PLATTSBURGH, NY – Scott Payea of Milton, VT is anticipating his return to Airborne Speedway this weekend, and with good reason: When the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) rolls into the fast 4/10-mile track for the 33rd annual Furniture World of VT Spring Green on Saturday, May 12, Payea will be looking for his second straight ACT Late Model Tour victory.
Twenty-five year-old Payea earned his first career ACT victory in the Merchants Bank 150 last Sunday at
Barre, VT’s Thunder Road, and has tasted success at the Plattsburgh oval in the past. As a teenager, Payea cut his racing teeth at Airborne Speedway in 1999, picking up the Rookie of the Year award in the Street Stock division that year. He later progressed to the intermediate Tiger Sportsman ranks, earning three victories and establishing himself as a driver to watch in the future. For Payea, the future is now.
“(The Merchants Bank win) validates what we’ve known, that we’re capable of winning races with ACT,” said Payea. “We are really looking forward to the race at Airborne and the rest of the season. We have a lot of laps at Airborne, we’ve won races there, and I have a great team behind me.”
With the support of his family-based team and crew chief Chris Companion, Payea looks to add his name to a prestigious list of previous Furniture World of VT Spring Green champions. Milton, VT residents Beaver, Bobby, and Brent Dragon, along with six-time ACT Champion Jean-Paul Cyr, have won the event six times since its inception in 1974. Short track legends Jean-Paul Cabana, Dave Dion, Robbie Crouch, and Junior Hanley have also triumphed in the event.
After two events, Payea sits fourth in ACT Late Model Tour points, behind Cyr, David Avery, and Randy Potter. When asked about his plans to wrestle the ACT title away from perennial champion Cyr, Payea replied simply: “We’re ready.”
Qualifying for the 33rd annual Furniture World of VT Spring Green is scheduled to begin at 4:00pm on Saturday, May 12. For more information, visit the Airborne Speedway website at www.airbornespeedway.net, the official ACT website at www.acttour.com, or call (802) 244-6963.