Packard excited for ACT race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. – After a couple poor experiences at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the 17 year old East Montpelier native looks forward to redeeming herself. Emily Packard loves racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and is hoping for a good run on Saturday in her 9x Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels car in the Bond Auto Parts ACT Invitational.
In Packard’s debut at the “Magic Mile, she finished in the 41st position, after being caught up in an accident on lap 15. In her sophomore run in the American Canadian Tour Bond Auto Parts Invitational, Packard finished 42nd when an accident took her out just four laps into the race. Packard compares her luck at NHMS to her season last year at Devil’s Bowl, where she struggled, but never gave up; finally having a breakthrough season there this year. “We are hoping for a top-10 this weekend, and since it’s not a point’s race, we know that it won’t impact us should we have a bad run,” Packard said. “We don’t race any other track like this all season, so I always look forward to running on the big track.”
Unable to make the practice at NHMS back in August, Packard doesn’t really find that as a disadvantage. “We have a 50 minute practice on Saturday morning, and will use that time to fine tune the car,” said Packard. “The track will be different by the time the 5 pm race starts, between the temperature change and all the rubber from the cup cars, modifieds and trucks running before us. All the competitors will be in the same boat, and it will come down to who can acclimate to the track the best.”