Joey Polewarczyk Jr.: ACT Late Model Tour
ACT Invitational Race Preview
Joey Polewarczyk Jr. of Hudson, N.H., heads to center of racing in New England where he will compete in the ACT Late Model Tour’s second annual ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., on Saturday, September 18. The race takes place during Sylvania 300 weekend — the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and is part of a Saturday tripleheader at the track which includes the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Whelen Modified Tour. Polewarczyk finished 10th in the inaugural event in 2009, and he’s won two ACT races since late July, helping him make a charge up the series standings to second with one points race remaining. Polewarczyk is also one of the handful of drivers in the ACT Invitational starting field with experience at New Hampshire — having made three career NASCAR K&N Pro Series East starts at the track with a career-best finish of sixth in 2008.
WHO: Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, N.H.
TEAM: No. 97 Pole’s Automotive/NH Precision Ford Fusion
BEST CAREER ACT INVITATIONAL FINISH: 10th (September 2009)
LAST RACE AT NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY: 10th (September 2009)
WHAT: ACT Late Model Tour 2nd annual ACT Inviatational
WHERE: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H. (1.058-mile oval)
WHEN: 5:45 p.m., Saturday, September 18
ACT Late Model Tour
LAST RACE: Sunday, September 12, Mohawk Casino Fall Foliage 300, Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y. (3rd-place finish)
NEXT RACE: October 2-3, Milk Bowl, Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl, Barre, Vt. (.250-mile oval)
POINTS POSITION: 2nd
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JOEY, HOW MUCH ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS EVENT IN YOUR HOME STATE?
I’m really looking forward to it. This race is just about getting your name out there and winning on the biggest stage of the season. It’s bragging rights. It’s not points, it’s not about worrying about where you’re going to finish if you decide to make a move on somebody going into a corner.
The way our test went (in August), I was really, really pleased. We were fast last year in the race, but we just couldn’t pass anybody. This year, I think we’re fast and we’ve figured out how to pass. Hopefully, we’ll get a good draw (for starting position) and be there at the end.
HOW WILL THIS YEAR’S RACE BE DIFFERENT?
I think it will be a lot more racy. Last year everyone was playing it safe — I think people will be safe again this year, I’m not saying that — I think people will be a lot more racy after things get sorted out. I think you’ll see side-by-side racing more than you did last year.
I think it will be a better race. Everyone’s been there before and kind of knows what to expect now. It’s hard to go to a track like that for the first time and do what you do on a short track every week. You just can’t do that.
Judging from the test we had — there was good tire wear and the cars stayed stable and fast pretty much every lap you put on the tires.