Apr 19, 2016 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Race Tracks, More Maine Racing News, Oxford Plains Speedway
photo by RPM 360
EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. – Emily Packard piloted her 9x Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels car across the finish line in the thirteenth position in the thrilling 2016 American Canadian Tour season opener at Oxford Plains Speedway on Sunday. “I was in seventh place when the last caution came out,” said the 19 year old, “but we were the eighteenth car in line when we took that final restart. Unfortunately, the ACT rules don’t have the lap cars drop back, and there were just a lot of lap cars between me and the leaders. There was really nowhere for me to go, I was stuck in the middle, and we ended up thirteenth. We had a much better car than our finish reflects, and I am confident with how good the car will be for the remaining races.”
When the cars rolled out for the first practice, Packard hit the track taking the time to feel out the car for all the changes that had been made in the off season. During each practice the team, with input from Joe Polewarczyk Sr., would make subtle changes to the car to get it to handle more like Emily wanted. “Today was kind of a learning day,” said Packard, “a lot about learning the new set-up in the car and the partnership and how we would work together. It took a little bit to get the car from a set up that Joey (Pole) would typically run, to something that would suit my driving style and go good for us. The first couple of practices the car was bottoming out pretty bad, but once we got it up off the track it started running really good.” By the final practice, with the car driving to her liking, she cracked the top ten on the speed charts with an eighth fastest time.
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Apr 14, 2016 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Race Tracks, More Maine Racing News, Oxford Plains Speedway
photo by RPM 360
EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. – Emily Packard and the 9x Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels team is ready to get this season rolling this weekend at Oxford Plains Speedway. For the second straight year, thanks to the New England weather, the American Canadian Tour kicks off at OPS and Packard and the team are more focused and better prepared this season than ever. After announcing back in March the partnership with Joey Pole Racing to maintain her cars for a minimum of 9 races, the Polewarczyk’s have spent the last few weeks making a number of changes to her race car to prepare for this event. “The first couple of laps on Sunday are going to be exciting,” said Packard, “I am going to be focusing on shaking the car down and getting used to the new set-up.”
“It’s been an adjustment not having the car here in our shop,” Packard said, “but the guys (Joe Sr. and Joey Jr.) have kept me updated, texting and sending pictures as they make progress on the car. They have made a bunch of changes, and I am really looking forward to getting the car out on to the track to see how it handles.” Last year, in her first visit to the track, Packard qualified in the 20th starting position, and spent the race calculating her moves around cars towards the front. Eventually, the laps would run out as she challenged for a top three, and settled for a fourth place finish. On the second trip back to the track, Packard went in to the race with a high level of confidence from her earlier season finish here and raced her way to a sixth place finishing position when the checkers fell.
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Mar 9, 2016 | American Canadian Tour, More Maine Racing News, Touring Series News
photo by RPM 360
EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. – This season will bring big changes for Emily Packard and her family-run 9ME Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels sponsored race team. Just finalized, Emily Packard Motorsports and Joey Pole Racing have agreed to form a partnership for a minimum of 9 American Canadian Tour races for the upcoming 2016 season. “I am really excited, and believe that this is a step in the right direction,” said Emily. “This is a big change for me, I have spent the last 7 years working with my previous crew chief, and now with this deal we start with a clean slate.”
As was previously announced, the Polewarczyk’s will be fielding late model cars for Ryan Olsen this season, and in addition, they will be maintaining Emily Packard’s cars for her at their shop. “Our main focus is with Ryan (Olsen), but we will be helping set up Emily’s cars and offer our input at the race track,” said Joe Polewarczyk. “We are very excited at this opportunity, ever since Emily has come on the scene, Joey and I have been watching her, and believe that she is a force to be reckoned with. She’s ready to win, and we hope to help build her confidence this year.”
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Sep 9, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Touring Series News
photo by RPM 360
EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. – Fighting an ill-handing car throughout the entire race, Emily Packard was able to bring home a 15th place finish in a race that saw 9 caution flags in the 37th Coca Cola Labor Day Classic at Thunder Road International Speedbowl this past weekend.
The 18-year old East Montpelier native was consistently in the top ten on each of the speed sheets and felt that she would have a decent car for the heat. Packard started her Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels car in the 8th position of the second heat race, but wasn’t able to make much movement forward. “We had a tough heat race,” Packard said. “We weren’t able to get into the preferred line, and the car wasn’t exactly how we wanted it, being a little snug in the center.” She would end up finishing the heat race in 8th place, and found herself running the consi to make the feature. (more…)
Aug 10, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Race Tracks, Touring Series News
photo by RPM 360
EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. – The finish for the 18-year old East Montpelier driver did not reflect the gallant effort to drive an ill-handling race car towards the front, and unfortunately Emily Packard left Beech Ridge Motor Speedway with a 17th place finish this past Saturday night.
As the day began, Packard and her Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels team took to the track for the first practice, hoping that the changes to the set up that worked out so well at Oxford might help her at Beech Ridge, only to be 16th fastest on the chart. The team continued to make adjustments to the car and her times remained consistent throughout the day. “Went out in the first practice, and the car wasn’t too bad,” said Packard. “We made some minor adjustments during each practice to try to better the car.”
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