Brian Hoar Wins Labor Day Classic 200
Eight-time Tour champion inches closer to 2012 ACT Title
BARRE, Vt. – Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., took advantage of shrewd pit strategy at Thunder Road International Speedbowl, emerging with crucial track position and holding off all comers to win the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 on Sunday afternoon. Hoar led the most laps en route to his record 37th career ACT Late Model Tour victory and inched to within eight points of the series lead with just one race remaining.
The win was the second in a row in this event for RPM Motorsports, which also won the event in 2011 with Nick Sweet driving as a teammate to Hoar. (more…)
Packard Earns Rookie of the Year At Canaan
Late Model 100 Run, ROY Title Highlight Busy Week For 15-Year-Old
In five days, Emily Packard logged nearly 200 laps of racing, countless hours of practice and testing and tackled some of the most challenging tracks in the northeast.
From a test on the one-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series competition at Canaan Fair Speedway to another Top-5 finish at Thunder Road International Speedbowl, the 15-year-old high school sophomore experienced virtually every type of track and every kind of emotion associated with racing in New England.
“We had a great week. With all the ups and downs, it definitely equaled out,” Packard said. “We definitely had a good week and a great end to the season. I’m already excited for next weekend.”
Packard started with a day-long test session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last Wednesday as teams prepared for the fourth annual Bond Auto ACT Invitational on September 22. Though Packard has not been formally afforded an official invite yet, she posted the sixth-fastest practice speed of the afternoon session at NHMS in just her first trip to the track. (more…)
Austin Theriault Racing: ACT Late Model Tour
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl Race Report
BARRE, Vt. – Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, Maine, finished fifth in the ACT Late Model Tour Labor Day Classic 200 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt., on Sunday, September 2. Theriault started 29th in the 30-car field, used pit strategy early in the race to gain track position, and then picked up two spots over the final four laps to finish in the Top-5 for the seventh time in nine ACT races this season. The Brad Keselowski Racing development driver remained the only driver on the ACT Late Model Tour to have finished in the Top-10 in all nine points races, and the AT Racing No. 57 Pelletier Ford Ford Fusion has two Top-10s in two races at Thunder Road in 2012. (more…)
Barre, VT – Eight-time Champion Brian Hoar made it clear his championship defense was far from over on Sunday afternoon at Thunder Road, claiming the clutch victory in the 34th Annual Bond Auto Labor Day Classic. Current point leader Wayne Helliwell, Jr. made him earn it, finishing a close second, and three-time Thunder Road track champion Cris Michaud rounded out the podium finishers.
Rookie Jimmy Hebert led the way early until a lap 33 caution when Helliwell spun in turn three. Hebert retained the lead following the restart, but was overpowered by Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. on lap 54 of the event. His lead, however, was short-lived when a hard charging Brent Dragon charged from the tenth starting position to take the lead on lap 68. (more…)
The final night of Thompson Thursday Night Thunder saw Lite Modified driver Cam McDermott secure his 12th victory of the season. Other winners in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action included Woody Pitkat in the Sunoco Modifieds, Tommy O’Sullivan in an action packed Late Model feature, Jay Sundeen in the Thompson Modifieds, Larry Barnett in the Limited Sportsman, and Chad Baxter in the Mini Stock division.
Woody Pitkat held off Ryan Preece in an exciting Sunoco Modified 30-lap feature. Pitkat took the lead on lap six and battled Preece until lap 20 when he was able to shake him off his rear bumper and drive on to the checkered flag. Kerry Malone held off Todd Ceravolo at the start to take the early lead. The top-four – Malone, Ceravolo, Woody Pitkat, and Ryan Preece – were bumper-to-bumper until lap three when Ceravolo went underneath Malone to challenge for the top spot. Malone held him off as Pitkat and Preece drove by Ceravolo using the outside groove. On lap six, Pitkat went underneath Malone and maneuvered around a lapped car to take over the lead in turn four. Preece moved into the second spot on lap 10 and attached himself to the back bumper of Pitkat. On lap 13, Preece went to the inside and took over the lead in turn three, but Pitkat retaliated and reclaimed the lead on lap 14. In a nail-biting duel, Preece challenged Pitkat several times, but Pitkat continuously closed the door. On lap 19, Pitkat pulled away enough from Preece to have some breathing room. The field began to stretch out until Pitkat took the checkered flag a commanding ten-car lengths over Preece. (more…)
A look back at the August 25, 2012 SK Modified feature event held at the Waterford Speedbowl. Includes footage of Sid & his crew walking around the pits early in the day, plus plenty of race footage during the 35 lap main event. In car camera footage from Rob Janovic Jr, Tyler Chadwick & Tom Abele Jr as well as the Webbycam from track official Eric Webster. Sid had a larger group of friends than normal so there is plenty of grandstand commentary as well.