by Jay | Jan 16, 2010 | ACT, Canada, New England
South Burlington, VT – American Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model stock car Champion Brian Hoar of Williston was honored for his sixth career ACT Late Model Tour Championship on Saturday, January 16 at the Sheraton-Burlington Hotel and Conference Center in South Burlington, VT. Hoar currently holds the record for the most career wins in ACT Late Model Tour history with 25, including back-to-back wins at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and Waterford Speedbowl in 2010. These wins, plus 11 top tens in 13 starts, helped Hoar edge out runner-up Scott Payea. Hoar was joined by over 500 teams, fans and officials as he celebrated his first championship with new car owner Rick Paya. Paya also has previous ACT Tour championships as a crew chief and car owner with Jean-Paul Cyr.
The 41st Annual MacTavish Award was given to New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) for their contribution to Northeast stock car racing. The prestigious MacTavish Award is named for legendary New England racer Don MacTavish who was killed in 1969 while racing at Daytona International Speedway. In 2010, NHMS hosted the first annual ACT Invitational, which invited 36 of the best Late Model competitors from around the region. It was the showcase event for ACT Late Model competition during the 2010 season.
Thunder Road International Speedbowl crowned Milton’s Jean-Paul Cyr as the 2009 50th Anniversary Season “King of the Road.” The seven-time ACT Late Model Tour Champion took a break from the touring scene in 2009 and set his sights on the 50th Anniversary Season title. He joined forces with car owner Joey Laquerre and crew chief Jeff Laquerre. Cyr used his Times Argus Mid-Season Championship win to beat “Senator” Phil Scott for the championship.
The NAPA Tiger Sportsman title went to Williamstown’s Jimmy Hebert in just his third season. Hebert also scored the first feature win of his career in 2009. The 2009 Tiger Sportsman Tri-State Series Championship was won by Morrisonville, New York’s Shawn Duquette. Duquette tied Jason Bonnett for the title, but used his two victories to win the tie breaker. Veteran Gary Mullen of Tunbridge took the top Allen Lumber Street Stock honors. Donnie Yates of North Montpelier won the Power Shift Junkyard Warriors title.
Over $85,000 plus trophies were awarded to the top teams in all divisions of Thunder Road and the ACT Tours for their efforts during the 2009 season.
The second annual ACT Crew Chief of the Year Award went to John Doiron. Doiron was the crew chief for his son, Joey, who won the ACT Rookie of the Year Award for 2009. John was recognized for his hard work, dedication, enthusiasm and attitude on the ACT Tour and the continual improvement of the Berwick, Maine Doiron race team.
A new award was created this year in memory of Pete Hartt, who covered the American-Canadian Tour and Thunder Road during his time with WDEV Radio and as the sports editor for the Times Argus. The Pete Hartt Memorial Media Award was presented to WCAX sports anchor Seth Leavitt for his support of regional stock car racing.
Troy Germain, “The Voice of ACT” from St. Johnsbury received the Ken Squier Award. Germain was presented the award for his hard work and dedication as the ACT Tour and Thunder Road announcer.
The Gordon R. Nielsen Rookie Achievement Award went to Hyde Park’s Tucker Williams. Williams is the 2009 Allen Lumber Street Stock Rookie of the Year and led the division with four wins. His first career feature win came on opening day of 2009 in his first feature start. Other rookies that qualified for the award were from the ACT Tour, Joey Doiron of Berwick, Maine along with Thunder Road Late Models, Dylan Smith from Randolph and NAPA Tiger Sportsman, Erik Steel of Barre.
Sportsmanship and Most Improved driver awards were presented for all divisions based on driver and official voting. ACT Late Model Tour winners were Chip Grenier of Graniteville for the Sportsmanship Award and Graniteville’s John Donahue for Most Improved. Thunder Road Late Model awards went to Brooks Clark from Fayston for Sportsman and Cambridge’s Craig Bushey for Most Improved. The Thunder Road Sportsman awards were presented to Wolcott’s Brendan Moodie for Sportsmanship and Bradford’s Derrick O’Donnell for Most Improved.
The Ed Carroll Memorial Award for Sportsmanship in the Street Stocks was awarded to Craftsbury’s Mike Martin. The Junkyard Warrior Sportsmanship Award was given to Cabot’s Ken Christman.
The 2010 ACT Late Model Tour season will kick off on Sunday, April 18 at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH. Thunder Road will open its gates for the first time on Sunday, May 2 for the 12th annual Merchants Bank 150. For complete schedules and more information visit www.acttour.com or www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.
by Jay | Jan 14, 2010 | Maine, PASS
FARMINGDALE, Maine — With 10 championships between them, Maine racers Ben Rowe and Johnny Clark are teaming up for a winter road trip.
A long winter road trip — to Florida.
Rowe, who has four PASS North Series championships as well as PASS South and PASS National championships on his resume, and Clark will field a joint effort for the inaugural PASS Winterfest 150 at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway on Jan. 29-30. The event is the first of five PASS National Championship races scheduled for the 2010 season.
“We wanted to go down and support this race, because we think it could grow into something really big in the future,” said Clark, a four-time PASS North champion, including the last two series titles. “If everything goes well, we should both have a chance to win this one.”
Clark’s race hauler will carry both his familiar Clark’s Car Crushing No. 54 and Rowe’s new Community Pharmacies No. 48. The deal to pool the resources of Johnny Clark Motorsports and Mulkern Racing was finalized at last weekend’s Northeast Motorsports Expo held at the Augusta Civic Center.
Rowe was named Touring Series Driver of the Year at the Expo.
“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Rowe, who will debut with his new team and new crew chief, Seth Holbrook, at New Smyrna. “Me and Johnny have never teamed up before, so it’s going to be a blast.”
Of the two drivers, only Clark has New Smyrna experience, having competed on multiple occasions in the annual New Smyrna World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing held each February.
He compared New Smyrna’s high-banked half-mile layout to Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway, a track familiar to PASS North Series competitors.
“It’s a lot like Thompson,” Clark said. “It’s big and fast, and it’s definitely a fun and challenging track. It’s extremely hard on brakes, and you need one of the biggest motors you can find there.”
Rowe said he’ll take Clark’s word for it, having never raced at New Smyrna himself. He has, however, watched a number of races there from the pit area.
“It does race a lot like Thompson — at least that’s what Johnny tells me,” Rowe said. “Hopefully he’ll help me out when we get there and we can go from there.
“We’re going to take a bunch of guys from the north down there and see what we can do together.”
Teams hit the track on Friday, Jan. 29 for an extended practice session. Qualifying and feature racing will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30. The Winterfest 150 is tentatively scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. green flag.
by Jay | Jan 14, 2010 | PASS
NAPLES ME (1/13) Super Late Model racers from all over the eastern seaboard are ready to shake off the winter doldrums and take on the high banks of New Smyrna Speedway when the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models invade the sunshine state on January 30th for The PASS WInterfest 150.
The entry list is growing daily and all indications point to a battle royal between Florida’s fastest, the PASS super late model touring pros and a host of outlaws that seek out the biggest races and the toughest competition.
Tim Russell was first to file his entry for Winterfest and the Apopka driver has to be considered one of the favorites. He’s got plenty of extra distance event wins at the legendary short track, and it will be tough to beat the home track boys at their own game. Still, there’s a bunch of tough customers that are going to give it their best shot, including four time PASS North Super Late Model Champion Johnny Clark, who will make the trip from Maine to tackle New Smyrna. Lonnie Sommerville is a journeyman racer from the Canadian Maritimes, and he can’t wait to take on the challenge. Brandon Ward has taken over the wheel of Jeff and Jane Day’s potent New Day Motorsports entry, and you can expect this combination from Winston-Salem North Carolina to make some noise right out of the box. Dale Brackett is making a run at the PASS National Championship in 2010, and he will tow all the way from Strong Maine for round one of the five race PASS National Championship schedule.
Local racer Shane Snipes will be behind the wheel of a Mike Skinner owned super late model, and two of the best from the Carolinas, Jay Fogleman and Preston Peltier, have both committed to the January 30 race. Heath Hindman will make the trip from Tennessee and North Carolina’s Clay Jones has his race car prepared for the 150 green flag laps that are one of the signatures of the Pro All Stars. Since the series’ inception in 2001, all feature events race the advertised distance under green; all restarts are double file, so the action is guaranteed to be fast and furious for all 150 laps round the tough oval.
For the hardcore race fan it will be a double header weekend of diverse motorsport. Just up the road at Daytona International Speedway the Rolex 24 at Daytona gets the green at 3:30 on January 30 and the checkered won’t drop until 3:30 PM on Sunday January 31th. It’s one of the most grueling endurance racing around and short track and road racing fans alike have a rare and unique opportunity to see the best of two motorsport worlds on the weekend of January 30 and 31.
All teams will have the opportunity to practice on Friday January 29 from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Pit gates will open at 12:00 Noon. On race day January 30 the pit area opens at 10:00 AM, practice runs from 12:00 to 2:30 PM and Super Late Model time trials get underway at 3:30 P.M.
For more information visit www.racewithpass.com or www.proallstarsseries.com. New Smyrna Speedway is on line at www.newsmyrnaspeedway.net . Address media and marketing questions to Norm Desjardins at (603) 539-3368. For technical information please contact PASS Technical Director Scott Reed at (207) 625-3230.
by Jay | Jan 14, 2010 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A California native, and rising star in the Joe Gibbs Racing development program, Matt DiBenedetto will return to The Golden State for the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, Jan. 29-30 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).
Originally from Grass Valley, Calif., DiBenedetto burst onto the scene in 2009 as a consistent frontrunner in NASCAR Camping World Series East action. Although he competed in just seven of the season’s 11 events, DiBenedetto piloted the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Driven Toyota to a pair of wins, five top 10s and a 14th-place finish in the final standings. The 18-year-old rookie was also impressive in his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut last fall in Memphis when he qualified fifth and finished 14th.
The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown will be the first time that DiBenedetto turns a lap around Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.
“I’m really looking forward to racing at Irwindale for the Showdown. It’s an awesome track and has multiple grooves which will make for some great racing,” said DiBenedetto, who will be behind the wheel of the No. 98 Toyota fielded by car owner Mike Curb. “I’ve never been there, only watched it on TV, so I’m really looking forward to turning some laps. I’m also excited to get to race in my home state, and in front of a bunch of my family members. I want to thank Mike Curb and Joe Gibbs Racing for making this race possible.”
“We are thrilled with the opportunity to help Matt,” Curb said. “He is a true talent with a very bright future.”
The seventh running of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, which brings together the top racers from across North America for the ”Daytona 500 of short-track racing,” will be highlighted by the 225-lap Camping World Series all-star race. Each race winner during the 2009 Camping World Series season is eligible for a protected starting spot, as are the 2009 champions from each of NASCAR’s six regional touring series and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion.
DiBenedetto’s rookie campaign was highlighted by wins at Tri-County Motor Speedway and the June race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The 18-year-old earned poles in his first road-course races at Watkins Glen International and Lime Rock Park, and shattered the series’ qualifying record in the season finale at Dover International Speedway, which earned him the season Coors Light Pole Award. Despite not competing in four races, DiBenedetto also earned the series’ Wix Lap Leader Award.
“2009 was a great season for me. I won a couple races and I was able to get my feet wet with the Joe Gibbs Racing guys,” DiBenedetto said. “It also allowed me to get my first Nationwide race under my belt. I’m really looking forward to the 2010 season in the NASCAR Camping World Series East.”
In addition to eligible 2009 race winners and series champions, the starting lineup will be determined through time trials, limited provisionals for Camping World Series regulars, and the last-chance “Open” race that provides drivers one final chance to make the grid.
The 2010 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown schedule also includes 100-lap Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model and 75-lap Late Model races. Both nights of racing will air live on SPEED.
by Jay | Jan 6, 2010 | PASS
NAPLES ME (January 6, 2010) The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models will race five times to determine the 2010 PASS National Champion.
The expanded National Championship schedule will include three new National Championship venues. PASS Florida Winter Fest will get the season underway January 29 and 30 at New Smyrna (FL) Speedway with a 150 lap event that marks the first PASS sanctioned event in the sunshine state. The popular Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway on April 2nd and 3rd has been designated as stop number two on the National Championship trail.
July will see one of two northern swings with a July 22nd “Thursday Night Special” at Thompson (CT) International Speedway. September 11th and 12th are the dates for the PASS 300 at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough Maine. The 2010 PASS National Champion will be crowned October 16th at the Mason – Dixon Meltdown’s new home on the ultra fast high banks of at Newport (TN) Speedway.
In addition to being designated as National Championship events, Hickory and Newport will award PASS South Championship points while Thompson and Beech Ridge will count toward the PASS North title tally.
Turner Maine’s Ben Rowe is the defending PASS National Champion; Cassius Clark of Farmington Maine earned the inaugural National title. 79 super late model racers earned PASS National Championship points in 2009.
Keep tabs on all the latest PASS news at www.proallstarsseries.com .
2010 Pro All Stars Series Super Late Model National Championship Events
Date(s) Location Event Distance
1-29/30 New Smyrna (FL) Speedway PASS Florida Winter Fest 150 laps
4-2/3 Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway The Easter Bunny 150 laps
7/22 Thompson (CT) Int’l Speedway 75 laps
9-11/12 Beech Ridge (ME) Motor Speedway PASS 300 300 laps
10-15/16 Newport (TN) Speedway Mason-Dixon Meltdown 200 laps
Schedule Subject to Change
by Jay | Jan 6, 2010 | ACT, New England, New Hampshire, NHMS
Waterbury, VT – The American Canadian Tour (ACT) has announced that the total point fund awards for the 2009 season will total over $85,000. The annual Banquet of Champions will be held at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in So. Burlington, VT on January 16, 2010.
The ACT TOUR will honor the 2009 Championship team of Brian Hoar and owner/crew chief Rick Paya, who also owns RPM Engines in Georgia, VT. Hoar will celebrate his sixth American Canadian Tour title, and car owner, Rick Paya, will also celebrate his sixth ACT title, having won previous titles as crew chief and then owner of the only seven-time ACT winner in its 25-year history, Jean-Paul Cyr. The RPM team will receive $10,000 first place point money at the annual festivities for their efforts during the 2009 thirteen (13) race campaign.
“This past year was a whole lot of fun for RPM racing. We kind of struggled at the beginning of the season, but most of that was trying to figure out what each of us (Hoar and Paya) needed to be successful,” said Rick Paya. “Working with Brian was great, especially after we got things sorted out over the initial few weeks. We kind of entered the deal hoping to get immediate results, but I think our team is better off having to go through the learning curve we experienced. We really are excited about being together for next season, and winning the 25th anniversary title of ACT would be pretty meaningful for Brian and our entire team,” concluded Paya. Both Paya and Hoar have been supporters of the ACT Late Model program since its inception in 1992.
The Thunder Road “King of the Road” title chase was another blending of veteran teams. Ironically, Jean Cyr, who won all those championships with Paya, joined the most storied crew chief of the decade at Thunder Road, Jeff Laquerre, from Barre, VT. Laquerre and his veteran father, Joey Laquerre put together a new team with the sole purpose of winning the 50th anniversary title at Thunder Road. Jeff Laquerre led the Tracie Bellerose championship chase in 2000. She was the first female to win a major division title. Laquerre followed that up with Thunder Road titles for Cris Michaud in 2004 and 2005. The Laquerre-Cyr team took a few weeks to get things sorted out, but in the end they held off Michaud, Phil Scott and David Pembroke to win the coveted 2009 title. The team will receive $5,000 in point fund money for the championship win. Total money awarded to the Thunder Road competitors in three divisions will exceed $20,000.
Previously, in November, 2009, the ACT Castrol Series awarded over $30,000 in point fund money to those that competed in the 2009 nine (9) ACT Castrol Série.
The Banquet of Champions will award trophies, prize money, and special awards to an expected crowd of 500 teams and fans. Announcements regarding the 25th anniversary season of the American Canadian Tour, along with the prestigious awarding of the annual MacTavish Award, Doc Nielsen Award, and many other special recognitions will highlight the evening’s activities. Tickets are still available by calling the ACT office at 802-244-6963.
The 2010 ACT and Thunder Road seasons will offer Late Model teams in the region over $800,000 in various purse and prizes beginning with the opening event at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH on Sunday, April 18th, the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150.
