By Phil Whipple
BARRE, Vermont — Eight-time and defending American-Canadian Tour (ACT) champion Brian Hoar took the lead from Wayne Helliwell Jr. on lap 129 and kept the wiley Granite State racer at bay to claim the 14th annual Merchants Bank 150 Sunday afternoon at Thunder Road International Speedbowl.
Hoar started second on the 30-car grid, led for 18 laps early in the race before pitting for fresh right-side rubber during a caution flag period at lap 70. After restarting outside the top 15, Hoar charged his way forward with skill and slick moves. He regained valuable track position lost during the pit stop as other leaders eventually hit pit road for service. Continue reading “Brian Hoar claims Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road” »
RPM Motorsports: ACT Late Model Tour
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl Race Preview
THE STORY
Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., will try and go 2-for-2 to open the ACT Late Model Tour season when the series competes in the Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt., on Sunday, April 29. Hoar, who won his 34th career ACT race in the season opener at Lee USA Speedway two weeks ago, finished fifth in this event last season. Though Hoar has had mixed results at Thunder Road recently – winning the season-ending Milk Bowl last September, but posting his worst finish of 2011 in the Labor Day Classic 200 at the track – RPM Motorsports has dominated the last two Late Model events there. Local driver Nick Sweet won the Labor Day Classic for car owner Rick Paya in September, while Hoar capped his championship year with his second career Milk Bowl.
Continue reading “Brian Hoar Looks To Make It 2-For-2 To Start The Season” »
By Phil Whipple
After an exciting season opener for the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) teams at Lee USA, it’s time to make that annual trek over the mountain to a place very dear to my heart.
Over in the beautiful Green Mountain State of Vermont, race teams from around the region and thousands of fans are gearing up for the 2012 season opener at Ken Squier’s famed Thunder Road International Speedbowl
in Barre.
Since 1960, fans have ascended Quarry Hill to witness some of the greatest battles ever waged on a northeastern short track. This coming Sunday, April 29, the intensity level ratchets up once again as ACT presents the 14th annual Merchants Bank 150 on the Barre high banks. Continue reading “Green flag set to wave on new season at Vermont’s Thunder Road” »
By Phil Whipple
With the 2012 American-Canadian Tour (ACT) season opener in the books, we can catch our breath and reflect on some of the stories other than Brian Hoar’s victory over Lee veteran Wayne Helliwell Jr.
After finishing second to Hoar in final ACT points last season, Helliwell has his sights set on the throne which Hoar has occupied since 2009. It took quite an effort for him to reach the podium at Lee Sunday.
“We threw everything we had at the car in practice Saturday,” the Dover, NH, native explained. “We took the car back home last night and made several changes to the setup. The car was good on a short run, but definitely wasn’t good on a long run. It got way too loose; I don’t think I’ve ever spun out on my own here. Continue reading “ACT NH Governor’s Cup 150 Notes & Quotes” »
By Phil Whipple
LEE, N.H. – Eight-time and defending American-Canadian Tour champion Brian Hoar held off a hard-charging Wayne Helliwell Jr. to claim his second straight victory in the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 Sunday afternoon at the Lee USA Speedway.
Hoar inherited the lead on lap 130 when second-place Joey Polewarczyk Jr. spun leader Eddie MacDonald coming off turn 2. With several late-race cautions, Hoar had to sweat as Helliwell, and eight-time champion here at Lee, applied the pressure in a big way.
“This is the same car we’ve run here the last four years,” Hoar said in Victory Lane. “That was nervewracking, running side-by-side with Wayne. He’s the best there is here, and it’s awesome to win. I didn’t think we had the car today, it was a little too free. The guys made some great changes, and here we are in Victory Lane. It’s a great way to start the new season.”
Maine native Austin Theriault started 19th on the 28-car grid and drove to a solid third place finish. Polewarczyk recovered from being sent to the rear to claim fourth, while Ben Ashline was fifth.
Finishing sixth through 10th in the Governor’s Cup 150 was Jeff Taylor, MacDonald, Jean-Paul Cyr, Jeff Lebrecque and Ray Parent. Eight cautions slowed the pace, while the feature was completed in 1 hour and 23 minutes.
Ten of the 28 starters finished on the lead lap, with Hoar’s margin of victory over Helliwell a mere .366 seconds. More details on the race and expanded quotes from the top three will be posted Monday.
Next up for the ACT warriors is a trip to the famed Thunder Road International Speedbowl (Barre, VT) for the annual Merchants Bank 150. Hoar is now the first two-time winner in 10 editions of the Governor’s Cup 150.
Official finish:
ACT NH Governor’s Cup 150
Lee USA Speedway – Lee, N.H.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
1. Brian Hoar, Williston, VT
2. Wayne Helliwell Jr., Dover NH
3. Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, ME
4. Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, NH
5. Ben Ashline, Pittston, ME
6. Jeff Taylor, Farmington
7. Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass.
8. Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT
9. Jeffrey Lebrecque Jr., Rochester, NH
10. Ray Parent, Tiverton, R.I.
11. Shawn Martin, Turner, ME
12. Randy Potter, Groveton, NH
13. Karl Allard, St. Felicien, QC
14. Quinny Welch, Lancaster, NH
15. Todd Patnode, Richmond, NH
16. Luke Hinkley, Claremont, NH
17. Eric Chase, Milton, VT
18. Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, VT
19. Ricky Rolfe, Albany Township, ME
20. Donald Theetge, Boichatel, QC
21. Brent Dragon, Milton, VT
22. James Linardi, Somerville, Mass.
23. Mike Kenison, Lancaster, NH
24. Glen Luce, Turner, ME
25. Ben Rowe, Turner, ME
26. Derek Lynch, Warkworth, ONT
27. Nick Sweet, Barre, VT
28. Mark Lamberton, Moorers Forks, NY
(Stafford Springs, CT)—When the SK Modified® cars hit the track at
Stafford Motor Speedway for the first time this season, Stafford veteran
Curt Brainard will have a bull’s-eye on his familiar #96. Brainard has
lined up TheAmmoZone.com as his new primary sponsor for the 2012 season, and
with TheAmmoZone.com’s bull’s-eye logo on the side of his car, Brainard will
be hard to miss while he is out on track.
Continue reading “CURT BRAINARD READY TO TAKE ON 2012 SEASON AT STAFFORD SPEEDWAY WITH NEW SPONSOR AMMO ZONE” »
RPM Motorsports: ACT Late Model Tour
Lee USA Speedway Race Preview
THE STORY
GEORGIA, Vt. – Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., begins his title defense in search of a fourth straight ACT Late Model Tour championship when the Tour kicks off 2012 with the NH Governor’s Cup 150 at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H., on Sunday, April 15. Hoar owns the ACT career records for both championships (8) and race wins (33), and he is the defending champion of the NH Governor’s Cup 150. Rick Paya, crew chief on the RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge, also owns eight championships as a car owner – the last three of which he’s won with Hoar in the driver’s seat. New to this year’s race, ACT will allow teams to change two tires during the event.
WHO: Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt.
TEAM: RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge
CREW CHIEF: Rick Paya, Georgia, Vt.
BEST CAREER LEE USA SPEEDWAY FINISH: 1st (April 2011)
LAST RACE AT LEE USA SPEEDWAY: 1st (April 2011)
WHAT: ACT Late Model Tour NH Governor’s Cup 150
WHERE: Lee USA Speedway, Lee, N.H. (.375-mile oval)
WHEN: 2 p.m., Sunday, April 15
Continue reading “Brian Hoar Begins ACT Title Defense At Lee USA” »
By Phil Whipple
After an unusually mild winter that left northern New England’s snow-based industry in a world of pain, it’s time to end the suffering and hopefully lift everyone’s spirits with the start of a new season of racing.
Red and Judy MacDonald are putting a spring polish on their fabulous facility, as the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) gets set to kick things off with the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 this Sunday, April 15, at the Lee USA Speedway.
Lee is perhaps the best possible place to kick off a new season, with multiple racing lines and a smooth surface as drivers shake off the cobwebs while dialing in their new or rebuilt machines. From the first time I visited Lee in 1992 to see the old ACT Pro Stock tour, I knew Red and Judy had a very racy oval.
What makes this coming Sunday’s version of the ACT opener so special is the tremendous talent and depth in the field. There are an amazing 13 teams already entered with weekly or touring series championships under their belts. With a combined 48 titles between them, “depth in the field” isn’t just hype, it’s actually true. These guys are good!
Top-ranked Late Model teams from across the northeast converge on Tom Curley’s ACT circuit each spring to do battle, and race fans are the real winners. Eight-time ACT champion Brian Hoar; four-time Lee champion and 2011 ACT runner-up Wayne Helliwell Jr., who many feel is a legitimate threat to unseat Hoar from the throne; young Maine-based star Austin Theriault; a re-focused Joey Polewarczyk Jr.; Groveton, NH-based veteran Randy Potter, another pilot many feel will be a title contender in 2012; and many others too numerous to mention will all be at Lee this weekend.
Continue reading “ACT NH Governor’s Cup 150 set to go green at Lee USA” »
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Jesus is the Answer
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