May 31, 2015 | ACT, NE Racing News
Helliwell Takes Second Win of Season in Rain-Shortened Generation Next 151 –
Groveton, NH – Two-time American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Champion Wayne Helliwell Jr. was in the right place at the right time on Saturday night, taking his second win of the season in the rain-shortened Generation Next 151 at Speedway 51 in Groveton, NH.
Helliwell got the break on Rowley, MA’s Eddie MacDonald on a lap-85 restart and was in front when the caution flew for Travis Stearns’ spin a lap later. A caution for rain came out on the subsequent restart. Although the race was able to resume, the rains returned just five laps later, forcing the conclusion of the event after 91 of the scheduled 151 laps.
Defending Fall Brawl winner MacDonald took the lead from polesitter Mike Bailey on the opening lap and led the first 12 circuits before two-time Thunder Road Late Model Champion Derrick O’Donnell drove around him on the outside. MacDonald grabbed the lead back for a single circuit following a lap-20 restart, but O’Donnell reassumed command and led a four-car breakaway that included Helliwell and local racer Jeff Marshall.
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May 28, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Touring Series News
photo by RPM 360
EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. – Flashback one year to the former Riverside Speedway in Groveton, Packard starts last in the final heat and drives her way to the front capturing her first American Canadian Tour pole. A few hours later, the 18 year old East Montpelier Vermont driver has led the most laps and has a 5th place finish.
This year, Emily and her Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels 9me team is headed back to (newly re-named) Speedway 51 with the hopes to continue to pick up where she left off there in 2014, but with better finishing results. “I am really looking forward to heading to Speedway 51 this weekend,” said Packard. “Last year we had such a good run there, and unfortunately towards the end we just pushed the car too much and ended up with a fifth place finish, but we were able to lead some laps and run really well there. The track is moderately banked and is a place that I feel instantly comfortable at.”
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May 27, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Touring Series News
Eric LaFleche/VLFphotos.com photo
Waterbury, VT—The American-Canadian Tour (ACT) travels to Speedway 51 in Groveton, NH on Saturday, May 30 for the Generation Next ACT 151. Although the ACT Late Model Tour has been to Groveton 12 times previously, the 13th visit will hold a greater meaning, as it marks a new beginning for the ¼-mile oval formerly known as Riverside Speedway.
The event will be the first stock car race held at Speedway 51 since it was purchased at auction last November by Joey Laquerre, the winningest driver in the history of Barre, VT’s Thunder Road and patriarch of the Laquerre racing family. The auction occurred just one week after Laquerre’s grandson, up-and-coming Late Model racer Joey M. Laquerre, died from injuries sustained in an ATV accident. (more…)
May 26, 2015 | Maine Racing News, PASS
Travis Benjamin Top 10 in PASS Historical Race at Thunder Road – http://www.travisbenjamin17.com/wp/travis-benjamin-top-10-in-pass-historical-race-at-thunder-road/
History was made this past weekend for the first time in the Pro All Stars Series. It was the first race in series history at Thunder Road Speedway in Barre Vermont. This would be Travis’ second start on the famous 1/4 mile high bank oval. Travis’ first start came there in 2001 in the Busch North Series. After the first round of practice the team was once again excited to get racing since they where second fastest and after the second practice the 17 car was fourth. The team knew they had a good car.
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May 25, 2015 | NE Racing News, PASS, SLM, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
photo by Norm Marx
Barre, Vermont – Joey Doiron of Berwick, Maine held off a hard-charging Jeremy Davis to score an historic 150-lap AIM PASS North Super Late Model victory at the famed ¼-mile Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vermont on Sunday afternoon (May 24).
For Doiron it was a homecoming of sorts, as he made his first appearance at the track in some six years, moving on to the Super Late Model ranks after winning the ACT Late Model Rookie of the Year award in his only full season of Late Model; competition.
While Doiron started the 150-lap headline event at Thunder Road’s annual Mekklesen RV Memorial Day Classic he had plenty of competition, as he chased fellow former ACT stars Glen Luce and Wayne Helliwell, Jr. through most of the first one-third of the event.
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May 25, 2015 | PASS, SLM, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Alan Ward photo
Barre, VT—Two-time defending Thunder Road “King of the Road” Derrick O’Donnell began his quest for a threepeat in dominating fashion with a win in the Mekkelsen Memorial Day Classic 100 on Sunday, May 24.
N. Haverhill, NH’s O’Donnell quickly got to the front from his third starting position, moving around polesitter Nick Sweet on the outside to take the lead on lap eight. The 2013 Memorial Day Classic winner drew out to a big lead, but run into two-by-two lapped traffic at the halfway point of the caution-free race, allowing Milton, VT’s Scott Dragon to catch him.
Dragon managed to nose in front of O’Donnell for two circuits just past the halfway point. However, O’Donnell pulled back away once the two got clear of traffic and took his second Memorial Day Classic win.
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