by Jay | May 2, 2016 | Maine, New, Oxford Plains Speedway
Oxford, Maine — Shawn Martin of Turner charged around the outside of his Budweiser Super Late Model rivals, including reigning champion Timmy Brackett of Buckfield at the scheduled halfway point, and five laps later crossed under yellow and checkered flags to claim victory in a 30-lap headline race at Oxford Plains Speedway on Sunday afternoon.
Martin, who started sixth, was pulling away from all rivals when the race was cut short. Brackett and fellow Buckfield competitor Kyle Treadwell were second and third-place finishers, respectively. Rookie Super Late Model driver Josh Childs of Oxford posted an impressive fourth-place finish, and was gaining on frontrunners when the race was cut short.
Opening Day Budweiser Championship Series Super Late Model winner Glen Luce of Turner rounded out the top five after lining up behind three-quarters of his rivals on the starting grid for the 30-lapper. Dennis Spencer, Jr., of Oxford, led much of the early half of the race before finishing seventh.
(more…)
by Jay | May 2, 2016 | Beech Ridge, Maine, New, PASS, Touring Series News
photos by Jamie Williams
Scarborough, Maine — DJ Shaw of Center Conway, New Hampshire drove from third position to first on a restart with four laps remaining in Saturday’s Southern Maine Chrysler Jeep Dodge 150 at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway to nail down his first Pro All Stars Series Super Late Model win of the season.
Shaw, the 2014 PASS North Super Late Model champion, watched Doiron blast on by earlier in the race after the Berwick, Maine driver, and eventual runner-up, charged from his 14th starting position into a lead threatened only by hometown racer Garrett Hall – the opening day PASS Super Late Model winner at Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway until the final pair of restarts took place, with six and four laps remaining, respectively.
Shaw had been a healthy distance behind Doiron aboard his Dale Shaw Race Cars / HK Powersports 60, but the once-dominant JBJ Machine 73 didn’t have the handles on cold tires. That opened the door for Shaw, who stepped through and into victory lane.
(more…)
by Jay | May 2, 2016 | ACT, New, Thunder Road, Touring Series News, Vermont
Rescheduled for Sunday May 8
Waterbury, VT –The dismal forecast for Sunday May 1 has forced Thunder Road Speedbowl to postpone the Merchants Bank 150. The race has been rescheduled for Sunday May 8, post time set for 2:00pm.
More than 40 ACT Late Model teams were expected to try and qualify including defending 2015 ACT Champion Wayne Helliwell Jr. of Dover, NH, along with 2015 Merchants Bank champion Brad Babb and multi-feature winner Nick Sweet.
(more…)
by Jay | Apr 28, 2016 | New, Thunder Road, Vermont
Therrien, Helliwell Open Thunder Road on Top. (Alan Ward photo)
Barre, VT—Hinesburg, VT’s Bobby Therrien heads to the “Nations Site of Excitement” as the American Canadian Tour (ACT) points leader this weekend for the 57th season opener of Barre, VT’s Thunder Road. Therrien, with a dominating win in the season opener at Oxford Plains Speedway and a 7th place finish last Sunday at Lee USA Speedway, leads three-time ACT Tour Champion Wayne Helliwell Jr. by just two points heading into the 18th Merchants Bank 150 on Sunday at 1:00pm. Helliwell, with a fourth place finish in the opener at Oxford and a strong second last week at Lee, is looking to carry the checkered flag around the high banked ¼ mile track again like he did in 2014. Brad Babb, driving the Joey Laquerre owned 15NH, stole the show in last year’s Merchants Bank 150 with Helliwell settling for second place. Babb became the 12th different winner in 17 editions of the event.
The ACT Tour drivers will not only be competing against each other but will also have to battle many of the weekly Thunder Road Late Model competitors. Second generation driver Cody Blake, Jason Corliss and Trampas Demers have filed entries to compete and Lt. Governor Phil Scott attended an open practice session at Thunder Road on April 20th.
(more…)
by Jay | Apr 27, 2016 | Lee USA, NEMST, New, New Hampshire, Touring Series News
The 2016 season opener may have been postponed by two weeks however the competition garnered the extended off season bringing 27 tour style mini stocks to the Lee USA annual Governors Cup race. Veterans of the NEMST lead the way throughout
Saturday practice with lap times approaching mini stock record speeds.
On Sunday the cars were unloaded and prepared for a single practice session before lining up for the 3 heat races. In practice the 19 driven by Zach Audet of Skowhegan hounded the 42, former Toby Wells car, that was purchased in the offseason by Jarrod Soucy an NEMST rookie. Other notable front runners were two-time champion Emerson Cayer, 2015 Rookie of the Year Haywood Herriott, Nick Maniatis, Matt Sonnhalter, and Mike Parker.
The heat races ran caution free with the teams of Nick Maniatis, Matt Sonnhalter, and Haywood Herriott. Nick Maniatis drew the invert chip of 3 rows following NEMST procedures and setting up a thrilling feature line up. 2 of the fastest cars in the field Jarrod Soucy and Mike Parker would make up the front row for the largest starting field in NEMST history.
(more…)
by Jay | Apr 27, 2016 | Lee USA, New, New Hampshire
Lee USA American Racer Three Stars Announced. (Alan Ward)
Waterbury, VT – The American Racer Three Star program will continue in 2016. The program is designed to recognize three teams in no particular order of performance that had outstanding races at ACT US tour events. There are no specific criteria for deciding who might receive the award of a free American Racer Tire (value $125.00), but a special effort by a team, exceptional race, just plain old hard luck, or other accepted reason to give the award is used to decide the recipients.
The three stars are chosen by officials and winners will receive certificates for the use of a free American Racer tire at a future Tour race of their choosing during 2016.
The awarding of the stars does not allow for anybody in the top three to receive the recognition. Again this week it would be difficult not to recognize the outstanding effort, strategies, and excitement that Scott Payea brought with his RPM team victory. Payea joined Wayne Helliwell Jr., Ray Parent, Alex Labbe, Quinny Welch, and Todd Davis who made the 30th opening day at Lee one of the most exciting races during the long history of ACT at Lee USA.
(more…)
by Jay | Apr 27, 2016 | ACT, Lee USA, New, New Hampshire, Touring Series News
photo by RPM 360
After posting the fastest time in practice on Saturday, Eddie MacDonald hoped to repeat his 2014 win in this year’s American Canadian Tour Exit Realty Governor’s Cup 150 at Lee USA Speedway on Sunday. When the checkered flag waved Eddie Mac crossed the stripe for a frustrating eighth place finish.
“We made an adjustment late Saturday that really helped us in the short run but killed us in the long run,” said the driver of the Exit Realty/Hancock Electric Chevy. “The car was pretty fast on Saturday and we thought the change would help the car in the late stages of the race but it didn’t turn out that way. It was pretty frustrating knowing I didn’t have the car to win it. With all our family and friends here, it would have been great to win it on our home track.”
Eddie Mac posted a plus one in his qualifying heat to start 13th in the 32 car field scheduled to go 150 laps around the 3/8ths of a mile oval owned and operated by Eddie’s parents Judy and Red MacDonald who are celebrating their thirtieth year operating the track. The American Canadian Tour’s Governor’s Cup had to be rescheduled from an earlier date due to weather concerns. When the green flag finally dropped to open the Lee USA season, Eddie Mac was comfortable riding the Freddie Peterson owned #17 near the middle of the pack to conserve tires. ACT rules do not allow teams to change tires unless damaged.
(more…)
by Jay | Apr 27, 2016 | ACT, Lee USA, New, New Hampshire, Touring Series News
photo by Rich Hayes
Lee, NH – Lee USA Speedway swung open the gates Sunday afternoon to drop the green flag on the 2016 season with the annual running of the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 American Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model event. The traditional season-opener also featured the NEMST Mini Stocks and Northeast Classic Lites doing battle at “New Hampshire‘s Center of Speed“.
Many special guests were on hand for the season-opening activities, including New Hampshire’s Governor Maggie Hassan, and legendary local rocker Charlie Farren, who sang the national anthem before the afternoon’s main event.
The Northeast Mini Stock Tour got the honor of being the first feature that took to the fast 3/8th’s mile for the new season, with Zach Audet claiming a convincing victory in the 50-lap feature event. 2014 Lee USA Late Model Sportsman champ Niko Maniatis came up just short for the second straight year scoring runner-up ahead of Haywood Herriot.
(more…)
by Jay | Apr 26, 2016 | Maine, New, Wiscasset Speedway
Credit Photos: Mary Taylor petespicks.smugmug.com
By Lisa and Richard Maguire
Wiscasset Speedway opened the gates for the first show of the season last Saturday. The stands were packed by show time, and fans enjoyed the spring weather while watching the action on Maine’s fastest oval track. On the schedule were the division one group of racers, which include: Super Streets, Thunder 4 Mini’s, ServPro of Biddeford Saco Prostock, and New England Four Cylinder Prostock’s. Additionally, it was season opener for the Amsoil Nelcar Legends at Wiscasset, who made their first of nine appearances.
Starting off the racing action was a thirty-five lap Spotlight Race featuring the New England Four Cylinder Prostock’s. Starting on the pole was heat winner, Connor Wenners of the #4. Racing off the start was Wenners and the #98 of Kamren Knowles, 2015 season NEFCP champion. The #24 of Jeff Prindall quickly moved to third. In the mix was Ryan Hayes of the #38.
(more…)
by Jay | Apr 25, 2016 | Maine, New, Oxford Plains Speedway
Glen Luce best in Oxford Plains Speedway Super Late Models
Reigning Oxford 250 kingpin wins Budweiser Championship Series opener
Oxford, Maine — Glen Luce of Turner followed up his most successful racing season ever with an opening day victory in the Budweiser Championship Series Super Late Model division season-opener Sunday afternoon at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Luce, who fulfilled the goal of most every Maine stock car racer with a $31,000-plus victory in last year’s Oxford 250, nailed down this 50-lap triumph after an early battle for the lead with Norway’s Chris Coolidge.
(more…)
