Austin Theriault: ACT Late Model Tour
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl Race Preview
THE STORY
Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, Maine, looks to carry forward the momentum of the last few weeks as the ACT Late Model Tour heads to the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt., on Sunday, September 4. Theriault and his family-owned team have hit their mid-season stride and continue to put together strong runs with Top-5 finishes in each of Theriault’s last four starts. Though Thunder Road has been a tricky track for the young ACT driver, Theriault’s recent performance has provided him and his team will the confidence that they will continue to run with the leaders while pursuing Theriault’s first career ACT win.
THE FACTS
WHO: Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, Maine
TEAM: AT Racing No. 57 Varney Insurance Ford
CREW CHIEF: Mickey Green, West Paris, Maine
BEST CAREER THUNDER ROAD INTERNATIONAL SPEEDBOWL FINISH: 7th (June 2010)
LAST RACE AT THUNDER ROAD INTERNATIONAL SPEEDBOWL: DNQ (May 2011)
WHAT: ACT Late Model Tour Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200
WHERE: Thunder Road International Speedbowl, Barre, Vt. (.25-mile oval)
WHEN: 1:30p.m., Sunday, September 4
ACT LATE MODEL TOUR
LAST RACE: August 27, Oxford 150, Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine (2nd)
NEXT RACE: September 10, Budweiser Showdown At Chaudiere, Autodrome Chaudiere, Vallee-Jonction, Que. (.333-mile oval)
POINTS POSITION: 5th
DID YOU KNOW?
Austin Theriault has not finished outside of the Top-5 in any race since becoming the youngest driver to podium in the TD Bank 250.
Austin Theriault is fifth in the ACT standings – the highest he has been in his two-year career.
Well-known NASCAR television personality Ken Squier compared the way Austin Theriault drives Thunder Road International Speedbowl to legendary New England driver “Dynamite” Dave Dion.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
AUSTIN THERIAULT, Driver of the No. 57 Varney Insurance Ford,On his experience at Thunder Road International Speedbowl: “We’ve had one good run there (2010 Governor’s Cup) and the rest of the times it’s been up and down for us. The way we go into the weekend is important. We can still be confident, and we’ve learned a lot over the summer. We’re still pretty pumped up. We’ve been able to turn things around and had a few strong finishes. Hopefully, we can continue the momentum and get a win before the end of the season.”
On his and his team’s goals for the weekend: “Getting the car comfortable. It’s going to be a long race. The first 100 laps you just ride around. A good car on the long run is important.
“Then, of course, there is qualifying. You never know what kind of luck you are going to run into. We’ll know quickly if we hit the target, as far as how the car handles. I think we can come off with a Top-5 finish for the weekend.”
On how the car was performing last weekend at Riverside Speedway before the rain: “I was really comfortable in the car. There is no other track like it on the tour that we go to. It’s in it’s own category. We were really comfortable. We will be better the next time we go up.
“We learned a couple of things that we can improve on and hopefully get another podium finish. It’s going to be a busy weekend and hopefully we’ll keep the car in one piece the night before (at Autodrome Chaudiere) before heading into the points race at Riverside.”
UP NEXT
The ACT Late Model Tour heads across the border for a double-header weekend starting off at Autodrome Chaudiere in Vallee-Jonction, Que., with the Budweiser Showdown at Chaudiere on Saturday, September 10, followed by a return for the postponed Can-Am 200 at Riverside Speedway the following day… Austin Theriault ran well at both of these tracks last year, and he will start 10th in the Can-Am 200.