by Jay | Mar 19, 2009 | New
Historical ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Creates Buzz
WATERBURY, VT – On September 19th, 2009, the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) will become the 23rd different track to host an American-Canadian Tour Late Model event. It will also become the largest track (1.058 mile) to ever hold an ACT event, surpassing the 7/8ths mile Sanair Super Speedway in St. Pie, PQ.
Sanair Super Speedway held the inaugural ACT Late Model Tour race and was won by Norm Andrews of Warren, VT on April 26, 1992. To date, there have been 186 ACT Late Model Tour events with 57 different winners, including the non-point counting All-Star race at Autodrome Chaudiere in Vallée-Jonction, PQ held in 2008.
In 2009 there will be 12 point counting events and another All-Star race at Chaudiere before the ACT Invitational. That will bring the total events to 199 and make the ACT Invitational at NHMS the 200th event run by the American based ACT Late Model Tour.
It will also be the first time the point leaders from the nine ACT affiliated tracks will be invited to an invitational event. These nine tracks are Thunder Road in Barre, VT, Lee (NH) USA Speedway, White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, NH, Oxford Plains (ME) Speedway, Seekonk (MA) Speedway, Waterford (CT) Speedbowl, Twin State Speedway in Claremont, NH, Capital City Speedway in Ottawa, and Kawartha (ON) Speedway.
The ACT Invitational wouldn’t be possible without the revolutionary crate engine and spec shock programs, and their acceptance by these affiliated tracks. These programs were developed by ACT President Tom Curley to keep short track Late Model racing in the Northeast affordable and competitive. Since these programs were introduced into ACT competition, they have kept car counts up by allowing teams to be competitive without going broke. This has been crucial to keeping short track racing alive in the Northeast.
Short track racing will continue to grow this season with all the interest created from the ACT Invitational. Few short track drivers get the opportunity to race at NHMS, the only track in the Northeast on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. This year 36 drivers will get that rare opportunity. These 36 drivers will include the winners of each of the first twelve 2009 ACT Tour events, the first eight Serie ACT Castrol events and three non-point counting events; the TD Bank Oxford 250, the Showdown at Autodrome Chaudiere and the Governors Cup at Thunder Road. This will most likely mean more drivers will show up to these events in the hope of qualifying for the Invitational and a chance to race at NHMS.
Also qualifying for the Invitational will be the point leaders of the nine racetracks previously mentioned. The opportunity to race at NHMS should make the points battles at these racetracks even more intense and therefore the racing even more exciting.
However, qualifying for the Invitational is not a guarantee even for those who are leading the points at these tracks. They must not only be 100% ACT legal, but they also have to meet experience and quality standards as determined by ACT. These requirements will ensure that only the highest quality teams will be at NHMS, therefore making the ACT Invitational field one of the stoutest to ever compete in the Northeast.
The Invitational will put more pressure on drivers to win races and earn a chance to qualify. Veteran driver Randy Potter of Groveton, NH, said, “There is a lot of extra pressure on all of us to win and get into this race. Plus there most likely will be guys who have already run the big shows in different type cars (Busch East, Cup, etc) that will come in with big budgets and try to “steal” some of the spots from the full time ACT guys by winning a race.”
Five-time ACT Tour champion Brian Hoar of Williston, VT, is back full time this season taking over the seat from Jean-Paul Cyr in the Rick Paya machine. He says, “I will always put a lot of pressure on myself and my team to win races! Winning is one of the many allusive goals that keep us coming back for more. That being said, I always look at the big picture and realize winning is not everything.” If the past is any indication, Hoar should have no trouble qualifying for the Invitational. He has won at least one race in each of his full time seasons on the ACT Late Model Tour from 1992 to 2000 and holds the record for most wins in a season with five in 1999. He also has the most total wins in ACT Late Model Tour history with twenty-three.
The opportunity to race at NHMS seems to be the hot topic among drivers competing on the ACT Tour in 2009. Hoar, who has raced at NHMS in a Busch East car, is excited to return. He continued, “I have always loved the place, the speed and had good results, which I hope to add or improve to this fall. I think the Late Models will put on an exciting race, much like the modifieds do. With the limited horsepower and tires I think the cars will race more similar to the mods than other divisions.”
Potter added “I have a short “bucket” list and one of them is to compete at NHMS. So this is the best chance I’ll have.” But the race at NHMS isn’t blocking his view of his main goal, “We want to be in contention to win multiple races this year to put ourselves in a position in points to run for the title and all of the rest of that qualifying stuff will take care of itself.”
The ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will add a new dynamic to the ACT Tour and Series ACT Castrol schedules, as well as the ACT affiliated tracks with the opportunity to qualify.
The first qualifier will be determined at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH on Sunday April 19th, as the ACT Tour kicks off its 2009 season with the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150. A practice session is scheduled for Saturday April 18th.
by Jay | Mar 12, 2009 | New
Stanley “Stub” Fadden, 76, passed away earlier today. Stub entertained fans in New England for over six decades racing in everything from a flathead coupe at Thunder Road to the NASCAR Camping World Series East.
Stub loved short track racing and it showed. His remarkable career began in 1961 and included over 230 victories in the US and Canada. He won Championships at Vermont’s Thunder Road, Catamount Stadium, and Milton. In addition, he won a track championship at Mount Laurier, Quebec, was a triple crown winner at Cayuga Speedway, and a two-time winner of the prestigious Milk Bowl at Thunder Road. In what began as the NASCAR Busch North Series, Fadden was a fan-favorite. He accumulated four wins and was part of the only grandfather/grandson team in the series. He announced his retirement from full-time competition in 1998 at the age of 65, but went on to compete in a handful more races alongside his grandson, Mike Olsen. Fadden was the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award in 1990, and was bestowed with the NASCAR Dedication award in the late 90s. Fadden was inducted into the NEAR Hall of Fame in 2003.
by Jay | Mar 8, 2009 | New
NASCAR Champion Ted Christopher Wins Providence Indoor TQ Midget Finale
PROVIDENCE, RI – Defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ted Christopher is proving he is one of the best indoor racers.
Christopher, 50, of Plainville, Conn., captured Saturday night’s 30-lap TQ Midget feature event at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. The race concluded the two-day event, which was the first held in the Ocean State in 50 years.
“I enjoy the opportunity of being part of history,” Christopher said. “I think this race was a success especially with how full the stands were and the racing was incredible.”
The win gives Christopher a pair of indoor TQ Midget events this year. In January, Christopher won the Gambler’s Classic in Atlantic City, N.J.
Christopher had a busy 24 hours in Rhode Island. After Friday’s race, which was won by New Jersey dirt Modified driver Mike Iles, Christopher had to take his TQ Midget to Seekonk, Mass., where it was repaired at Wayne Darling’s race shop.
In his qualifying heat race on Saturday, Christopher b arely qualified after a rear radius mount broke. The team went to work and made the respective repair just in time for the main event.
For the second consecutive night, it appeared as if Iles had the victory in hand.
Iles jumped out into the lead at the start of the race, but his momentum was slowed on lap five after Bobby Santos III spun out his race car in turn three.
Matt Janisch of Nazareth, Pa., moved into the runner-up spot on lap nine and started to challenge the race leader.
But a several car incident slowed the race and took out the front runners on lap 12 as Iles, Janisch and Mike Lichty were involved in a crash in turn two.
Ryan Smith had the lead, but that was short lived as Christopher took over the top spot on the restart.
As expected, indoor master Lou Cicconi Jr., who was substituting for an ill Matt20Roselli, challenged Christopher for the lead spot, but a miscue (he hit the kill switch on a restart) hindered his chances of getting by the race leader.
“Lou raced me real clean and I appreciated it,” Christopher said. “He’s one of the best indoor racers ever.”
Cicconi of Aston, Pa., settled for second, while Timex Morgan of Rochester, N.Y., was third, Smith was fourth and Mike Tidaback of Little Falls, N.J. was fifth.
Heat races went to Iles, Janisch, Mike Stefanik and Licty. Tim Adams and Glenn Heverin won the consolation races.
In the 20-lap Champ Kart main, Chris Daley of Pleasant Valley, N.Y., scored his second consecutive main at the Dunkin Donuts Center.
Daley got=2 0the lead after a close race with John Hillman, who later crashed.
Daley defeated Eric Zeh, George Bark, Justin Bonsignore and Ron Midford Jr. completed the top five.
TQ Midget Feature Finish, 30 Laps: 1. Ted Christopher; 2. Lou Cicconi Jr.; 3. Timex Morgan; 4. Ryan Smith; 5. Mike Tidaback; 6. Joey Payne; 7. Ian Cumens; 8. Matt Janisch; 9. Bobby Santos III; 10. Alex Bright; 11. Paul Lotier Jr.; 12. Mike Lichty; 13. Jeff Kot; 14. Don Zrinski; 15. Jonathan Reid; 16. Glenn Heverin; 17. James Michael Friesen; 18. Mike Iles; 19. Heath Hehnly; 20. Tim Adams; 21. Mike Stefanik; 22. Ryan Barlett.
Champ Kart Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1. Chris Daley; 2. Eric Zeh; 3. George Bark; 4. Justin Bonsignore; 5. Ron Midford Jr.; 6. Jay Dimond; 7. Bryan Ray; 8. Evan Beaulieu; 9. Nick Hadden; 10. Ryan Arsenault; 11. Tammy Smith; 12. Mike Perry; 13. Clinton Mills; 14. Tyler Robertson; 15. Tim Buckwalter; 16. Adam Gage; 17. Andrew Swisher; 18. John Hillmann; 19. Andrew Hutchinson; 20. TJ Laro.
by Jay | Feb 13, 2009 | New
Racin’ Preview show in Portland a mix of new and old
Portland, Maine – Local stock car racers get anxious for their upcoming short track seasons as the NASCAR season gets underway each February in Daytona.
Short track fans get their first opportunity to see what’s in store for the 2009 season on the local bullrings at the 15th annual Racin’ Preview 2009 show at the Portland Expo on the weekend following the Daytona 500, Friday and Saturday, February 20-21.
Several stock car racing facilities will be officially represented, and there will be a number of unofficial representatives from various tracks and tours competing throughout Northern New England.
Joining the various local speedways from the tri-state region will be regional touring series like the Pro All Stars Series (PASS), the American-Canadian Tour (ACT), the True Value Modified Racing Series (TVMRS), Sprint Cars of New England (SCONE) and NELCAR Legends, along with representatives from two or three other traveling series.
Racin’ Preview 2009 annually salutes the past in local and regional motorsports and this year the Maine Vintage Race Car Association promises what should be their best-ever display. More vintage racecars and historic displays than ever are on the agenda, says MVRCA show coordinator Dodo Brockman.
Autograph opportunities abound at Racin’ Preview 2009, and hundreds of door prizes will be handed out, chiefly by show floor host and emcee Bill DaButler.
Doors open at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 20, with the show open until 10:00 p.m. Saturday Racin’ Preview 2009 hours run from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. The Portland Expo is located at 239 Park Avenue (U.S. Route 1) in Portland, Maine. For more information please call 603-447-4251.
