Lee, Oxford, Thunder Road Openers Challenge ACT Teams

photo by Alan Ward

photo by Alan Ward

Waterbury, VT – The American-Canadian Tour (ACT) will compete in three 150-lap events on three completely different tracks in all three northern New England states to open the 2015 season. The New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150, set for Sunday, April 12, is the traditional opening event for ACT teams held yearly at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH. Teams will then travel to Oxford Plains Speedway (OPS) in Oxford, ME a week later, followed by their annual visit to Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, VT.

The fast Lee 3/8th-mile oval might statistically favor multi-time Lee champion and two-time ACT champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr., but he has tried eight times to date with a best finish of second in last year’s event, and is long overdue for a win. There is also favorite Eddie MacDonald, who is on a roll with five consecutive wins in recent outings, going back to the Thunder Road Milk Bowl last October. McDonald captured the NH Governor’s Cup last year in his ninth try at his home track. Defending 2014 ACT Champion Joey Polewarczk, Jr. (Pole) is also considered a favorite, but his only win at Lee USA came in a 100-lap opening race back in 2008. (more…)

ACT Lee USA Opener Historically Unpredictable

photo by Al Ward

photo by Al Ward

Waterbury, VT– American Canadian Tour (ACT) fans attending the annual New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 opening events at the Lee USA Speedway are generally the real winners at the seacoast oval on opening day. Sunday, April 12 will be no exception. History shows that there are many surprises in opening events at the fast 3/8 mile oval.

 

In the ten years running the NH Governor’s Cup, there has only been one repeat winner. Eight-time ACT Champion Brian Hoar of Williston, VT won the title back-to-back in 2011 and 2012. In 2009, Hoar and teammate for the event Mike Olsen (N. Haverhill, NH) looked like runaway favorites until Goodyear tire issues took both teams out of winning contention while running in the first two spots during the first half of the event.

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Who Can Beat the “Outlaw” at His Home Track?

Photo by Leif Tillotson

Photo by Leif Tillotson

Waterbury, VT – Lee USA Speedway will present the American Canadian Tour (ACT) opening event on Sunday, April 12, 2015

. The 150 lap New Hampshire Governor’s Cup ACT race has traditionally been one of the most exciting and unpredictable events of any race season on the popular tour. This year is no exception– Eddie MacDonald “The Outlaw” of Rowley, MA has only won the race one time; that was in 2014.

 

Lee Speedway has been owned by the MacDonald family for 29 years. Young Eddie MacDonald, long before the present emergence of the modern era of 13-year olds wielding $40,000.00 Super Late Models around today’s short tracks, was getting laps in at the fast 1/3 mile Lee track, before he could even race in a division at the Speedway.

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Lee Speedway Banquet 2014

leebanquet-6Manchester, NH – A full house of racers, crews, officials, and fans from the Lee USA Speedway gathered at the Executive Court to wine, dine, and celebrate the annual Banquet of Champions honoring their achievements for the 2014 season at New Hampshire’s Center of Speed.

 

A year after being awarded Rookie of the Year in the Supermodified division, Jake Stergios of Candia spent the evening at the head table and took home the hardware commemorating his first career championship title in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, EKeys 4cars-sponsored division.

 

Defending and three-time champ Tommy Tombarello, Jr. of Haverhill, MA took home second place honors for his 2014 campaign aboard the Witkum Brothers Racing entry, with Sparky MacIver of Sandown and rookies Lance Barthelemy of Fremont and Kyle Sawyer of Kingston rounding out the top five.

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Lee USA Speedway 8/22/14 Race Report

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photo by Rich Hayes

Lee, NH – With the 2014 championship season rapidly winding down, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series weekly divisions put another night of racing in the record books at Lee USA Speedway on Friday, with the Prime Storage and Warehouse Late Model Sportsmen taking center stage with the running of the 50-lap Lance Davis Memorial.

 

Running in memory of the longtime Lee racer, the LMS turned out in full force for the night‘s racing action. When flagman Don Horvath let them loose, it was Alfred, ME’s Ray Dinsmore leading the way, but he quickly gave up the point to Jesse Bousquet of Pittsfield, who led the way thought lap eight.

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Lee Speedway 8/15/14

photo by Rich Hayes

photo by Rich Hayes

Lee, NH – The final month of racing toward the goal of the 2014 season championships began at Lee USA Speedway on Friday night, with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Supermodifieds, Late Model Sportsmen, Hobby Stocks, and Ironmen joined by the touring Northeast Classic Lites for an entertaining night of racing action at “New Hampshire’s Center of Speed”.

 

Leslie Keyser of Northfield was the man of the hour in the EKeys 4cars 30-lap main event for the Supermodifieds. Keyser jumped out to the early lead with Topsfield, MA’s Bobby Webber in tow for the first four laps of the fast-paced feature race, which ran caution-free from green to checker in just over seven minutes.

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