Joey Polewarczyk Jr.: ACT Late Model Tour
ACT Goodyear Speedweeks Cup Race Report
Joey Polewarczyk Jr. of Hudson, N.H., won the first race of the inaugural ACT Goodyear Speedweeks Cup at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., on Sunday, February 13. Polewarczyk, who started second in the 100-lap ACT Late Model Tour event, dominated by leading three times for a total of 77 laps. It was Polewarczyk’s fourth straight win in ACT competition dating back to last September in the No. 97 Pole’s Automotive Ford Fusion, and he held off Patrick Laperle over the final laps for the victory. Polewarczyk, 21, took the lead for the final time following a Lap 61 restart by using the high groove to his advantage on the high-banked half-mile. He’ll join the field for a second straight night on Monday, February 14, with another 100-lap event as part of the 45th annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.
WHO: Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, N.H.
TEAM: No. 97 Pole’s Automotive/NH Precision Ford Fusion
WHAT: ACT Late Model Tour Goodyear Speedweeks Cup, Race No. 1
WHERE: New Smyrna Speedway, New Smyrna Beach, Fla. (.500-mile oval)
STARTED: 2nd
FINISHED: 1st
LED: 3 times for 77 laps
NEXT: Monday, February 14, ACT Goodyear Speedweeks Cup, New Smyrna Speedway, New Smyrna Beach, Fla. (.500-mile oval)
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JOEY, TALK ABOUT YOUR NIGHT.
Man, that was some tough racing. I’ve got to thank Patrick (Laperle). He raced me so clean, it really seemed like it was just between us.
That was probably the hardest I’ve ever had to drive — both on offense and on defense. It just goes to show how good the competition is in these cars. It was pretty cool from my point of view.
WERE YOU WORRIED ABOUT BATTLING LAPERLE ON THE RESTARTS?
On restarts, our car was a little tight. It took it about two laps to get going.
With these cars, it’s all about momentum, and the outside here — that’s where you could really get a great run.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO WIN THE FIRST ACT RACE HELD DURING FLORIDA SPEEDWEEKS?
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It’s definitely huge. Daytona’s right down the street. I’m all the way from New Hampshire — and to be in Victory Lane here when everyone else I know is back home in three feet of snow — it’s pretty cool right now.