May 8, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
photo by Alan Ward
Waterbury, VT—The 2015 American-Canadian Tour (ACT) season has reached the quarter-pole of its 15-race schedule. While former champions Wayne Helliwell Jr. and Joey Polewarczyk Jr. find themselves at the top of the standings, a growing crop of new and young racers are making their presence known.
Windham, ME’s Brad Babb has been one of the drivers to beat so far. Babb returned to the ACT Tour full-time in 2015 driving a car owned by Joey Laquerre. He scored his first ACT podium finish at the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup, then earned a storybook win in the Merchants Bank 150 at Barre, VT’s Thunder Road. It was the first race at Thunder Road since Laquerre’s grandson, up-and-coming local racer Joey M. Laquerre, died in an ATV accident last October.
“I always wished that I could win at Thunder Road, but before we’d had a hard time just qualifying there,” Babb said. “I really just wanted to make the race on Sunday.” (more…)
May 8, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
photo by Alan Ward
Waterbury, VT – The American Racer Three Star program is designed to recognize three non-podium finishers, in no particular order of performance, who had outstanding races at ACT U.S. Tour events. There are no specific criteria for deciding who might receive the award of a free American Racer Tire (value $125.00), but a special effort by a team, exceptional race, just plain old hard luck, or any other accepted reason to give the award is used to decide the award recipients.
The three stars are chosen by ACT officials and will receive certificates for use of a free American Racer tire at a race of their choosing during the 2015 season.
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Apr 29, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Touring Series News
Alan Ward photo
Barre, VT – Derrick O’Donnell has already made history with his first two championships in Thunder Road’s American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Models. He is ready to add to the record books again in 2015, beginning at the season-opening Merchant’s Bank 150 on Sunday, May 3.
N. Haverhill, NH’s O’Donnell won his first Thunder Road Late Model Championship in 2013, becoming the first rookie to be crowned “King of the Road.” Last year he was the sixth driver in track lead division history to successfully defend his title. A third championship in 2015 would make him only the second driver to hold the crown for three years running. Chuck Beede previously won three straight Late Model championships in 1992-1994.
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Apr 24, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
photo by Alan Ward
Barre, VT – The Allen Lumber Street Stock division at Thunder Road Speedbowl is guaranteed to have a different champion in 2015. Defending Champion Tommy Smith is moving up to the Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen, which opens the door for a number of contenders to ascend to the Street Stock Championship.
2014 Street Stock runner-up Alan Maynard looks to lead the charge. The Fairfax, VT driver finished in the top-10 in all 18 races. His impressive run of consistency saw him fall 10 points short of Smith. The University of Vermont associate professor returns this year with the same car and a fresh determination to capture the title.
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Apr 22, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
photo by Alan Ward
Barre, VT – The Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen will take to the high banks of Thunder Road for the 34th consecutive year in 2015. Defending Champion Jason Woodard leads a mix of veterans and rising stars alike will vie for the championship in the famed division.
Waterbury Ctr., VT’s Woodard is the first driver since 2010 to try and defend the Tiger Sportsmen title. He rode a remarkable run of consistency to the 2014 crown, finishing eighth or better in each of the 18 events. Woodard topped veteran Brendan Moodie, Jr. by 17 points in a battle that came down to the final laps of the season-ending Mini Milk Bowl.
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