Waterbury, VT – The American Canadian Tour (ACT) Rent-A-Wreck Fall Foliage 200 at Airborne Speedway this Saturday, October 8, 2011 will have some surprise entries.
Perhaps the most surprising entry came from the star of the ACT Invitational at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) two weeks ago: Eddie MacDonald, from Rowley, MA who has entered the 200-lap event following his second ACT Invitational win. “I have heard how great Airborne’s half mile races have been, and since our season on the NASCAR K&N Series will be over (MacDonald finished 5th at Dover Downs International Speedway last weekend) this should be a lot of fun. I really enjoy racing with the ACT guys and just maybe Nick (Sweet) and I can have another battle….that would be pretty special,” said MacDonald. Sweet, from Barre, VT, has now finished second to MacDonald in two of the three Invitational events at NHMS. He will be driving the #57 RPM Ford for the Rick and Michelle Paya team to finish out the 2011 ACT points season.
Hometown favorite, Brian “Bucko” Branham has entered the 200-lap finale. Branham, the former ACT Late Model racer, has spent over twenty-five years racing at Airborne. “I have recently been racing in the Sportsman division, but really wanted to try a Late Model at the new Airborne. Mike Thompson from Vermont has given me the opportunity to drive his car, and I can’t wait,” Branham said. Branham has been a fan favorite for many years with his ‘no-holds-barred’ racing.
“I think it’s great that Bucko has a ride for this event. He was a great supporter of ACT and certainly one of the favorite drivers at Airborne when we ran the track from 1990 through 2004. He continues to be a top runner with the Sportsman division, and having him in the Fall Foliage will definitely give the local fans someone to cheer for, and no doubt will have me on the edge of my seat,” said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour.
Yet another surprise entry will be that of 2006 asphalt dirt Modified Champ Mike Bruno from Rutland, VT. Bruno, the former dirt racer, turned to ACT Late Models and NASCAR North before heading back to dirt and asphalt dirt racing. In 2011 Bruno ran both ACT events and asphalt dirt Modifieds. “I just had to enter this race. I was there when ACT opened the asphalt half mile back in the ‘90s, and I returned with a dirt Modified a few years ago. Going back with our ACT car for the Fall Foliage will be a lot different, but the new Airborne track is just one of those tracks that all racers want to race on”, said Bruno.
The Fall Foliage 300 will consist of a 200-lap combination point event for the ACT US and ACT Castrol Series competitors. Teams from both sides of the border, including US and Castrol Champions Brian Hoar and Patrick Laperle, will head the list of ACT Late Model entrants. Over 40 teams are expected to compete in the final point event of the year for both series.
The Bond/Wix Tiger Tour will complete their season with a 100-lap event at Airborne. Bradford, Vermont’s Derrick O’Donnell leads the Tiger Sportsman group to Airborne, but will be trying to capture his first Tiger Tour title with limited experience at the half mile. Several Vermont drivers will attempt to add their name to the trophy, including Joe Steffen from Essex Jct., defending Tiger Tour champion Jason Bonnett from St. Albans, and Joey Roberts from Georgia. All have lots of experience at Airborne. “I don’t know if we have enough to catch Derrick, but the battle from second to seventh in the standings should be pretty intense. Airborne is one of our favorite places to race, so we are really looking forward to it”, said Smith McKay, owner of the #00 that former Tiger Sportsman Champion Joe Steffen drives.
Gates will open at 10am Saturday, October 8, 2011. Post time is 1pm. Admission is just $18 for adults and kids 12 and under are free.