14th Annual Merchants Bank 150 Weekend
Thunder Road International Speedbowl
PITS NOTES SATURDAY APRIL 28, 2012
· 109 cars attended the annual Car Show held at Thunder Road
· 46 ACT Late Models participated in practice in preparation for Sunday’s Merchants Bank 150.
· Joey Polewarcyzk Jr. of Hudson, NH had the fastest lap time of 13.069.
· Other fast times were set by defending Late Model Champion Dave Pembroke, two-time defending Merchants Bank 150 Champion Nick Sweet, Lt. Governor Phil Scott, former Rookie of the Year Cody Blake, as well as Ben Rowe, Brooks Clark, Randy Potter, and Cris Michaud in the Merchants Bank Ford Fusion. (more…)
RPM Motorsports: ACT Late Model Tour
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl Race Preview
THE STORY
Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., will try and go 2-for-2 to open the ACT Late Model Tour season when the series competes in the Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt., on Sunday, April 29. Hoar, who won his 34th career ACT race in the season opener at Lee USA Speedway two weeks ago, finished fifth in this event last season. Though Hoar has had mixed results at Thunder Road recently – winning the season-ending Milk Bowl last September, but posting his worst finish of 2011 in the Labor Day Classic 200 at the track – RPM Motorsports has dominated the last two Late Model events there. Local driver Nick Sweet won the Labor Day Classic for car owner Rick Paya in September, while Hoar capped his championship year with his second career Milk Bowl. (more…)
Two-time and defending Serie ACT Castrol Champion Patrick Laperle has filed his entry for the 14th Annual Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road. The former ACT US star, who won the ACT Championship in 2008, will make his return to the Barre Highbanks to kick off the 2012 season.
Laperle’s resume at Thunder Road makes him an early favorite for the Merchants Bank 150. His 19 ACT wins, four of which have been at Thunder Road, is third overall on the All-Time ACT Win List. He is a multi-time Thunder Road Milk Bowl Champion as well as the 2010 Labor Day Classic winner.
Laperle is enthusiastic about starting the 2012 racing season. (more…)
Barre, VT — The long offseason has finally come to a close as drivers prepare for the first race at “The Nation’s Site of Excitement” Thunder Road in Barre, VT. The Late Model stars of the Northeast will be looking to send a message in their respective championship hopes at The Merchants Bank 150.
After a fierce battle for the win at the ACT season opener at Lee USA Speedway, the pressure heats up at Thunder Road for the second race of the 2012 ACT season. Many drivers will have a chip on their shoulder from missed opportunities in the opener, and will look for vengeance at The ‘Road.
After following up his record breaking eight ACT Championships with a win at Lee USA Speedway in the 2012 ACT season opener, Brian Hoar of Williston, VT will look to continue his march towards the ACT Championship. However, there will be stout competition waiting for him on the Barre high banks on Sunday, April 29. (more…)
Waterbury, VT — In 2011, Patrick Laperle of St-Denis, QC dominated the field on his way to his second Serie ACT Castrol Championship. After a historic season in which he posted 11 top fives in 12 starts with an average finish of 3.66, he will look to make an attempt at back-to-back championships in 2012, a feat that has never been done in the series.
The road to the championship will not be easy, however, due to challenges from two other former champs. Karl Allard of St-Félicien, QC will be hungry for a championship after finishing second to Laperle in 2011. Allard has already had a taste of the top, when he won the Serie ACT Castrol Championship in 2010. Allard will look to return the championship trophy to the Larue Industrial Snowblower/Gayor Construction mantle in 2012.
Donald Theetge of Boischatel, QC is the only driver, other than Laperle, who has earned more than one championship in the series. Theetge finished third overall in 2011 with 2 feature wins, but in 2012 will bring a brand new RPM racing car to competition.
Other Serie Castrol drivers in contention for the title in 2012 are former Rookie of the Year and 2011 feature winner Patrick Hamel from St. Croix, QC along with top-five points finisher David Michaud, Dany Trepanier, Patrick Cliche and Jean-François Déry. All are expected to be contenders for the 2012 Serie ACT Castrol Title.
Laperle, known for his “no holds barred – full throttle” style knows that the competition on the ACT Castrol Series has gotten better and better over the past few years. Winning a title will not come easily.
“We didn’t race this winter, so we are extra excited to go racing. This year will be tough, I know Theetge has a new car, Allard has a great car, and there are many new drivers on the tour. I am most worried about Theetge, Allard and David Michaud for sure,” Laperle commented. “You need a lot of good luck in this series and there are a lot of new guys now. We will see how our chances look after the first race,” Laperle finished.
The season begins Saturday, May 26 at Autodrome Montmagny in Montmagny, QC.
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14th Annual Merchants Bank 150 Weekend