NORTH WOODSTOCK, NH – Vermont stock car racer Scott Payea of Milton grabbed his second American-Canadian Tour (ACT) victory of the season and of his career in the Kancamaugus 100 at New Hampshire’s White Mountain Motorsports Park on Saturday night. Payea led on two occasions, including the final 18 circuits after passing Turner, ME’s Ben Rowe. With his win, Payea becomes the first multiple winner in nine ACT Late Model Tour events this year.
“It means a lot to get a win at White Mountain,” said Payea in victory lane. “This is where I started racing my Late Model back in 2004, this is where I learned how to race these cars. I passed Ben Rowe on the outside lane for the lead, and that felt pretty good, he’s one of the best there is. This is a big win for my team.”
Rowe, a multi-time champion in various forms of New England short track auto racing, passed Payea for the lead on lap 61, but was outgunned by Payea one lap after the race’s third restart, which came on lap 81. Incidental contact cut Rowe’s right-front tire, and he fell out of the race two laps after losing the lead. Rowe was credited with the 27th finishing position.
Payea held the point with his Ouellette’s Plumbing & Heating/Leahy Press Ford through one final restart on lap 91, and cruised to his second ACT Late Model Tour win by two car-lengths over recent TD Banknorth 250 Champion “Rocket” Roger Brown of Lancaster, NH. Two of Payea’s cross-town Milton, VT neighbors, Brent Dragon, and six-time ACT Late Model Tour champion and current point leader Jean-Paul Cyr, finished third and fourth, respectively. John Donahue of Graniteville, VT earned his best finish of the season in fifth place after starting in 21st position.
Cyr and Hudson, NH driver Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. jockeyed for the lead in the early laps of the event. Cyr started from the pole position by virtue of earning a “+5” value in “plus/minus” handicap heat race qualifying and led the first 33 circuits. Contact from Polewarczyk sent Cyr spinning and found both drivers placed at the rear of the field for the ensuing restart. Free from incident for the remainder of the race, both charged toward the front. Polewarczyk finished sixth behind Cyr’s top-five effort.
Multi-time stock car racing champion Robbie Crouch finished seventh in his first career ACT Late Model Tour start. The Tampa, FL native returned to action after a decade-long retirement. Quebec’s Patrick Laperle finished eighth. Hometown racer David Avery and Colchester, VT’s Scott Dragon drove from deep in the field to complete the top ten drivers in order, unofficially.
The ACT Late Model Tour returns to action in two weeks with the $50,000+ ACTion Super Series 29th Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 at Barre, VT’s Thunder Road on Sunday, Sept. 2. Advance sale discounted-price tickets are available at all 35 Bond Auto Parts locations in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.acttour.com.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Kancamaugus 100
ACT Late Model Tour – White Mountain Motorsports Park
North Woodstock, NH – Saturday, August 19, 2007
Finish-(Start)-Car No.-Driver-Hometown-Laps Complete
1. (5) 89 Scott Payea, Milton, VT, 100
2. (6) 99 Roger Brown, Lancaster, NH, 100
3. (2) 55VT Brent Dragon, Milton, VT, 100
4. (1) 32 Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT, 100
5. (21) 26 John Donahue, Graniteville, VT, 100
6. (3) 97 Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Hudson, NH, 100
7. (15) 48 Robbie Crouch, Tampa, FL, 100
8. (9) 24 Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, QC, 100
9. (26) 10 David Avery, North Woodstock, NH, 100
10. (28) 70 Scott Dragon, Colchester, VT, 100
11. (20) 55NH Brad Leighton, Center Harbor, NH, 100
12. (19) 47 Brockton Davis, Whitefield, NH, 100
13. (8) 80 Donald Theetge, Boischatel, QC, 100
14. (11) 66 A.J. Begin, Merrimac, MA, 100
15. (14) 40 Eric Chase, Milton, VT, 100
16. (12) 27 Marc Curtis, Jr., Worcester, MA, 100
17. (17) 71 Bobby Dragon, Milton, VT, 100
18. (22) 02 Randy Potter, Groveton, NH, 100
19. (27) 41 Pete Potvin, III, Graniteville, VT, 100
20. (7) 18 Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, VT, 100
21. (10) 15 Joey Laquerre, East Montpelier, VT, 100
22. (25) 05 Ron Henry, New Gloucester, ME, 99
23. (24) 13 Jamie Aube, Bow, NH, 99
24. (16) 45 Brian Hoar, Williston, VT, 99
25. (23) 9 Mike Gosselin, Derby, VT, 99
26. (13) 11 Ryan Vanasse, Warwick, RI, 99
27. (4) 4 Ben Rowe, Turner, ME, 84
28. (18) 1 Mark Anzalone, Jr., Malden, MA, 48
29. (29) 30 Dean Weber, Weare, NH, 32
Lap leaders: Jean-Paul Cyr, 1-33; Scott Payea, 34-60; Ben Rowe, 61-82; Payea, 83-100 (three lead changes among three drivers)
Margin of victory: 2 car lengths
Time of race: 48:32
Cautions: 4 – Laps 34, 80, 81, 91