Dery Clings to Slim ACT Castrol Lead

Déry has come out of the gate on fire in 2012 dominating the opening event before settling for third and backing it up with another third place finish at Autodrome Chaudiere.  Déry is searching for his first ACT Série Castrol Championship, but two-time Champion Donald Theetge has put the heat on following a victory at Autodrome Chaudiere which vaulted him from mid pack to just two points out of the lead in second.

 Only 12 points back is up-and-comer Dany Trepanier, who nearly took the win from Theetge and finds himself in third place in the overall standings.  Karl Allard follows in fourth after his opening day victory, and David Michaud rounds out the top five.

(more…)

Jay Laquerre Claims Sherwin-Williams Victory Demers, Kingsbury Score Feature Wins

ACT American Canadian Tour Barre’s own Jay Laquerre took the outside lane to victory in the headline Late Model division on Sunday evening (June 10) on Sherwin-Williams night at Thunder Road. Laquerre’s victory was his first since 2001 when he scored his two career victories at the Barre high banks. Jamie “The Hurricane” Fisher made Laquerre work for the win on a late race charge, but settled for second. Cody Blake, former Thunder Road Champion Nick Sweet, and multi-time champion Phil Scott rounded out the top five.

Laquerre took the lead and ran away in the first half of the race after a lap three caution for debris before Fisher caught him using the outside lane in lapped traffic over the final 47 green flag laps. Fisher mounted multiple attacks, cruising to Laquerre’s bumper and pulling down on the inside, only to find himself back in second. Laquerre is thankful Fisher had the same handling condition as they battled for the lead.
(more…)

Donald Theetge Scores Série ACT Castrol Win at Chaudiere

ACT American Canadian TourDonald Theetge of Boischatel, QC scored a win in the Série ACT Castrol 150 lap event at Autodrome Chaudiere on Saturday, June 9. Theetge led the final six laps of the event after dominant leader Patrick Laperle suffered heartbreak when he broke a driveshaft joint on lap 144. Dany Trepanier followed Theetge to the line for second followed by Jean-François Déry.

Theetge and Laperle worked their way through the 26 car field from the twelfth and eleventh starting positions respectively. Theetge got around early leader Patrick Hamel on lap 37 and began making his way through heavy lap traffic over a long green flag run. Laperle took the lead in the outside lane following a lap 70 restart and appeared to have the car to beat as he dominated for the next 70 laps. He appeared to have the race in hand as he built a lead working his way through lap traffic, but he unexpectedly slowed coming down the front stretch on lap 144 and coasted to a stop at the top of turn 2 after his driveshaft failure.
(more…)

Nick Sweet Rolls to First Memorial Day Classic Victory at Thunder Road

Thunder RoadIn a race that had eluded his prestigious racing career, Barre, VT’s Nick Sweet methodically worked his way to the victory in the 50th Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic at Thunder Road in Barre, VT on Sunday, May 27, 2012. The Memorial Day Classic was the first of four events in the Vermont State Late Model Championship series. Sweet held off Lt. Governor Phil Scott and Brent Dragon, who flew through the field from the 12th and 16th starting positions to finish second and third.

The race began with pole sitter and former Oxford Plains Speedway Champion Ricky Rolfe showing the way early, only to engage with a heated back and forth struggle with Milton’s Scott Payea. Rolfe and Payea traded the lead back and forth, side by side for more than half of the race. Scott and Sweet trailed the pair for the majority of the exchange as the top four ran in a tight battle for the point. Scott took over on the outside lane for 12 laps only to see Nick Sweet steal it away for good on a lap 68 restart.
(more…)

Allard Steals Série ACT Castrol Opener at Montmagny

ACT American Canadian TourFormer Serie ACT Castrol Champion Karl Allard, of St. Félicien, QC claimed the victory in the season opening event at Autodrome Montmagny in Montmagny, QC on Saturday, May 26. He had to earn it by fending off two-time and defending Série ACT Castrol Champion Patrick Laperle, and early leader Jean-François Déry who finished third.

The early part of the race was led by Jonathan Desbiens from the pole starting position until the second caution of the event on lap 9. Déry then flew to the point and dominated the race, multiple car lengths ahead of the field at times, and looked like the car to beat. Meanwhile, Allard and Laperle picked their way through the field from 13th and 16th respectively over the first three-quarters of the event.
(more…)

Helliwell’s Lead Trimmed, Competition Stirs

Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. (97NH) drives under Jeff White (50ME) in his runner-up effort in Sunday’s (5/20) Armed Forces 150 at Oxford Plains Speedway. (Photo by Eric LaFleche)

Waterbury, VT – Eight-time American Canadian Tour Champion Brian Hoar started off his title defense with convincing victories in 2012, beating out four-time Lee USA Speedway Champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr. by a collective car length in each of the first two events. The pair soared far above the field and looked to be gearing up for a two car battle for the 2012 ACT Championship. Last Sunday, May 20 at Oxford Plains Speedway it all changed.
(more…)