NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS NORTH For June 3, 2015
By Lou Modestino
Two-time American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Champion Wayne Helliwell Jr. was in the right place at the right time on Saturday night, taking his second win of the season in the rain-shortened Generation Next 151 at Speedway 51 in Groveton, NH.
Helliwell got the break on Rowley, MA’s Eddie MacDonald on a lap-85 restart and was in front when the caution flew for Travis Stearns’ spin a lap later. A caution for rain came out on the subsequent restart. Although the race was able to resume, the rains returned just five laps later, forcing the conclusion of the event after 91 of the scheduled 151 laps.
Defending Fall Brawl winner MacDonald took the lead from polesitter Mike Bailey on the opening lap and led the first 12 circuits before two-time Thunder Road Late Model Champion Derrick O’Donnell drove around him on the outside. MacDonald grabbed the lead back for a single circuit following a lap-20 restart, but O’Donnell reassumed command and led a four-car breakaway that included Helliwell and local racer Jeff Marshall.
MacDonald retook the lead for a third time following a lap-75 caution and held it through a lap-83 restart. The race’s fourth caution came out on lap 85 for a hard crash involving Jason Corliss and Jimmy Hebert. Helliwell finally got the break on that restart and was in front at the time of the race’s premature end.
O’Donnell and Marshall finished second and third as MacDonald faded on the final sprint. Joey Polewarczyk Jr. drove from the 18th starting position to finish fourth, followed by defending event winner Kyle Welch in fifth. Derek Ming, MacDonald, D.J. Shaw, Cody Blake, and Tyler Cahoon completed the top-10.
Heat race wins went to MacDonald, Ming, Shawn Swallow, and Corliss. O’Donnell, Corey Mason, and Boomer Morris won the consis, while Cody Blake took the Last Chance B-Feature.
Helliwell unofficially retakes the point lead from Polewarczyk heading into the ACT Tour’s next race at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT on Saturday, June 6. Post time for the 100-lap event is 6:00pm.
For more information contact the ACT offices at 802.244.6963, [email protected], or visit www.acttour.com.
ACT GENERATION NEXT 151
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
Pos Start Pos Driver Car # Hometown Laps
1. ( 4 ) Wayne Helliwell Jr. ( 27NH ) , Dover, NH , 91 Laps
2. ( 3 ) Derrick O’Donnell ( 60VT ) , N. Haverhill, NH , 91 Laps
3. ( 6 ) Jeff Marshall ( 32NH ) , Lunenberg, NH , 91 Laps
4. ( 18 ) Joey Polewarczyk Jr. ( 97NH ) , Hudson, NH , 91 Laps
5. ( 14 ) Kyle Welch ( 9NH ) , Newport, NH , 91 Laps
6. ( 9 ) Derek Ming ( 5NH ) , West Burke, VT , 91 Laps
7. ( 2 ) Eddie MacDonald ( 17MA ) , Rowley, MA , 91 Laps
8. ( 16 ) D.J. Shaw ( 77NH ) , Ctr. Conway, NH , 91 Laps
9. ( 25 ) Cody Blake ( 99VT ) , Barre, VT , 91 Laps
10. ( 19 ) Tyler Cahoon ( 38VT ) , St. Johnsbury, VT , 91 Laps
11. ( 21 ) Brandon Atkins ( 4NY ) , AuSable Forks, NY , 91 Laps
12. ( 1 ) Mike Bailey ( 00VT ) , S. Barre, VT , 91 Laps
13. ( 29 ) Jeremy Davis ( 14NH ) , Tamworth, NH , 91 Laps
14. ( 12 ) Travis Stearns ( 16ME ) , Auburn, ME , 91 Laps
15. ( 27 ) Emily Packard ( 9ME ) , E. Montpelier, VT , 91 Laps
16. ( 10 ) Shawn Swallow ( 04NH ) , Stark, NH , 91 Laps
17. ( 20 ) Jeff White ( 50ME ) , Winthrop, ME , 91 Laps
18. ( 5 ) Randy Potter ( 15VT ) , Groveton, NH , 91 Laps
19. ( 23 ) Mike Kenison ( 3NH ) , Lancaster, NH , 91 Laps
20. ( 15 ) Kyle Pembroke ( 27VT ) , Montpelier, VT , 90 Laps
21. ( 26 ) Mike Ziter ( 54VT ) , Barre Town, VT , 90 Laps
22. ( 30 ) Bryan Mason ( 10NH ) , Stark, NH , 90 Laps
23. ( 22 ) Nick Sweet ( 40VT ) , Barre, VT , 86 Laps
24. ( 11 ) Jason Corliss ( 66VT ) , Barre, VT , 85 Laps
25. ( 13 ) Jimmy Hebert ( 58VT ) , Williamstown, VT , 85 Laps
26. ( 7 ) Brad Babb ( 15NH ) , Windham, ME , 83 Laps
27. ( 8 ) Corey Mason ( 1NH ) , Groveton, NH , 43 Laps
28. ( 24 ) Rowland Robinson, Jr. ( 28ME ) , Steuben, ME , 35 Laps
29. ( 17 ) Boomer Morris ( 13VT ) , Barre, VT , 22 Laps
30. ( 28 ) #Rich Dubeau ( 30NH ) , Plainfield, NH , 20 Laps
Lap Leaders: Mike Bailey, 0; Eddie MacDonald, 1-12; Derrick O’Donnell, 13-21; Macdonald, 22; O’Donnell, 23-75; MacDonald, 76-85; Wayne Helliwell Jr., 86-91. 7 lead changes among 4 drivers.
Time of Race: 56:48 Margin of Victory: under caution
Cautions: 7 (laps 20, 75, 83, 85, 86, 86, 91)
Heat Winners: Eddie MacDonald, Derek Ming, Shawn Swallow, Jason Corliss
Consi Winners: Derrick O’Donnell, Corey Mason, Boomer Morris
B-Feature Winner: Cody Blake
Devil’s Bowl Speedway has been forced to delay the opening of its Berlin Optical Expressions Dirt Track Series due to severe water damage. The five-race special event series was scheduled to begin on Sunday, June 7 with a four-division program presented by Interstate All Battery Center and Sherwin-Williams. The event has been moved to Sunday, August 30.
The 3/10-mile clay infield track sustained a major washout and flooding during heavy rains on May 30-June 1. The rain has created a natural underground spring that has wreaked havoc with the racing surface in Turn 2 and part of the backstretch, and standing water has flooded most of the infield track. The surface will be repaired, though it will not be ready in time for Sunday’s event.
The asphalt half-mile at Devil’s Bowl Speedway has not been affected by the weather, and the People’s United Bank 100 for the American-Canadian Tour will be run as planned on Saturday, June 6 at 6 p.m. “The Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl has been learning experience since it was built last September, and we know better than to chance it with the type of clay that we have,” promoter Mike Bruno said. “We could get the track back in shape for Sunday, but the surface would be as soft as the one we had at our event last October, or possibly worse. The racers and fans deserve better and we will make the track right before we race on it.”
The Interstate All Battery Center/Sherwin-Williams event was scheduled to host the Liberty Street Discount Beverage & Deli Sportsman Modifieds, Renegades, and the Portland Glass Mini Stocks. All three divisions will be in action at the August 30 make-up event. The Lucas Oil POWRi Outlaw Midget Series was scheduled to make its Devil’s Bowl debut on Sunday; a make-up date for the series will be announced soon.
The Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl is now scheduled to open with an Independence Day special on Sunday, July 5 at 6 p.m., presented by WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey. The Sprint Cars of New England tour and a 50-lap Sportsman Modified race will headline the card, along with Renegades, Mini Stocks, and a huge holiday fireworks display.
Stock car driver Emily Packard returns to Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday night with a mission: Win the People’s United Bank 100. The East Montpelier, VT native will use the annual American-Canadian Tour Late Model event to kick off a big week and hopes that she can celebrate with what would be an historic breakthrough ACT victory.
The People’s United Bank 100 opens a busy stretch for the 18 year-old that includes her graduation from U-32 High School in Montpelier. Packard is also simultaneously completing her freshman year at the Community College of Vermont, where she has made the Dean’s List while working toward a business degree.
Packard is focusing solely on the ACT Late Model Tour schedule in 2015, but racked up three wins as a weekly competitor at the Rutland County track last year. While the People’s United Bank 100 marks the sixth ACT time has visited Devil’s Bowl, it is the first ACT race to be held at night on the fast half-mile; Packard hopes that her experience at the track will give her an advantage over the touring ACT stars.
“I’m really excited to get back to Devil’s Bowl. I’ve been in Rutland a lot for college, but I’ve missed racing there,” Packard said. “A lot of Devil’s Bowl fans have asked me where I’ve been, so it’ll be good to see them. My team goes to every race thinking we have a shot to win, but especially at Devil’s Bowl. We have a lot of laps there and we know what the track conditions are like at night. I hope that gives us an advantage.”
History is on Packard’s side, as she has finishes of second and third in the last two 100-lap Late Model races under the lights at Devil’s Bowl. She will try to become only the second woman to win an American-Canadian Tour event at the People’s United Bank 100, and the first since Tracie Bellerose 14 years ago.
Packard will face fellow ACT stars Wayne Helliwell Jr., Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Brian Hoar, Nick Sweet, Brandon Atkins, Travis Stearns, and Brad Babb, as well as home track drivers Josh Masterson and top rookie Richard Lowrey III. Helliwell and Hoar have combined to win all five previous ACT events at Devil’s Bowl, while Sweet has three 100-lap victories there. Atkins won a 50-lapper on opening night at Devil’s Bowl last month, and Masterson won on May 23 and holds the point lead in the weekly standings.
The People’s United Bank event on Saturday, June 6 will also see action for the Bond Auto Parts Modified, Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Renegade, and Portland Glass Mini Stock divisions, along with a kids’ racecar poster drawing contest. General admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and free for kids age 12 and under. Green flag racing begins at 6 p.m.
Lee USA Speedway opened the regular season last weekend with the first Friday night under the lights at “New Hampshire‘s Center of Speed“ for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. The night’s action featured the EKeys 4Cars Supermodifieds, R&R Public Wholesalers Late Model Sportsmen, David‘s Race Cars and Components Hobby Stocks, and Tri-City Line X-sponsored Ironman divisions.
Veteran campaigner “Super Dave” Sanborn of Tilton was the man of the hour in the Supers, moving past polesitter Mike Spurling of Rochester to grab the early lead and staying out front for the balance of the 30-lap main, scoring the win in just over seven and a half minutes in the fast-paced green-to-checker event.
“Super Dave” gave an emotional victory lane interview to track announcer John Spence, dedicating his win to longtime car owner Howdy Clapp who passed away just prior to the 2014 season, and admitting that an opening night win had long been on his personal bucket list. Check that one off.
Spurling took a well-deserved runner-up finish, with 2014 Rookie of the Year Lance Barthelemy of Fremont up to fill out the podium in the third spot. Fourth went to Groveland, MA racer Mike Murphy, with Leslie Keyser of Northwood, Kyle Sawyer of Kingston, multi-time champ Tommy Tombarello, Jr. of Haverhill, MA, Artie Rousseau of Ipswich, MA, rookie Mike Keddy, and Moe Lattime rounding out the top ten.
After finishing just five points short of the championship in 2014, Late Model Sportsman ace Ricky Porter of Epping got the new season underway with a promising pole position start, but he quickly lost the lead to the hard-charging Frankie Eldridge, who moved to the point shortly after the green flag waved.
Eldridge was off and running once he got to the front, quickly opening up a several car length lead as the field sorted out behind. Eldridge was easily the class of the field in the first contest of the 2015 campaign, eventually pulling away to a more than comfortable 5-second lead over his nearest competition as the checkers waved after another caution-free feature event.
Former Hobby Stock champion and multi-time 2014 LMS feature winner Jimmy Russell of Brentwood was the best of the rest in the second spot, with 2014 points runner-up Geoff Rollins of Groton, MA just behind in the third spot. Fourth went to newcomer Nate Leavitt, with Jay Sands of Hampton closing out the top five.
Mark Parenteau of Groveland, MA scored sixth in the Brian House entry, with 2014 Oktoberfest Outlaw winner Jimmy Ryder seventh followed by George Helliwell in the defending championship Rick Solt ride, Tom Carey III, and heat race winner Crystal “Hollywood” Serydynski.
Dave MacDonald of Tewksbury, MA jumped out to the lead in his Midnight Motorsports entry when the David’s Race Cars and Components Hobby Stock main went green, setting the pace for the first 11 laps before veteran Paul Palen slipped past to take over the point.
Palen sat on point for the next several circuits as he pulled away to a put a few car length lead between himself and the rest of the field approaching the five-to-go mark. But a late-race challenge killed his chances of victory when he got tangled up with Dennis Dumas coming off turn four, and the pair spun from contention with MacDonald moving back to the head of the field with the laps winding down.
With his shot at the opening night win restored, MacDonald picked up the lead on the restart, and he held on to the checkers to post the win, with Zac Fraser, Chris “Rooftop” Harding, Palen, and Jay Avery closing out the top five.
The Tri-City Line-X Ironman feature saw plenty of side-by-side action along the way, with former champ Troy Washburn outrunning the field to score the victory. Ryan Pitkin had an impressive run to collect runner-up honors, with Shane Horvath rounding out the podium in the third spot.
2013 champ Travis Hollins took home fourth place honors, with second-generation racer Zack Washburn, Hannah Shaw, Adam Knowles, and Luke Grammont next across the stripe. 2014 champion Jesse Tellier picked up right where he left off last year, scoring the 4-cylinder Pure Stock win.
Who better than 25-year-old Joey Logano of Middletown, Conn., the youngest winner in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history, to help celebrate New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s 25th anniversary celebration? The reigning Daytona 500 champion and Magic Mile September race winner visited with more than 150 fans, media and friends on Wednesday night in Nashua, NH to launch the speedway’s silver anniversary season and get everyone revved up for the New Hampshire 301 on July 19.
The grand opening of the newly refurbished Groveton, NH ¼-mile oval was a great success. Thirty-seven ACT teams came to support the Laquerre family’s effort to restore one of the region’s oldest tracks, which had fallen on hard times over the past decade. An incredible effort by many people, led by Joey Laquerre, was a true example of the racing community getting behind a project for the good of a region and short track racing. The ACT 151-lap event was spirited, and although it was shortened by rain, the huge crowd that attended seemed satisfied and grateful.
Finding three stars to honor was not an easy task. It started with the many volunteers that helped Joey Laquerre and his team pull the old facility into what is going to become a tremendous short track which can provide a boost to the local economy. It is sure to become a favorite of the ACT Late Model teams who came from Thunder Road and the U.S. Tour – along with some old faithfuls like the retired Randy Potter, who strapped into Joey Laquerre’s familiar 15VT for the event after he volunteered to paint the walls around the Speedway.
Lots of special moments made this a great race to attend. Hometown favorite Jeff Marshall should be mentioned for an outstanding run, and he certainly would have received a Star if he had finished out of the top three. A list of seven potential stars was put together and the final candidates to receive the honor at the new Speedway 51 were the following:
Kyle Welch, Newport, NH – 9NH—The 9NH team has not gotten off to the start they had hoped for during the 2015 campaign; mechanical failures seemed to follow them from the ACT trip to New Smyrna Speedway last February. But after grabbing their first ACT win a year ago at Speedway 51 (formerly Riverside Speedway), this event was circled on their calendar. They took advantage with a very steady ride during the feature. Welch seemed poised for an even better result, but when the rains came, many of the strategies from regular ACT Tour teams did not get a chance to play out.
Still, a steady ride from the 14th starting position to a top-five finish can be the catalyst for the young charger heading into the second half. Kyle and his team are relentless with their effort, and it showed at what has to now be one of his favorite tracks. The team climbed into the top-ten in points and are only 39 points out of fifth as we near the season’s halfway mark. It will be a very interesting second half and the 9NH is positioned in the thick of the battle. They certainly deserve a Star of the Race Award for their Speedway 51 effort.
Cody Blake, Barre, VT – 99VT—This Thunder Road regular does not step out often to run ACT Tour events, but the smooth Blake has the right DNA to compete, particularly on ¼-mile race tracks. Cody comes from racing stock; his dad was a former King of the Road at T-Road, and Cody has come through the ACT system to be a contender every time he straps in while surrounding himself with knowledgeable people such as established crew chief Joe Gaddis. His ability behind the wheel and the knowledge in the garage showed itself last Saturday night.
Qualifying at Speedway 51 was fierce with the large number of cars and the 99VT team found themselves needing to get into the race through the B-Feature. But what makes the Blake team so successful is their ability to come from the rear of the field to earn great feature finishes. That was the case again at the Generation Next 151. Cody started 25th in the competitive field, and in usual fashion carved his way methodically and unscathed to a top-10 finish. It would have been interesting to watch the remaining 60 laps unfold to see if this young team had more left after what was obviously a comfortable ride through the field. For this outstanding feature effort, a Star Award goes to the 99VT team.
Jimmy Hebert, Williamstown, VT – 58VT—Long-time fans of ACT racing probably cannot remember when a team that was expected to challenge for a championship has had a worse start then the Hebert Racing team. Some events have ended with bent clips, and others with mechanical issues, creating a miserable year overall. This Star Award is going to a team that has had one of the worst starts to a season in ACT’s long 30-year history.
The second-place points team in 2014 started the year with a torn-up race car in Florida, and tough luck has followed them ever since. The Star Award is awarded for bad luck, but more importantly to teams that just won’t give up. From a favorite to contend for a title to just wanting to get a decent finish, the 58VT team’s dedication and obligation to each other represents what’s good about short track racing. It’s hard not to root for the 58VT team to have a good second half, as Hebert has become an accomplished and respectful race car driver, and his team has gone through a quick learning curve over the past three years to establish themselves as contenders. For just “keeping on trying”, the Hebert Racing team is more than worthy of a Star of the Race Award for their effort to get to the next race at Devil’s Bowl.
The ACT Late Model Tour will travel to Devil’s Bowl Speedway for the People’s United Bank 100 on Saturday, June 6 at 6:00pm. The pits open at 12:30pm and the front gates at 3:00pm. Admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and free for kids 12 and under.
The stars of the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) will visit Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT for the People’s United Bank 100 on Saturday, June 6. Many Tour drivers will be looking for their first win at a track that two ACT Champions have had a firm grip on.
Dover, NH’s Wayne Helliwell Jr. and Williston, VT’s Brian Hoar have combined to win all five ACT Tour events at Devil’s Bowl since the series began visiting the ½-mile oval in 2011. Two-time ACT Tour Champion Helliwell won three straight races in 2012 and 2013, while eight-time Champion Hoar captured the 2011 and 2014 events. Both competitors will try to add to their win totals on Saturday.
Defending ACT Champion Joey Polewarczyk Jr. is the leading candidate to topple the Helliwell/Hoar dynasty. Hudson, NH’s “Joey Pole” looked to have the 2014 event in hand after building a straightaway lead in the second half of the race. But Hoar got the jump on the final restart with eight laps to go, relegating Pole to a disappointing runner-up finish.
“We’ve been to Devil’s Bowl quite a few times now, and I feel like we’ve had at least two or three opportunities to win a race – especially last year,” Pole said. “I felt like that one got stolen away from us, and I’ve been anxious to get back there ever since.”
A tight points battle between Pole and Helliwell will heighten the intensity. Each driver has already won two races this season, and the point lead has changed hands after three of the last four events. Helliwell currently holds a nine-point edge as the season nears its halfway point.
“The season goes by so quick, and every race counts and means a lot,” Pole added. “But it’s fun. The last few years it’s been kind of a runaway points lead, and you kind of know who’s going to win it after about three-quarters of the races. But I don’t foresee it being that way this year. I think it’s going to be tight between Wayne and myself, and I think that’s exciting for everyone involved.”
A number of Tour regulars are also in position to take down the established guard. East Montpelier, VT’s Emily Packard won three weekly events at Devil’s Bowl in 2014 and currently sits tied for fifth in Tour points with Brad Babb. Windham, ME’s Babb will be looking for his second win of the season after an electrical failure cut short a strong run at Speedway 51 last Saturday.
Fellow Maine driver Travis Stearns has multiple runner-up finishes at Devil’s Bowl in long-distance events and currently sits third in the Tour standings. Seventh-place points driver Brandon Atkins won the weekly opener on May 9 and has stated that Devil’s Bowl is his favorite track. Nick Sweet has a trio of Vermont State Championship wins at the speedway and is looking to get back on track after a crash at Speedway 51.
The ACT People’s United Bank 100 will be held on Saturday, June 6, with post time at 6:00 pm.