Theriault Makes Podium At NH Motor Speedway
No. 57 Varney Insurance Ford Takes Second in ACT All-Star Challenge
LOUDON, N.H. – Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, Maine, matched his career-best ACT Late Model Tour finish, finishing second in the inaugural ACT All-Star Challenge at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday.
Theriault used an impressive drive from 32nd to second in the second 50-lap segment of the event, pulling the No. 57 Varney Insurance Ford within half a car length at the checkered flag of winning the most prestigious event on the ACT Late Model Tour.
“What an incredible day,” the 17-year-old Theriault said. “I think it’s all about track position here, but we did pass some cars. I’ll be honest, I’m kind of surprised – but we’ll definitely take it. I don’t know how hard (winner Brian Hoar) was going at the end, but we were catching him.”
The split-segment event used “Monza-style” scoring. Theriault qualified fourth out of 55 cars during Friday’s qualifying sessions and finished fifth in Saturday morning’s 25-lap segment.
Theriault’s previous career-best finish came last season at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, where he also finished second.
“I think I learned to be a little more aggressive,” said Theriault, who finished 30th in the non-points ACT Invitational at New Hampshire last September. “You really have to drive it down into the corners. A lot of this series is downforce, especially at Loudon. The car was a lot better than last year. Last year we started 30th and finished 30th; this year we started 32nd in the second segment and came up through. I think the car was the biggest difference.
“Crew chief Mickey Green and Seth Holbrook – those guys really made some great adjustments and gave me an awesome car. Half of it was me, and half of it was definitely the car.”
In two races thus far this season with his family-owned AT Racing team, Theriault has risen impressively to the occasion. He finished third in the TD Bank Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway last month, becoming the youngest podium finisher in the 38-year history of the midsummer classic.