Brian Hoar: ACT Late Model Tour
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl Race Preview
Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., looks to capture his second Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 when the ACT Late Model Tour heads to its home track, Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt., on Sunday, September 4. Only three races stand between Hoar and an unprecedented eighth ACT championship for both he and RPM Motorsports. After three wins at Thunder Road in the late ’90s, Hoar has found himself running in the Top-5 at what he considers one of the “weakest tracks” for both himself and the No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge. Yet, despite that, Hoar has not finished outside of the Top-10 this season and has notched four wins.
WHO: Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt.
TEAM: RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge
CREW CHIEF: Rick Paya, Georgia, Vt.
BEST CAREER THUNDER ROAD INTERNATIONAL SPEEDBOWL FINISH: 1st (September 1999)
LAST RACE AT THUNDER ROAD INTERNATIONAL SPEEDBOWL: 5th (May 2011)
WHAT: ACT Late Model Tour Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200
WHERE: Thunder Road International Speedbowl, Barre, Vt. (.25-mile oval)
WHEN: 1:30 p.m., Sunday, September 4
ACT LATE MODEL TOUR
LAST RACE: August 20, Q 97.9 FM 150, Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine (3rd)
NEXT RACE: September 10, Budweiser Showdown at Chaudiere, Autodrome Chaudiere, Vallee-Jonction, Que. (.333-mile oval)
POINTS POSITION: 1st
DID YOU KNOW?
Brian Hoar has won four of nine races this season on the ACT Late Model Tour.
Brian Hoar considers Thunder Road his weakest track despite three wins and consistent Top-5 finishes there.
Brian Hoar can render the final two events of the ACT season virtually meaningless with a victory on Sunday at Thunder Road.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
BRIAN HOAR, Driver of the RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge,On racing at Thunder Road: “I’ve had a lot of success there. We won the track championship in the ’90s. It’s a great place to race. It’s a tight little bullring, but the races are always a great show. The crowd is awesome. It’s also a homecoming since the track is so close to home.”
On how he and his team are approaching the final three ACT Late Model Tour points races: “That’s a good question. We’re going to go in the way we have been for every race – starting with trying to put a setup under us to qualify well, get in the race, and try for a win. If it all works out, we will focus on finishing and finishing well.”
On working with new teammate Nick Sweet, 2010 “King of the Road”: “Nick’s a really good guy. I completely agreed with Rick in his decision to bring Nick on. I have a lot of respect for him. He has a nice family and crew. We all fit really well together. He’s a respectful driver, and he ‘s good to race with. This weekend is going to be interesting since he’s so good at Thunder Road.
“Even though we’ve had a lot of success there. It’s one of our weakest tracks, but we have Top-6s and Top-5s there. We haven’t been in the running for a victory there in a while. I’m looking forward to Nick’s input to try and get our car really rocking.”
UP NEXT
The ACT Late Model Tour heads back north of the border to Quebec for a doubleheader weekend at Autodrome Chaudiere in Vallee-Jonction, Que., and Riverside Speedway in Ste-Croix, Que., on Friday and Saturday, September 10-11… Brian Hoar finished third in last year’s Budweiser Showdown at Chaudiere and he won last year’s Can-Am 200 at Riverside. Hoar will start second on the grid to defend his 2010 Can-Am 200 win.