Ray Parent and Brent Dragon compete in a qualifying heat during the 2012 New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 at Lee USA Speedway (Debra Wilkinson photo)
By Phil Whipple
NewEnglandRacingNews.com
It’s become one of the most highly-anticipated and much-loved annual traditions for race fans all over New England.
When the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Models roll into Red and Judy MacDonald’s pristine Lee USA Speedway for the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 on Sunday, April 14, it marks the beginning of another exciting new season for folks on both sides of the fences.
Since 2003, the region’s top Late Model stars have converged on this wide, smooth oval to do battle. In the decade since, fans have witnessed some incredible racing during the ACT opener at Lee. With its dramatic finishes and frequent three-wide racing, this show has a well-earned reputation for thrills and excitement.
The Great State of Maine has enjoyed a strong presence in the ACT race at Lee in recent years, and 2013 will be no different. In fact, Maine natives finished third (Austin Theriault); fifth (Ben Ashline); sixth (Jeff Taylor) and 11th (Shawn Martin) in last year’s Governor’s Cup 150.
Martin is the 2012 (and 2004) Oxford Plains Speedway Late Model champion but will not compete full-time to defend his title in 2013. The Aroostook County native has chosen to split his time between Oxford and select ACT events in 2013, converting his primary car over to the respective rules packages as his schedule dictates.
“We still enjoy running our ACT-style Late Model package and have enjoyed some success with it,” Martin said. “We started 21st at Lee last year and just missed a top 10 finish. In 2011, we qualified third but faded to 14th at the end. When we hit the setup right there, the car is really fast. I hope to get it dialed in on practice day (Saturday) and shoot for a solid finish this year. I enjoy racing at Lee.”
The major surprise in this event’s history is the fact eight-time Lee track champion and defending ACT title holder Wayne Helliwell Jr. has never won it. The Dover, NH-based driver has turned more laps at Lee than any other five ACT drivers combined, yet he’s failed to seal the deal in an ACT race at his home track. He’ll be focused on changing that statistic on April 14, yet there are dozens of other teams shooting for Victory Lane, as well.
Another Granite State native is hoping to pull off his second win at Lee is Joey Polewarczyk Jr. The Hudson-based driver has won just about every other major ACT event in recent seasons, including the famed Governor’s Cup 150 five years ago.
“I’m just excited to get started,” Polewarczyk said in a prepared release. “We’re focused, the car and team is ready, and I’m all ready to go. We should have won at Lee in last year’s race. We can’t wait for the opener to get this championship chase under way.”
Past ACT feasture winners at Lee USA include Patrick Laperle (Sept. 2003); DJ Kennington (Sept. 2004); Cris Michaud (Apr. 2005); Jean-Paul Cyr (Sept. 2005); Ben Rowe (July 2006); Polewarczyk Jr. (Apr. 2008); Brad Leighton (Apr. 2009); Miles Chipman (June 2010); and Brian Hoar (Apr. 2011-12).
Longtime ACT veteran Brent Dragon, who finished inside the top five in ACT points for the 15th time in 2012, will make a run at the championship again in 2013. Dragon finished 21st last spring at Lee after starting 17th in his Beverage Mart Chevy Impala. He’ll look to improve on that effort Sunday.
Another driver looking to make a bold statement at Lee is Rhode Island native Ray Parent. The driver of the No. 17 Amtrol machine lit up everybody’s radar last September when he won the prestigious ACT Invitational and is hoping to carry that momentum into Lee this spring.
“We’ve got a brand new Distance chassis, and we’ve got that first ACT win under our belts,” Parent said in an ACT preseason release. “We know we can get the job done, so I’m anxious to get to Lee and get this new season started.”
If you only make it to one ACT event in 2013, the opener at Lee just might be the one to catch. The place is easy to get to on Route 125, the facility is nicely maintained and there isn’t a bad seat in the house. This event kicks off a new season of competition in fine style, no matter who ends up in Victory Lane.
Qualifying races for the 2013 New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 at Lee get under way at 1 p.m., while the day will also include action from Lee’s Late Model Sportsman class and the popular Northeast Mini Stock Tour.