by Jay | Aug 14, 2009 | ACT, Canada, NASCAR, New England
Waterbury, VT – The American Canadian Tour (ACT) announced today that over a 30-day period from August 29th through September 27th there would be purses posted of over a quarter million dollars for Late Model race teams in the Northeast and Canada.
Starting with the Coors Light Showdown of Champions event at the 1/3-mile banked Autodrome Chaudiere in the Beauce region outside Quebec City, the top eleven (11) US ACT Tour teams will go head to head with the top (11) ACT Castrol Serie teams. The winner of the event gets the grand prize of $5,000 from the $35,000 in posted purse. Everyone is guaranteed $1,000 minimum, but this year, promoter Michel Lessard has posted a ‘kicker’. The winning ‘team’, be it the US or Castrol team, will share equal portions of an added $5,500.00. The $500 bonus per member will go to the team whose 11 total finishes outpoint the other team. The biggest names in ACT racing from both sides of the border will be attending the second edition of the Showdown. Patrick Laperle barely beat defending ACT Castrol Champion, Alexandre Gingras, in the inaugural 200-lap event in 2008.
The Americans won the overall title as a team last year. Ironically, former Castrol Champions Patrick Laperle of Montreal and Donald Theetge from Quebec City both helped the US team win as they raced on the ACT US Tour in 2008. This year they are locked in a tight battle for the ACT Castrol Serie championship in Quebec and Ontario and will be representing the Canadian team during the classic.
Next up in the marathon ‘ACT Money Month’ will be a return to Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, Vermont for the 47th annual running of the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic. A record purse and prize posting of $45,000 has been offered. Renowned car builder and car owner Pete Duto entered Brad Leighton from Center Harbor, NH in last year’s Classic. In one of the most memorable come-back races in the long history of Thunder Road, Leighton crashed twice in the event but came back to win $10,000 and the first place trophy. He will be back to defend the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic in 2009.
One of the most anticipated events of the year is up next for the Late Model teams. The long awaited return of the Fall Foliage 300 is back on the ACT schedule in 2009. The newly renovated and redesigned Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY will again host the historic ‘300’ weekend with a posted purse of $40,000. This fall classic event was held in many forms and different numbers of laps. The inaugural event was held in 1972 and was won by Bobby Dragon of Milton, VT. Catamount continued the tradition of a big fall event until it closed in 1987. After the closing of Catamount, the race moved to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, ME for a three-year stop. Buzzie Bezanson of Plaistow, NH surprised all present with a no pit stop ‘300’ win in 1989. Two of the greatest Late Model drivers in New England racing history won the other two Beech Ridge events, Robbie Crouch from Tampa, FL in 1988, and “Dynamite” Dave Dion from Hudson, NH won in 1990. The race moved to Airborne Raceway for the next ten years. A one and only stop for the ‘300’ took place at Thunder Road in 2003, where Ryan Moore, in his only year racing the ACT Tour, was the surprise winner. The Fall Foliage 300 returned to Airborne the following year and has found its home there since 2004. The most recent ACT winners included Airborne and ACT Champions Brent Dragon and Jean-Paul Cyr of Milton, VT, and Quebec’s great Patrick Laperle. Under the leadership of present owner Steve Fuller and promoter Mike Perotte, the outstanding DIRT driver Kenny Tremont, Jr.has won all three Fall Foliage extra distance events in a Modified on the ½-mile asphalt speedway. The ACT Tour returns in 2009 after a three-year absence.
The championship month will continue with what has become the most talked-about event in Northeastern Late Model racing of any kind this season. The inaugural ACT INVITATIONAL at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway will take place on Saturday, September 19. No championship title points, no pressure, just an historic day for Late Model racers throughout the region, as they race for $65,000 and a name in the NHMS record books. This year-long promotion will be the racing career highlight for many of the lucky 36 invitees. It is sure to be a highlight for the many short track fans that take in the atmosphere of the first NASCAR Chase event weekend held each September at NHMS.
Finally, the $250,000 month will fittingly come to a close with the ‘grand-daddy’ event of them all, the 47th Annual Chittenden Milk Bowl. Thunder Road will bring the curtain down on its 50th season with a $10,000-to-win, $70,000 Milk Bowl. The gloves are sure to come off at this year’s Milk Bowl. For the first time in recent memory this event will be strictly for the money, the glory, the right to kiss the cow — with no points for either Thunder Road teams or ACT Tour teams. The three-segment format of the Milk Bowl provides the ultimate equal playing field for the ACT competitors. You don’t have to win all three segments, you just need to race every lap like it is the white flag lap, and have a whole bunch of luck.
The ACT Late Models have reached the top of the Northeastern-racing scene. Promoters have recognized them as the best in the business, and tracks from throughout the Northeast and Quebec are rewarding them with the ACT $250,000 Money Month of racing. The real winners will be the fans.
by Jay | Aug 12, 2009 | Canada, NASCAR
Fredericton, NB – All the way from Tennessee to the Geary Woods! Two Time Daytona 500 Champion Sterling Marlin has announced his intentions to enter the 9th Annual Peterbilt 250 at Speedway 660. Marlin will join a strong list of Southern Stars who have competed in the Labour Day Classic. Over the past several years fans have seen Johnny Benson, Terry & Justin Labonte and Ron Hornaday take battle against the best Pro Stock teams in the Northeast.
Marlin was and is a household name from his days behind the wheel of a Sprint Cup car. He is perhaps best known as only the third driver in Cup history to win back-to-back Daytona 500s, joining Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough as the only drivers to earn that distinction after winning in 1994 and 1995. “There is no doubt that my fondest memory is winning that first Daytona 500,” Sterling said. Marlin has also added 8 other Sprint Cup victories (total of 10) to his resume, competed in 747 Cup races and has earned a whopping 38 Million dollars throughout his career. Before his days in NASCAR Marlin won championships at Nashivlle Speedway. Marlin is currently running a part time Sprint Cup schedule.
“I’m excited; these home grown short track events are what our sport was built on. This is a huge race for the Atlantic region and I’m really looking forward to racing the best up there!” said Sterling in a phone interview.
Auto Pride/Auto Value out of Fredericton, New Brunswick will be the primary sponsor on Marlin’s car. In addition to Auto Pride/Auto Value, Marlin will receive support for his venture from Peterbilt New Brunswick and Moosehead Breweries. Other sponsorship deals are still in the works. “Man we are PUMPED. This is a thrill of a lifetime for us at Auto Pride. Sterling is an icon in this sport and we are pretty fired up to be a part of this deal.” said Randy McCoy of Auto Pride.
This news is also great for all involved with Speedway 660. “This is something special. There isn’t a NASCAR fan that hasn’t spent many a Sunday afternoon on the coach watching Sterling Marlin on TV. To have him here, at our track, racing in front of our fans is a really cool deal.” said Speedway 660 co-owner Steve Burns.
Sterling’s car will be prepared by long time weekly Speedway 660 competitor Hal O’Neal and the OGC Racing Team. “We are pretty excited. We had some bad luck last year but the car has been completely rebuilt and its ready to go” said Hal O’Neal. “We’ve been racing for a lot of years and we’ve really missed it this year so I think this is exactly what we need. We can’t wait!”
Please contact Angela Coffey at Speedway 660 (506-455-3181 or [email protected]) for any questions.
The Peterbilt 250
The 2009 Peterbilt 250 will take place on Sunday, September 6tht, 2009 and will be the highlight of the 8th Annual SPEEDWEEKEND. The event will showcase the Speedway 660 Irving Lubricants Pro Stocks against the best of the Eastern Canada and New England. The purse for 2009 will be over $70,000 with a guaranteed $15,000 to the event winner and possible winner’s cheque of $28,000. Six years ago, the late Scott Fraser took home a record $25,400 including lap money. Only nine years old, the event as grown in crowd, atmosphere, and car count every year since its inception. Over 8,000 people attended the 2008 event to break attendance records at Speedway 660. Forty plus pro stock cars will be attempting to qualify for 28 spots on the starting grid.
SPEEDWEEKEND
Just like the Peterbilt 250, SPEEDWEEKEND continues to grow every year. Over 14,000 people attended last year’s four-day stock car fest that includes a corn boil on Friday night, O’Leary Pontiac Excitement Sportsman 150 race on Saturday night, the Peterbilt 250 on Sunday, and finishes up with an Enduro 200 on Monday. While the Peterbilt 250 is the highlight of the racing event, the weekend has developed into an event on its own with over 600 campers turning Speedway 660 into a small town over the weekend. It has become the destination of choice for the region’s stock car fans.
Speedway 660
Speedway 660 is WicKID Family Fun! The 1/3 of a mile high-banked paved oval features three classes of racing on a weekly basis: Irving Lubricants Pro Stocks, Martin’s Home Heating, and Coast Tire Street Stocks. Over 70,000 people are expected to attend over 20 events during the 2009 season. Speedway 660 is located off Highway 7 on Route 660 in Geary, NB, and is within minutes of Saint John and Fredericton. Speedway 660 can be found online at www.speedway660.com.
by Jay | Aug 11, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, New England
Uncasville, Conn. (August 11, 2009): Matt Kobyluck isn’t quite ready to turn over his title of road course King just yet. The 39-year-old driver, who has been dubbed the NASCAR Camping World Series East’s road racing ace, is ready to defend his win in the Mohegan Sun 200 at Lime Rock Park. Kobyluck won both road racing events last year during his championship winning ’08 season, but finished second to Ryan Truex at Watkins Glen this past June. Kobyluck, who wants to put his team and race sponsor Mohegan Sun Casino in victory lane, will accept nothing less than a win.
Kobyluck feels his preference for technicality in driving will be an advantage at Lime Rock Park. The 1.53-mile course is demanding on a driver, and hitting your marks is key to a solid finish.
“I love the road courses,” said Kobyluck. “In fact, our best finish this year was at Watkins Glen. At the same time, Lime Rock is a very challenging course and it demands a rhythm. You can try and overdrive at Lime Rock and you’ll end up going slower. It’s very easy to get off course there.”
Kobyluck’s success on the road courses isn’t understated. Since 2001, the driver of the No. 40 Mohegan Sun Casino Chevrolet, has four wins, eight top fives and 11 top 10’s in just 14 road-course starts. A win at Lime Rock Park this weekend would put Kobyluck in the record books. Right now, he’s tied with Butch Leitzinger as the only drivers to have won three times. A win this year would mark his third straight victory, but it would mean career win number four at Lime Rock Park.
“I don’t go to Lime Rock with the intention of breaking records. I just go there to win,” said Kobyluck. “But to put this team in a class all it’s own wouldn’t be such a bad thing either!”
Kobyluck is currently fourth in the points – 67 points behind leader Ryan Truex. Only 100 points separate the top six drivers in points with only three races remaining in the season.
For more information on Matt Kobyluck, Mohegan Sun Casino, or the Mohegan Sun race team, visit www.mattkobyluck.com.
by Jay | Aug 10, 2009 | NASCAR, New England, Thompson
Preece On A Roll Heading To Thompson
The 2009 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season has reached its halfway point, and as the Tour heads to Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway this week, Ryan Preece is perhaps the hottest driver on the circuit.
Preece, from Berlin, Conn., has won the last two NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races and is now just 27 points out of the championship lead thanks to top-10 efforts in six of the season’s seven events.
The last two weeks have been a constant emotional high for Preece, who recorded his first career win last year at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, but never got to celebrate in Victory Lane as Burt Myers was there originally, before being disqualified. His triumph at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway on Aug. 1 was the first time he got to pull into Victory Lane, and symbolically, it felt like his first win.
Last Friday at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway, Preece then got the first win of his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour career at his home track.
Preece had a stout car the last handful of races at Stafford, but the cards didn’t line up for a victory. The long wait ended in the Town Fair Tire 150 when he led the final 47 laps to take the checkered flag.
“I’ve always wanted to win here, and I finally got it,” said an elated Preece following the win.
Both wins have been hard-earned for Preece. In the previous week’s win, he had to fend off a host of Riverhead regulars to get to the finish line first, and Friday’s win at Stafford featured a similar storyline as he had to outlast the winningest driver in the track’s storied history: Ted Christopher.
Christopher had led the first two-thirds of the race after starting first on the redraw, but after a restart, Preece was able to get past the defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion on Lap 104 and hold off some hard charges from Christopher for the win.
As the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour now heads to Thompson for the Budweiser 150 presented by New England Dodge Dealers on Thursday, Aug. 13, Preece will have to turn the page quickly. The Tour is currently halfway through its busiest part of the 2009 schedule with four events in the span of 19 days. Fortunately for Preece and the No. 3 team, momentum is clearly on their side, for the time being.
“The month of August seems to be a real good month for me, and hopefully my luck will stay like this,” Preece said.
The 18-year-old driver knows that things can turn around quickly in auto racing, so he’s not going to get too caught up in the team’s current run.
“Who knows, I could be wrecking next week, so I’m living in the moment, and things are real great right now,” Preece said.
While he has traditionally been a front-runner at Stafford, Preece has yet to find much success at Connecticut’s biggest oval. In 10 career starts at Thompson, the third-year driver has an average finish of 15 with four top 10s. A fourth- place finish there in the season opener – the best of his career – should be encouraging.
While the season is only halfway over, it may be too early to hedge bets on the championship, but the consistency that Preece’s team has exhibited to this point indicates that they could be a legitimate title contender.
Preece and the rest of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour competitors will get the action going on race day at Thompson with practice at 2 p.m. Time trials are set for 5:30 p.m. and the 150-lap race is scheduled to go green at approximately 8:45 p.m.
Fast Facts
The Race: Budweiser 150 presented by New England Dodge Dealers
The Place: Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway
The Date: Thursday, August 13
The Time: 8:45 p.m. ET
The Distance: 150 laps / 93.75 miles
Race Purse: $84,168
2008 Winner: Ron Silk
2008 Polesitter: None-rain
Event Schedule: Practice 2 – 3 p.m.; Tire Scuff 5:15 p.m.; Qualifying 5:30 p.m.
by Jay | Aug 9, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, New Hampshire
North Haverhill, N.H. (August 10, 2009): Fadden Racing will field two cars at this weekend’s NASCAR Camping World Series East 200-mile event as car owner Mike Olsen gets back behind the wheel of the championship-winning No. 61 to compete in only his second start this season. Jonathan Smith, driver of Fadden Racing’s No. 16 is especially optimistic about the return to road course racing whereas Lime Rock Park was where he started his go-kart career more than ten years ago.
The Smith family has a long and storied history at the Connecticut road course. Jonathan’s father, who will offer advice to his aspiring son, raced there as well. He considers it to be his home track since many of Smith’s early successes were produced there.
“I’m a big fan of road course racing so I consider that to be one of my strengths,” said Smith. “Loving a track is the first big hurdle to get over before you can be successful at it. I have a lot of good memories there and I love the challenge the course presents.”
Last season, Smith was forced to do a start and park in the event. He wrecked in practice and had no back-up car to lean on.
“I can’t wait to actually get to race Lime Rock again,” said Smith. “We didn’t get a lot of track time last year, but it’ll be different this year!”
Smith is also looking forward to having a teammate in his car owner Mike Olsen. Olsen, who won the 2001 and 2006 NASCAR Camping World Series East Championships, has had a tremendous record at the road course including ten top-10 and seven top-five finishes. His highest finish is second place and includes leading a career total of 43 laps at Lime Rock.
“I’ll be able to gain a lot of knowledge from Mike,” said Smith. “Mike is a strong road course racer and I’m definitely ready to learn from him.”
The weekend kicks off on Friday, August 14th with practice and qualifying followed by the green flag for the 82-lap event on Saturday, August 15th. For more information on Jonathan Smith, Mike Olsen, or Fadden Racing, visit www.faddenracing.net.
by Jay | Aug 2, 2009 | NASCAR K&N Pro Series
BEAVER FALLS, N.Y. – Veteran Steve Park showed he hasn’t forgotten his way to Victory Lane, leading the final five laps Saturday evening at Adirondack International Speedway en route to the win in The Edge Hotel 150 presented by Casella Waste Systems.
It was Park’s first NASCAR Camping World Series East victory in 13 years. He won twice in 1996, with the latter coming at the now closed Nazareth (Penn.) Speedway on July 1. Since, he has collected wins in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Series Truck Series. He has also won on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
Park appeared on the verge of the win in the NASCAR Camping World Series previous race, July 11 at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway, only to lose the lead late to teenage rookie Ryan Truex.
This time, it was Park who got the jump on race leader Jody Lavender on the race’s final restart and led the the rest of the way. Truex got by Lavender in the closing laps to grab second. Jesus Hernandez and defending race winner Matt Kobyluck rounded out the top five.
With the win, Park locked up a secured spot in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. The prestigious postseason race is scheduled for Jan. 29-30, 2010 at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).
Eddie MacDonald won his first career Coors Light Pole Award and led a race-high 101 laps. However, he got shuffled back late in the race and finished 10th.
Truex was able to stretch his points lead to 26 over Lavender with three races remaining. The top six drivers are seperated by just 100 points.
NASCAR Camping World Series East-The Edge Hotel 150 pres. by Casella Waste Systems Unofficial Results
Saturday
At Adirondack International Speedway
Lowville, N.Y.
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (7) Steve Park, East Northport, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150 laps, 80.000 mph, $8,000.
2. (9) Ryan Truex, Mayetta, N.J., Toyota, 150, $4,625.
3. (11) Jody Lavender, Hartsville, S.C., Chevrolet, 150, $3,700.
4. (10) Jesus Hernandez, Fresno, Calif., Dodge, 150, $3,000.
5. (3) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $2,600.
6. (16) Alan Tardiff, Lyman, Maine, Chevrolet, 150, $3,900.
7. (8) Ty Dillon, Lewisville, N.C., Chevrolet, 150, $1,700.
8. (2) Brett Moffitt, Grimes, Iowa, Chevrolet, 150, $2,100.
9. (17) John Salemi, Nashua, N.H., Chevrolet, 150, $2,025.
10. (1) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Chevrolet, 150, $3,975.
11. (5) Dustin Delaney, Mayfield, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $2,475.
12. (13) Jonathan Smith, Beacon Falls, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $1,875.
13. (12) Tommy Cloce, Canton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $1,325.
14. (4) Ryan Duff, Hazard, KY., Chevrolet, 150, $1,775.
15. (18) Jason Holehouse, Toronto, Ontario, Toyota, 150, $1,230.
16. (14) Max Gresham, Griffin, Ga., Toyota, 149, $1,700.
17. (15) Matt Kurzejewski, Mansfield, Pa., Dodge, 149, $1,670.
18. (19) Levi Arthur, Boonville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 148, $1,150.
19. (20) Scott Bouley, Middlebury, Conn., Chevrolet, 146, $1,130.
20. (6) Alex Kennedy, Aztec, N.M., Chevrolet, 111, vibration, $1,615.
21. (21) Todd Peck, Glenville, Pa., Chevrolet, 98, vibration, $1,100.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 0 hours 56 minutes 15 seconds
Margin of Victory: .619 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: E.MacDonald (107.533 mph, 16.739 seconds)
Caution Flags: 5 for 23 laps.
Lead Changes: 6 among 5 drivers.
Lap Leaders: E. MacDonald 1-57; M. Kobyluck 58-61; E. MacDonald 62-92; B. Moffitt 93; E. MacDonald 94-106; J. Lavender 107-145; S. Park 146-150.
Standings: 1. R. Truex, 1227; 2. J. Lavender, 1201; 3. E. MacDonald, 1192; 4. M. Kobyluck, 1167; 5. S. Park, 1149; 6. B. Moffitt, 1127; 7. A. Tardiff, 1009; 8. D. Delaney, 1005; 9. R. Duff, 962; 10. A. Kennedy, 946.
