WATERBURY, VT – Fifty-two of New England and Canada’s top stock car drivers converged on the 3/8-mile oval at Oxford Plains (ME) Speedway for the American-Canadian Tour’s (ACT) New England Dodge Dealers 150 on Saturday, and walked away impressed. Turning 150 laps in just 54 minutes with only two caution periods, the cars and stars of the ACT Late Model Tour gave race fans a clean, fast-paced, and exciting race program.
Jamie Aube of Bow, NH is a 30-year stock car racing veteran, and three-time champion of the Busch East Series. Aube was a championship contender with ACT’s former Pro Stock Tour of the 1980s, but has raced in other series in different parts of the country for the last two decades. He made his return to ACT at Oxford on Saturday afternoon.
“That race was some of the most fun I’ve had in a race car in twenty years,” he said. Aube’s 19th-place performance was lackluster on paper, but his personal account of the race would suggest otherwise.
“Even though my car had some mechanical problems, I had a great time. The racing was so clean, and the drivers and officials were so respectful and professional, it really was one of the best races I’ve ever been a part of. I’m really looking forward to racing at Thunder Road this weekend with this group of teams.”
Scott Robbins of Dixfield, ME, a former Oxford Plains Speedway Track Champion and winner of the prestigious TD Banknorth 250, echoed Aube’s thoughts.
“I wasn’t very competitive in the race, but I had a great time,” he said. Robbins, who finished 26th, one lap off the pace of the leaders, was surprised by the respect the ACT drivers and OPS regulars showed for each
other.
“In a situation like mine, when you’re frustrated and running poorly, you sometimes expect to have cars banging into each other. Nobody raced that way; it was very clean and respectful, and everyone was very patient. I was so impressed with the talent in that race.”
Williston, VT’s Brian Hoar, a five-time ACT Late Model Tour Champion, has returned to his alma mater on a full-time basis after running another series since 2001. Hoar was a contender for the New England Dodge Dealers 150 win in the early laps, but fell out of the race with a blown rear end.
“I’m excited to be back (racing with ACT),” he said. “I would much rather be here than in South Carolina, which is where I would have been with the other series. This is where it’s at, as far as I’m concerned.”
The ACT Late Model Tour is gearing up for this weekend’s Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl in Barre, VT. Qualifying action begins on Sunday, May 6 at 1:30pm. For more information, including schedules for Saturday’s Merchants Bank Car Show in Downtown Barre and Thunder Road’s annual “Class Day” festivities, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.acttour.com.