Next Up: 16th Annual Merchants Bank 150
Emily Packard Photo
EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. – After starting the ACT season with a top 12 finish, Packard heads back to Thunder Road carrying some momentum that she hopes to turn into another strong finish. “We have started the season off well having a solid finish at Lee USA Speedway two weeks ago,” said Packard, “We’ve also learned some things with the car that we hope can be transferred to this weekend.”
Emily Packard and her No 9x Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels sponsored team are returning to Thunder Road this weekend for the 16th Annual Merchants Bank 150. This is the second race of the ACT Tour this season and the first points race for Thunder Road. “I am excited to be back at Thunder Road. We struggled a lot last season, and it was discouraging for us throughout the year,” said Packard, “But at the end of the season, we had some good runs that helped to give us a better mindset.”
Packard, logging a number of laps at Thunder Road last season, feels confident about getting into this race. “Thunder Road, the track, is always going to be different. Having more laps there then some of my competitors is a benefit to me,” Packard said. She sets out to qualify on Sunday April 27th, for the Merchants Bank 150 with heats starting at 1:30 pm and a good solid finish will help to start the season off right. “I’m eager for this season, this is a new opportunity to tackle the track,” said Packard, “I have a better outlook going into the season and I am going to stand my ground to get to the front.”
Race weekend begins on Saturday April 26th in downtown Barre from 9am to 12 noon. Emily Packard Motorsports will be there to meet and greet fans with her Northstar Fireworks, Packard Fuels, Yipes! of Barre, Fecteau Homes, Berlin Optical Expressions, GossCars.com, Be the Match, Rutland Regional Medical Center, and R.G. Paving sponsored car. Make sure you stop by and say hello to Emily. Following the car show is the parade up to Thunder Road, and practice is scheduled to start at 1 pm.
ACT “Three Stars of the Race Bonus”
This week started with ACT announcing that Packard had been chosen as one of the “Three Stars of the Race Bonus” for her race at Lee USA Speedway on April 13th. This award is to recognize teams that didn’t finish in a podium position but had an “outstanding” race just the same. “I am really honored to be one of the first three chosen to accept this award from ACT,” said Packard, “It reassures us that we had a great run at Lee”
For more on the “Three Stars of the Race Bonus, visit: http://www.acttour.com/article.php/20140422140348530
Racing starts on Sunday April 27, 2014 with heats for the American Canadian Tour at 1:30 pm.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Emily this weekend at Thunder Road on Twitter and Facebook.
Emily Packard on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EmilyPackardMotorsports
Emily Packard on Twitter: @EmilyPackard9