The American Racer Three Star program has returned for the 2015 season. The program is designed to recognize three teams in no particular order of performance who had outstanding races at American Canadian Tour (ACT) U.S. Tour events. There are no specific criteria for deciding who might receive the award of a free American Racer tire (value $125.00), but special effort by a team, an exceptional race, just plain old hard luck, or other accepted reason to give the award is used to determine the recipients.
The Three Stars are chosen by officials and will receive certificates for use of a free American Racer tire at a race of their choosing during 2015. The winners for the ACT Oxford 150 at Oxford Plains Speedway are:
*Rich Dubeau, Plainfield, NH – #30NH — An exceptional story developed during the opening weekend at Oxford. A young team from Plainfield, NH made their first ever ACT touring event start last weekend at the Oxford Plains Speedway doubleheader. They had never raced in an ACT event, had little experience on flat 3/8-mile race tracks, and seemed to struggle with set-up at the tricky Oxford oval during a day of practice on Friday afternoon. Furthermore, they missed the only chance to qualify after breaking a broken sway bar during the final practice on race day!
They fixed the car before the feature and started the race in dead last. In what appeared to be a very “quiet” ride, the #30NH team found a groove and headed forward from the very start of the race. It was a remarkable effort from a new young team that ended up finishing ninth after 150 laps. There were only three cautions, and that generally lends itself to becoming vulnerable to getting lapped, especially with the dominant performance of ACT defending Champion and race winner Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. For a truly outstanding effort in their first ever ACT touring race, the Rich Dubeau team earns a well-deserved American Racer Star of the Race award.
*Emily Packard, E. Montpelier, VT – #9ME — Emily Packard and her Neal Woodward–led team were all the talk at the end of the Oxford race. Emily won multiple “star” awards last season. She had a fourth place in overall points last year on Tour, and is certainly on top of her game coming into this season. At just 18 years old, Emily has already garnered the respect of veteran ACT drivers, as well as a fan base that appreciates the competitiveness of her driving and team preparation.
Packard’s drive from the 20th starting spot to a fourth-place finish on Sunday at Oxford made a statement that she plans to be a very serious title contender in 2015. This was her first time ever on the famous Oxford oval, a track unlike any other she has raced on, and her impressive run from 20th and eventual battle from mid-pack with Kyle Welch, Jeff White, Travis Stearns, Jonathan Bouvrette, and JR Robinson was the best racing of the day. Packard is well-deserving of starting out the season with another American Racer Star of the Race award.
*Mike Ziter, Barre, VT – #54VT — Mike Ziter is a Thunder Road Tiger Sportsmen division graduate. His decision in 2014 was to either run the 2014 ACT U.S. Tour or race weekly at Thunder Road. He chose to go Tour racing. Coming into an established series, which is deep with talent, can be both intimidating and at times frustrating to a new team. The Ziter team took a very steady journey in 2014 en route to a 14th-place finish in points. Visiting new tracks during the first half of the year and improving each week was the designed plan – and it worked. Finishing races and understanding the difference between weekly sprint racing and Tour long distance racing, while protecting earned territory, is essential for success.
Ziter and his team took what they earned at each event and completed a very successful rookie season. His competitive ride at Oxford Plains Speedway last Sunday earns him a Star Award, and confirms that his sophomore season is an extension of his outstanding Rookie year. He matched his best finish on the Tour from 2014 with a solid eighth-place finish last Sunday. His competitive ride in the same group Emily Packard contended with above had him in arguably the best-grouped competition of the event. He continued to move forward throughout the day. For his great start at Oxford, his team is awarded a Star of the Race award.
Derek Griffith picked up his first career Granite State Pro Stock Series victory in dominating fashion as Claremont Speedway opened up a new chapter. Griffith, of Hudson, NH became a quick study in his first visit to the tricky quarter-mile oval. His first laps around the speedway were some of the fastest he would turn all night, and the quickest of the 13 cars that arrived. He also led second round practice as well.
Two rounds of qualifying saw Jeremy Davis pick up the first round over Tom O’Sullivan and Cory Robert. Larry Gelinas and Bryon Baker rounded out the top five.
Griffith picked up the Sunoco Checkers in the second round, besting Mike O’Sullivan, Barry Gray, Mike Parks and Guy Caron.
As the green dropped on the field, in what was the longest race in series history, Davis and Griffith battled side by side for the opening lap. Griffith was able to get the better of Jeremy, and took off from the field. By lap 20, the pair had pulled away by over half a straightaway over Mike and Tom O’Sullivan and Cory Robert.
The first caution dropped on lap 31, when Larry Gelinas spun in the second turn. This was the first of the two yellows that came out.
On the restart, Griffith missed a shift, giving Davis the lead. The pair raced single file while Griffith regained his rhythm, and at lap 40, the Hudson native moved past, and into the lead once again.
By lap 50, Griffith and Davis once again pulled away, with Barry Gray, Josh King and Mike O’Sullivan the top five.
The final caution came out on lap 54, when Zig Geno and Cory Robert got together and spun in the second turn. This restart was kinder to the leader, and Griffith took off and started to pull away from the pack once again. While it was kinder to the leaders, several cars got together in the second turn, including both O’Sullivan brother and Mike Parks. While everyone kept moving, and no caution was thrown, it jumbled up the field.
The final 71 laps ran without incident. Parks and Mike O’Sullivan started their march back through the field, moving their way into the top five by the end of the race. Jeremy Davis saw his tires go away, dropping him out of the top five.
With less than 50 laps to go, Barry Gray started closing on the leader, and had closed the lead to about 5 car lengths, but that is as close as he would get. As they worked through the lapped traffic, Griffith continued his dominance, and by the checkered flag, he has a one and a half second advantage.