius and Johnny Clark, DJ Shaw, and Glen Luce should be a lot of fun to watch. There is also a possibility to see ACT Champions like Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Brian Hoar, and Wayne Helliwell, Jr. bringing their PASS cars to Thunder Road for this event,” said Thunder Road promoter Tom Curley.
Thunder Road has run the Memorial Day Classic event with just about every kind of stock car available. From the early days of the flathead coupes and high horsepower modifieds, to the Flying Tigers in the 1960’s, then the NASCAR-type Late Models of the 70’s, and into the 80’s with ACT Pro Stocks, variety has dictated Thunder Road’s Memorial Day Classics. Since 1996, the ACT Late Models have carried on the Thunder Road tradition of opening the summer season with the Memorial Day Classic 100. The twin bill featuring the PASS Super Late Models in a 150-lap event is sure to add another dimension to the race program in 2015.
“I know there is going to be a lot of support and excitement for this show at Thunder Road from both our fans and competitors,” said President of PASS, Tom Mayberry. “I know that numerous times over the past 10 years I have had racers and fans ask me what the chances were that we could race at Thunder Road. It should be a great show, and we are all looking forward to our first time at the tough ¼ mile high banks.”
The American Canadian Tour (ACT) and Pro All Star Series (PASS) are working together to bring both traveling groups to new events during the 2015 race season. An earlier announcement that the first-ever combination event between the two premiere touring series in the Northeast, PASS and ACT, would take place as the opening event of the Oxford Plains Speedway season in Oxford, Maine on Saturday, April 18, 2015. That announcement alone has created a positive outlook for the coming race season. The addition of a second event with PASS at Thunder Road in Barre, VT should add to the anticipation and excitement for the 2015 race season in the region.