Jul 28, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Alan Ward photo
Barre, VT – Thunder Road Speedbowl wraps up the month of July this Thursday, July 30 with WDEV/Calkins Portable Toilets Night. In addition to a full card of racing for all weekly divisions, the event will see the return of the semi-feature and Maplewood “Triple Crown” for the Thunder Road Late Models.
The 15-lap semi-feature will pit the top finishers in the Late Model qualifying heats against each other for bonus points and purse money. A progressive cash bonus has also been posted for any driver who can complete the Triple Crown by winning their heat, the semi-feature, and the main event in the same night. The bonus begins at $500 and increases by $100 for each event until the Triple Crown is won. The program will run for the remaining Thunder Road Thursday night schedule.
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Jul 27, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Race Tracks, Oxford Plains Speedway, Touring Series News
photo by RPM 360
EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. – There is just something about Oxford Plains Speedway that manages to bring out the best in 18 year old Emily Packard. In the American Canadian Tour’s return to OPS this past weekend, Packard seemed pick up where she left off in April, bringing home a 6th place finish in her Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels 9ME car.
Short her regular crew chief (Neal Woodward) this weekend, Emily’s dad Ellery Packard stepped in to turn the wrench and help get the car dialed in. “Dad was brushing up on his crew chief skills this weekend,” Packard said, “Neal had a prior commitment, and dad stepped in. It took him a little bit to get confident on the adjustments he was making but he did a great job and it showed all day.” In the first practice of the day, Packard went right to the top of the speed charts, and she continued to be fast through the last two practices, showing 2nd fastest on the speed chart in final practice. “We unloaded and we were really quick,” said Packard. “We made some minor changes to try to better the car a little more throughout practice, but it was good right out of the trailer.”
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Jul 26, 2015 | ACT, American Canadian Tour, Maine Race Tracks, Maine Racing News, Oxford Plains Speedway, Touring Series News
Polewarczyk Completes Season Sweep at Oxford After Late Incident
Oxford, ME – Joey Polewarczyk Jr. won his fourth American-Canadian Tour (ACT) event of the season in the Oxford Plains 150 at Maine’s Oxford Plains Speedway on Saturday, July 25 after a late incident while fighting with Brad Babb for the lead.
Hudson, NH’s “Joey Pole” took the lead for the final time with four laps remaining after he and Babb made contact racing for the top spot in turn one. Babb slid up the track before gathering the car, but subsequently lost control exiting turn two and spun to bring out the caution.
After another caution on the restart, Pole held off a final charge from Dillon Moltz to complete the season sweep at the 3/8-mile oval and unofficially retake the points lead. The normally popular driver was then booed in Victory Lane.
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Jul 24, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Alan Ward photo
Barre, VT – Two-time defending “King of the Road” Derrick O’Donnell took a big step in his chase for a three-peat by winning the Times Argus Mid-Season Championship on Thursday, July 23.
N. Haverhill, NH’s O’Donnell took the lead from local driver Mike “Beetle” Bailey with 11 laps to go in the 75-lap Thunder Road Late Model main event. The two bumped and banged as Bailey made a final bid for the double-point win, but O’Donnell held on for his third victory of the season.
“I had to work really hard for this one,” O’Donnell said. “The car got really tight – we got hit in the left front and it folded the nose up on the tire, and I could definitely feel it not wanting to turn. But we still had a pretty good car, and it all worked out.” (more…)
Jul 23, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Alan Ward photo
Barre, VT – One of the most important events of the Thunder Road season goes to post this Thursday, July 23 at 6:30pm with the annual Times Argus Mid-Season Championships. Double points are on the line in all events for the Thunder Road Late Models, Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen, and Allen Lumber Stocks, which means championship aspirations will be reaffirmed, re-inspired, or even crumble away by the time the final checkered flag flies.
The annual mid-summer event includes extra-distance features for all divisions, with the Thunder Road Late Models going 75 laps instead of their normal 50. It’s a prime opportunity for a top contender to establish themselves at the top of the standings as three of the last six Mid-Season Champions in the Late Models went on to win the season-long title. Conversely, a poor performance can leave a driver spending the second half of the season scrambling to make up ground. (more…)
Jul 21, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, NE Racing News, Touring Series News
Alan Ward photo
Plattsburgh, NY – Nick Sweet showed why he’s one of the top American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model drivers in the Northeast on Sunday, July 19, capping a whirlwind two days by winning the ACT International at Plattsburgh, NY’s Airborne Park Speedway.
Barre, VT’s Sweet took the lead for the final time on lap 192 of the 200-lap event, beating out Alex Labbé on the final restart. The Thunder Road Late Model point leader will take home more than $10,000 for the win after lap-leader money and contingencies. The victory was also a redemption for Sweet after finishing second in the event in 2014.
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