Austin Theriault: ACT Late Model Tour
Oxford Plains Speedway Race Preview
THE STORY
Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, Maine, looks to bounce back as the ACT Late Model Tour competes in The Big Jab 150 at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Maine, on Sunday, May 15. Theriault failed to qualify for the Tour’s most recent event at Thunder Road International Speedbowl earlier this month after finishing an impressive seventh in his RPM Motorsports debut at Lee USA Speedway. Theriault made his ACT debut as a 15-year-old at Oxford in October of 2009, and last season he led 29 laps in this very event.
THE FACTS
WHO: Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, Maine
TEAM: RPM Motorsports No. 57 Varney Insurance Ford
CREW CHIEF: Mickey Green, West Paris, Maine
BEST CAREER OXFORD PLAINS SPEEDWAY FINISH: 10th (June 2010)
LAST RACE AT OXFORD PLAINS SPEEDWAY: 10th (June 2010)
WHAT: ACT Late Model Tour The Big Jab 150
WHERE: Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine (.375-mile oval)
WHEN: 2 p.m., Sunday, May 15
ACT LATE MODEL TOUR
LAST RACE: May 1, Merchants Bank 150, Thunder Road International Speedbowl, Barre, Vt. (DNQ)
NEXT RACE: May 22, Spring Green 111, Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, Vt. (.500-mile oval)
CURRENT POINTS POSITION: 8th
DID YOU KNOW?
Austin Theriault sits eighth in the overall ACT Late Model Tour standings – the highest position for any driver who has not qualified for all events this season and higher than two drivers who have qualified for all the races.
Austin Theriault started sixth in The Big Jab 150 in 2010 and led a total of 29 laps in the first half of the race.
Austin Theriault is attending flight school near his home, in the town of Frenchville, Maine.
RPM Motorsports has won seven of the last eight ACT championships.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
AUSTIN THERIAULT, Driver of the No. 57 Varney Insurance Ford, On his up and down start to the season: “We had a good showing at Lee, and that topped my expectations there with a new car and new team clicking together. Thunder Road, that was a disappointment for everyone. I’m sure (team owner Rick Paya) was disappointed.
“But like we’ve talked about, when you’re new at things and you’re not a seasoned veteran, you’re going to have curveballs come along. We had one a little earlier in the season than I wold have liked, but that kind of thing only makes us stronger. It only makes me want to drive harder. It’s a bad thing (not qualifying), no question, but it only makes you want to do better.”
On getting back to Oxford Plains Speedway, where he has a comfort level: “Oxford is a breath of fresh air. It’s a circle and you’re always turning there, but it is much more forgivng than a place like Thunder Road. There’s a lot more room on the race track. There’s multiple grooves to race in. We’re looking forward to kind of redeeming ourselves there.
“It defintely feels good to go back to a track where there’s no question marks. We’re still learning every week, the whole team is still learing, but it is an opportunity to shine again. Thunder Road is a driver’s track, but if things don’t go our way, it’s going to be a tough day there. Oxford is more forgiving.”
RICK PAYA, RPM Motorsports team owner, On racing at Oxford Plains Speedway: “It’s a hard track to get a handle on as far as handling goes. It’s really a driver’s track. It’s a unique track. Our setup for that race track is totally different than anywhere we go, anywhere on the circuilt. It’s taken me a few years to really figure it out. Local guys have a big edge over us Tour guys that only race there a couple of times a year. It’s the kind of place where you see that the weekly cars really have it figured out.
“It stays pretty consistent for our setup. What we have in the spring is what we show up for the ‘250’ with. It seems to stay consistent for us. I’ve heard some guys say that it changes for them, but we haven’t really found that. It’s usually the same for us as far as what we bring for a setup everytime we go.”
UP NEXT
The ACT Late Model Tour heads to the Spring Green 111 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, Vt., on Sunday, May 22. This marks the first time the event will be held at the half-mile facility… Brian Hoar, who is the RPM Motorsports teammate of Austin Theriault, was the 1999 Spring Green champion. Theriault has never competed at the track.