Vermont Driver Earns Record 38th Career ACT Late Model Tour Win
BARRE, Vt. – Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., played the waiting game on Sunday afternoon and turned it into his record 38th career ACT Late Model Tour victory, leading the final 24 laps en route to winning the Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt.
The win was Hoar’s second straight victory in the event in the RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge Charger for owner and crew chief Rick Paya.
“We just had to save the rear tires, and with 40 laps to go, we just turned it on,” Hoar said. “This is just awesome.”
Hoar started third in the 31-car field after finishing second in his first-round qualifying race. He was content to turn laps inside the Top-5 throughout the first half of the event, finally turning up the wick when the rest of the leaders picked up the pace past the Lap 100 mark.
Hoar said it was difficult to remain patient on the close-quarters banked quarter-mile, but did so under the urging of Paya.
“It was tough,” Hoar said. “Rick was on the radio, saying ‘Easy, easy, take it easy, take it easy. Wait. Longer.’… (Dave Pembroke) is a great competitor, and I’m just happy to be here (in VictoryLane).”
Hoar has now won the last three ACT Late Model Tour events held at Thunder Road, including last season’s Merchants Bank 150 and September’s Labor Day Classic 200.