MILTON, VT – American-Canadian Tour (ACT) stock car racing Champion and current point leader Jean-Paul Cyr of Milton, VT is ready to win, and he wants to do it at the Challenge ACT 100 at Circuit Ste-Croix outside Quebec City on Saturday.
“I’ve been thinking about Ste-Croix for a few weeks now,” said the six-time and defending ACT Late Model Tour king. “I can’t wait for it. I really think this could be the race where we start to take off.”
The phrase “take off” may be hard for Cyr’s competitors to swallow. His finishes in the three previous Tour events this season have been nothing short of remarkable – 2nd place at Oxford, ME, 2nd at Thunder Road in Barre, VT, and 3rd place at the most recent event at Plattsburgh, NY’s Airborne Speedway, a track with many similarities to Circuit Ste-Croix.
“I go to the races every week thinking the same thing – that I can win,” Cyr said with confidence. “Ricky (car owner Rick Paya) and the guys have really stepped it up this season, and they’ve given me a really nice car to drive. I love racing at Ste-Croix, and I really want that first win this weekend.”
Cyr’s past performances at the fast 5/8-mile speedplant should also be a confidence booster. Cyr posted an ACT Late Model Tour victory at the track in 1996, followed by a win in the former Am/Can Challenge Series two months later. He parlayed those victories into championships on each series that year. He also recorded a 4th-place finish at Circuit Ste-Croix in 2003 and a 5th-place finish last season.
Cyr feels that a good mix of American and Canadian race teams should produce exciting racing action in the Challenge ACT 100.
“I think this will be the most competitive event so far this season,” he said. “Donald Theetge and the Lacombe brothers (of Quebec) are very good at Ste-Croix. Brent Dragon (Milton, VT) runs well and has won there, Brian Hoar (Williston, VT) runs well there, and Roger Brown (Lancaster, NH) likes the track, too.”
After three events in 2007, Cyr leads Thunder Road race winner Scott Payea in ACT Late Model Tour point standings, 285-258. Oxford Plains Speedway winner Randy Potter ranks third at 254 points. Hoar (235) and Ron Henry (234) round out the top five drivers.
The Challenge ACT 100 is the fourth of 14 events on the ACT Late Model Tour schedule. Green flag racing action is scheduled for 5:00 pm on Saturday. Circuit Ste-Croix is located along the St-Laurent River minutes from Quebec City. For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.acttour.com.