by | May 3, 2013 | ACT, Thunder Road, Touring Series News, Vermont
BARRE, Vt. – Emily Packard of East Montpelier, Vt., turned in a career day at Thunder Road International Speedbowl by finishing 18th in the ACT Late Model Tour Merchants Bank 150 on Sunday, April 28. The finish marked the 16-year-old driver’s best career ACT finish in two career starts, and it came just hours after she won the second of four first-round qualifying races to earn a career-high 21st starting position in the 31-car field. Packard tried desperately to gain track position on the tight, quarter-mile bullring at Thunder Road and after a mid-race pit stop for chassis adjustments was able to finish in the Top-20.
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by Jay | May 2, 2013 | Connecticut, Thompson, Touring Series News, VALENTI MODIFIED SERIES
PENNINK TO LEAD VALENTI MODIFIEDS TO THOMPSON ON MAY 19TH.
THOMPSON, CT Rowan Pennink, fresh off of a second place finish at the Thompson Speedway’s Icebreaker, will lead a full field of Valenti Modified Racing Series cars and stars to the Thompson Speedway on Sunday, May 19th. The Pennsylvania driver is the current points leader in the VMRS. He gained the top spot as a result of a 4th place finish in the season-opening race at the Waterford Speedbowl and then a win at the Monadnock Speedway. Pennink, like many drivers, competes with the Valenti Modified Racing Series, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
“I think we have a pretty good chance at Thompson”, Pennink said. “With the # 25 car, Thompson seems to be our best track. Gary (Casella) has a really good setup for that track and we have had great motors from Mike Pettit. Generally, we unload the car at Thompson and don’t touch it. The setup has been that good,” Pennink concluded.
When asked about the challenge of competing in every race on both the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the Valenti Modified Racing Series, Pennink said that they plan to run them all. He did indicate that there are a couple of races that are scheduled pretty close, but he indicated that the teams felt that if all went well they would be able to make every race.
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by | May 2, 2013 | ACT, Media, NASCAR, Photos, Touring Series News
[nggallery id=71]
Photo Credit:
Eric R. LaFleche
27 Main St.
Spencer, MA 01562
by Jay | Apr 29, 2013 | ACT, Thunder Road, Touring Series News, Vermont
Vermont Driver Earns Record 38th Career ACT Late Model Tour Win
BARRE, Vt. – Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., played the waiting game on Sunday afternoon and turned it into his record 38th career ACT Late Model Tour victory, leading the final 24 laps en route to winning the Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt.
The win was Hoar’s second straight victory in the event in the RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge Charger for owner and crew chief Rick Paya.
“We just had to save the rear tires, and with 40 laps to go, we just turned it on,” Hoar said. “This is just awesome.”
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by Jay | Apr 28, 2013 | ACT, New England, Thunder Road, Touring Series News, Vermont
Barre, VT – The sun shone on eight-time American Canadian Tour Champion Brian Hoar, as his trademark patience brought him his second Merchants Bank 150 in as many years on a beautiful afternoon on Sunday, April 28. Middlesex, VT’s Dave Pembroke came home a stout second, and 7-time ACT Champion Jean-Paul Cyr brought home a third place finish.
The race began with pole sitter Jay Laquerre running to a large lead in the early going, but it wasn’t long before Pembroke and Hoar muscled their way to the front in the outside lane, with Pembroke snatching the lead on lap 36. From there Pembroke surged, making short work of lap traffic and building his lead during a long 82-lap green flag run. ACT Rookie of the Year competitor Bobby Therrien impressed early, working his way towards the front of the pack as high as third in his third career ACT event before the caution.
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by Jay | Apr 27, 2013 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, Touring Series News
Thirty six NASCAR K&N Pro Series East cars took the green flag in the Blue Ox 100 at Richmond International Raceway on Thursday with Eddie MacDonald in the unenviable 33rd starting position. When the checkered flag waved at the end of the 100 lap (75 miles) race the Grimm Construction Chevy scored an impressive fourth place finish.
“We needed that finish after the last couple of races,” said a very pleased driver. “We had a terrible qualifying attempt. The front of the car was hitting the track and it was smoking quite a bit. We had to start the race that way since the cars are impounded after qualifying.”
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BARRE, Vt. – Emily Packard of East Montpelier, Vt., turned in a career day at Thunder Road International Speedbowl by finishing 18th in the ACT Late Model Tour Merchants Bank 150 on Sunday, April 28. The finish marked the 16-year-old driver’s best career ACT finish in two career starts, and it came just hours after she won the second of four first-round qualifying races to earn a career-high 21st starting position in the 31-car field. Packard tried desperately to gain track position on the tight, quarter-mile bullring at Thunder Road and after a mid-race pit stop for chassis adjustments was able to finish in the Top-20.