Waterbury, VT – As American Canadian Tour (ACT) competitors prepare for the 47th Annual Chittenden Milk Bowl, the grand finale of the 50th Anniversary Season at Barre’s Thunder Road International Speedbowl, all of New England is buzzing about their performance this past weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) in Loudon, NH. With some of the best racing of the meet, negotiations are already underway for a return in 2010.
ACT President Tom Curly stated, “There are several details to be worked out but the reaction from the speedway and the crowd made it an unqualified success.”
The Inaugural ACT Invitational saw Eddie MacDonald of Rowley, MA come from the 19th starting position to take the win. Other big movers were Barre’s Nick Sweet from eighth to second, fourth place Canadian Patrick Laperle started 18th and Graniteville’s John Donahue from 21st to finish fifth.
NHMS President Gerry Gappens said “With only two cautions in the entire race, one for a cut tire that sent Ben Rowe into the fence and the level of competition of ACT drivers coming through the field, it was as exciting as we’d hoped. ACT drivers showed a lot of respect, but never gave an inch. It was great racing.” The other caution was for a minor spin and 32 of the 36 cars that started the 50 lap event took the checkers.
Sixteen year old Brandon Watson from Stayner, Ontario battled hard with former NHMS track champion MacDonald for a good portion of the race. Watson started racing go-carts at the age of eight and only has two years of experience in the Late Model division at Kawartha Speedway in Fraserville, Ontario. Watson won two features and finished second in the point standings at Kawartha.
This weekend the action on the famed Barre highbanks will begin on Saturday, September 26 with Booth Bros./H.P. Hood time trials and 50 lap qualifiers as well as NAPA Tiger Sportsmen, Allen Lumber Street Stocks and Power Shift Junkyard Warriors qualifying beginning at 1:00 pm. Race pageantry for the 47th Annual Chittenden Milk Bowl will begin Sunday, September 27 after the Last Chance “B” Feature at 1:00pm.