By Lou Modestino
2012 American Canadian Tour Champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr., and 2012 Serie ACT Castrol Champion Patrick Laperle were the stars of the ACT Banquet at the Doubletree Inn in Burlington, VT on Saturday, January 12th, earning the highest awards for their respective titles. ACT awarded over $700,000 in point funds and event purses to teams in 2012.
Helliwell was honored after one of the most entertaining point-battles of ACT’s history, beating out eight-time Tour Champion Brian Hoar in an epic battle for his first-ever ACT Championship.?He won four races in 2012, including his first-career ACT victory, and only finished worse than seventh once.? He won $10,000 for his ACT Championship, but also picked up an additional $5,000 from the Ford point fund for winning the Ford Blue Oval Challenge for a record third time in a row.?
Laperle enjoyed a comeback year on the Serie ACT Castrol.?After falling as low as sixth in the beginning of the season, Laperle surged for four wins and nine top-fives to claim an unprecedented third Castrol Series Championship, along with a $10,000 check. Laperle, now with 17 feature victories, sits just one win away from having the most in Series history.
The prestigious MacTavish Award was given to car owner Richard Green of Enosburg Falls, VT. Green, who in 2012 owned the 16VT of Joey Becker and the 16NY car on the ACT Tour, was given the award for the first time for his dedication and loyalty to ACT, and his contributions to the sport of auto racing.
The Pete Hartt Memorial Media Award was earned by Vermont Motorsports Magazine editor T.J. Ingerson, who was touted for his emergence as one of the region’s premiere auto racing writers, and was also praised for his tireless dedication to ACT and other motorsports through his publication.?
The Doc Nielson Rookie Award was given to Williamstown, VT’s Jimmy Hebert, who also won Rookie of the Year on the American Canadian Tour.?Hebert impressed with top ten finishes at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Airborne Speedway, and Thunder Road, and also finished in the top ten in overall points on the American Canadian Tour.?Etienne Cliche took Rookie of the Year honors in the Castrol Series after a career-best sixth place finish in the season finale at St-Eustache. He finished eleventh overall in the 2012 Serie ACT Castrol Standings.?
For the second year in a row, the ACT Crew Chief award went to Bruce Bernhardt, who served as both crew chief and car owner for the ACT US Championship #27NH car driven by Wayne Helliwell, Jr.?The pair won over 20 races in the region in 2012, including their first ACT Championship.?Bernhardt is the first Crew Chief to win two consecutive Crew Chief awards.
On the S閞ie ACT Castrol Tour, the Crew Chief of the #21QC driven by Jean Francois Dery, Gabriel Drouin, won the award for the first time.?The team finished second in the overall standings on the Castrol Series, and finished on the podium a stunning nine times in 2012. The team only finished outside the top ten twice.?
With the off-season already halfway complete, the 2013 season approaches quickly.?The American Canadian Tour season begins at Lee USA Speedway with a 150-lap event on the weekend of April 13/14. Serie ACT Castrol kicks off at Autodrome Montmagny on Saturday, May 25 with a 100-lap event.
This past Saturday, the Lee USA Speedway held its usual pre-season information meeting for competitors and officials at the Kingston VFW. Lee USA Speedway General Manager Bob Watson stated, “We’re very excited about the upcoming season based on the overall enthusiasm of the competitors displayed at the meeting.”
Rules and other issues of concern were discussed and according to Watson, “Rule changes are very minor for the 2013 season.” Rules and tentative schedule information are available at the speedway website www.leeusaspeedway.com. Further rules clarification can be obtained by contacting Lee USA Speedway tech man Buzzie Bezanson at 603-339-2166.
One rule that will be enforced this season is that all cars in all divisions must be equipped with an onboard scanner with which track officials can convey line-up and other pertinent information. Second generation NEMA starter Steve Grant will be on the flagstand at Lee USA in 2013 and Bob Watson will take over as race director. Our new motto this year is “In at 7, out at 10,” says Watson. Every effort will be made to not only get the first race started promptly, but also conclude the show in reasonable time.
Another big change at Lee USA for 2013 is the return of Quarterly Championship nights with extra distance and extra money events in all four divisions. These four special events over the course of the season will pay $1,000 to the Small Block Supers, $500 to the Late Model Sportsman, $350 to the Hobby Stocks, and $100 to the Ironman Division. Further contingency awards will be provided by John Holland of Sunoco Racing Fuels.
Many new faces at the meeting may preview a significant surge in interest to be seen in the American Auto Ironman Division. Lebanon, ME driver Jim Shorey will be trying to repeat his dominant 2012 performance over cross-town rival Pat Tanguay in the David’s Race Cars Hobby Stock Division. Grant Aither will be returning to weekly competition and gunning for defending Prime Storage Late Model Sportsman Champ J.R. Baril, who won the 2012 title in Aither’s former ride. Aither has won two straight titles before taking most of last season off.
However Michelle Fushpanski, who chased Baril all last year, is looking for a breakout season. Fushpanski won twice in 2012, finished runner-up in the points chase and has proven to be a match for her male competition.
Super Dave Sanborn will also be back in 2013. The popular senior driver of the Benson Hardware Small Block Division was involved in a serious wreck early last year that kept him out of competition for the remainder of the season. Fans and fellow competitors alike will eagerly welcome him back. The Witkum Brothers will be fielding two cars for the upcoming season. Rumor has it that Eddie Witkum, Jr. will wheel of one when his ISMA schedule permits and four time Lee USA Champ Wayne Helliwell, Jr. will pilot the other. Helliwell was a close second to Tom Tombarello last season and has vowed to take back the title for the Witkum Brothers in 2013.
On a sadder note, longtime Lee USA official and supporter Jay Merryfield passed away last week after a long battle with cancer. Jay was the infield steward and drove the Lee USA Speedway emblazoned push truck. He regarded the speedway his home and the fans and competitors his family. He will be missed by all, and a memorial service will be conducted at the track early in the season. The Lee USA Speedway will open the 2013 season with the 27th Annual 150 lap Governor’s Cup Race on April 14th.