FORT KENT, Maine – Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, Maine, continued his roll as one of the hottest drivers on the ACT Late Model Tour with a second-place finish in the Q 97.9 FM 150 at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Maine, [...]]]>
Austin Theriault: ACT Late Model Tour
Oxford Plains Speedway/Riverside Speedway

FORT KENT, Maine – Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, Maine, continued his roll as one of the hottest drivers on the ACT Late Model Tour with a second-place finish in the Q 97.9 FM 150 at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Maine, on Saturday, August 20. It was Theriault’s third straight Top-5 finish in ACT competition and matched his previous career-best finish of second, which he also achieved at New Hampshire Motor Speedway one week earlier. After winning the pole for the rain-hampered event at Oxford, the 17-year-old driver held onto fifth in the overall series standings. He now heads to Riverside Speedway in St. Croix, Que., an oddly-shaped .625-mile triangular oval, for the Can-Am 200 on Saturday, August 27. It is a combination race for the ACT Late Model Tour and ACT Castrol Series.

WHO: Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, Maine
TEAM: RPM Motorsports No. 57 Varney Insurance Ford
CREW CHIEF: Mickey Green, West Paris, Maine

WHAT: ACT Late Model Tour Q 97.9 FM 150
WHERE: Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine (.375-mile oval)
STARTED: 1st
FINISHED: 2nd
LAPS LED: 1 time for 1 lap

BEST CAREER RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY FINISH: 6th (August 2010)
LAST RACE AT RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY: 6th (August 2010)

WHAT: ACT Late Model Tour Can-Am 200
WHERE: Riverside Speedway, St. Croix, Quebec (.625-mile triangular oval)
WHEN: 6 p.m., Saturday, August 27

ACT LATE MODEL TOUR
LAST RACE: August 20, Q 97.9 FM 150, Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine (2nd)
NEXT RACE: September 4, Labor Day Classic 200, Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl, Barre, Vt. (.25-mile oval)
POINTS POSITION: 5th

DID YOU KNOW?

Austin Theriault has not finished worse than fifth in any start since becoming the youngest podium finisher in the history of the TD Bank Oxford 250 on July 24.
Austin Theriault has advanced two spots in the ACT standings to fifth in the span of three races, including a fifth at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and back-to-back seconds at New Hampshire and Oxford.
Austin Theriault, 17, started his senior year of high school last week at Fort Kent Community High School.
In his first trip to Riverside Speedway in St. Croix, Que., Theriault finished sixth after starting deep in the field in the 20th spot on the fast, flat, triangular-shaped track.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

AUSTIN THERIAULT, Driver of the No. 57 Varney Insurance Ford, On his strong run at Oxford Plains Speedway last weekend: “We definitely had a fast car. Once again, the guys gave me great car I could run up front with. We’e been able to do that the last month or so, and it’s just so good to be able to go in each week and feel confident and expect to run up front. We know we can do it.

“The track (at Oxford) was different than it was in the ’250′ (last month). A lot of the traction compound had been raced off or washed away, and the bottom (groove) was probably the better place to be come race time. I ventured out to see how top was, but it wasn’t any better. It was single-file racing more than the ’250′ was, so track position was everything all night.”

On whether he felt like he had a shot at the win in the closing laps: “Jeff White and Jeff Taylor, both of those guys had really good cars. Looking back, I might have pushed too hard too early. It did work out – we got a decent finish – but by the end of the race I was pretty well used up. I had nothing for Jeff (Taylor). At end of the race, I was kind of playing defense and maintaining the track position we had fought to get.”

On returning to Riverside Speedway this weekend: “I kind of remember what the track was like, but this is only our second time there. We’ve learned some stuff (last year), and hopefully it will apply. It’s a flat track, but you carry a lot of speed into the corners. It’s going to be a little interesting now that we have the Ford and only have the one car to run, now that that they’re going to handicap the Ford (engines). We’ll have to see what we can do.

“Me, the car, the motor – we’ve got to be ready. There’s only so many adjustments you can make come race day.”

On how well the team has been running the last month: “It definitely puts us up there. I’m still amazed at how much we’ve been able to accomplish in a small amount of time, not having a lot of track time in the car at the beginning of the year. What we were able to learn (for Oxford), and to be running with RPM and Jeff Taylor – he has it figured out at the flat tracks. I’m not sure what he’s got, but it’s definitely working for him.

“I do feel we are heading closer toward winning. There’s always going to be stiff competition, but you go into every week thinking you can win. There’s always going to be those guys that are tough to beat – we just need another five or 10 percent out of the car, and we’re going to be capable of winning.

“The last month, I’ve probably been more confident in all aspects of what we’re doing, including myself. That’s made the biggest difference.”

UP NEXT

The ACT Late Model Tour heads to its hub for the Labor Day Classic 200 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt., on Sunday, September 4… Austin Theriault has a career-best finish of seventh at Thunder Road in the 2010 VT Governor’s Cup 100.

The schedule remains the same: Pit gate opens at 8:00 AM and the first green flag flies at 1:00 PM

Groveton, New Hampshire — Mike Landry of Oakland, Maine prevailed in the 75-lap Pro All Stars Series main event, while point leader Andy Shaw of Conway was best in a 40-lap PASS Mod feature race on ‘Clash of The Titans’ Sunday [...]]]> Mike Landry is PASS Sportsman Ace, Andy Shaw Wins PASS Mod Main at Riverside

Groveton, New Hampshire — Mike Landry of Oakland, Maine prevailed in the 75-lap Pro All Stars Series main event, while point leader Andy Shaw of Conway was best in a 40-lap PASS Mod feature race on ‘Clash of The Titans’ Sunday at Riverside Speedway in Groveton, New Hampshire.

Landry had to work from deep in the field in order to work his way past early race leader and pole sitter Carey Martin of Denmark, Maine. Dan McKeage of Gorham, Maine later got by Martin after an intense battle lasting several laps, often times in lapped traffic. McKeage briefly battled Landry on a couple of late restarts, settling for runner-up honors under the checkered flag.

Martin held off Clyde Hennessey of Windham, Maine to nail down the final podium position. Rounding out the top-five was Jeff Marshall, a hometown racer that made steady progress through the field and led the hometown track contingent battling the touring series invaders.

Shaw started deep in the field when the Mod 40-lapper kicked off as first Richie Ferreira of Raynham, Mass. then Alan Wilson of Hebron, Maine built impressive leads during a long green flag run. Shaw got to second in the late going, then Wilson’s healthy advantage was wiped out by a late caution period and Shaw prevailed on the restart and comfortably claimed victory.

Wilson finished in second position, with Livermore Falls Maine racer Scott McDaniel grabbing yet another trophy at Riverside, where he always runs particularly well. Former Lee USA Speedway Late Model Sportsman champion Wayne Whitten, Jr. of Arundel, Maine was fourth across the finish line with the final top-five position claimed by Waterboro, Maine’s Billy Dixon.

PASS Modifieds are back in action on a racing card topped by the Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models this Saturday (August 21) at Spud Speedway in Caribou, Maine. Post Time is 6:00 p.m. The PASS Sportsman Series is off until PASS 400 Weekend at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maine September 11-12.

Unofficial Results

PASS Mod 40 lap feature: 1 66 Andy Shaw Conway NH 2 53w Alan Wilson Hebron ME 3 14 Scott McDaniel Livermore ME 4 2x Wayne Whitten, Jr. Arundel ME 5 33 Bill Dixon Waterboro ME 6 56x Richie Ferreira Raynham MA 7 50 Sumner Sessions Norway ME 8 53 Leo Oliveira Raynham MA 9 6 Kevin Douglass Sidney ME 10 77 Jon Brill Bridgton ME 11 85 Mitch Miller West Boylston MA 12 28 Mark Lundblad, Conway NH 13 56 Mike Mayberry Naples ME

PASS Sportsman 75 lap feature: 1 40 Mike Landry Oakland ME 2 38 Dan McKeage Gorham ME 3 18 Carey Martin Denmark ME 4 8 Clyde Hennessey Gorham ME 5 32 Jeff Marshall Groveton NH 6 7 Shane Tatro Levant ME 7 51a RJ Austin Smithfield ME 8 51x Dan Sidney St. Johnsbury VT 9 2 Bob Emery Limington ME 10 74 Doug Laleme Bethlehem NH 11 35 Kris Watson Hermon ME 12 67 Jourdan Davis Whitefield NH 13 14 Mike Paquette Pittsburgh NH 14 97 Alex Maher Groveton NH 15 57 Chandler Davis Whitefield NH 16 51 Bill Ahern Billerica MA 17 15 Craig Smith Waterboro ME 18 7x Matt Leblanc Gorham NH 19 58 Lyman McKeage Gorham ME 20 60 Billy Childs Jr. Peru ME 21 04 Matt Stewart Pittston ME

Naples ME – The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) traveling road show heads for northern New Hampshire’s Riverside Speedway this weekend, headlining the Saturday July 31 edition of Summerfest 2010 at the tough little bullring nestled on the banks of the Connecticut River.

The PASS North [...]]]> PASS North tackles Riverside Speedway Saturday at Summerfest 2010

Naples ME – The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) traveling road show heads for northern New Hampshire’s Riverside Speedway this weekend, headlining the Saturday July 31 edition of Summerfest 2010 at the tough little bullring nestled on the banks of the Connecticut River.

The PASS North Super Late Models will transition from the fastest track on the schedule to the series’ tightest when they pay their annual visit to the Groveton New Hampshire quarter mile. Ben Rowe is coming off a win at Thompson International Speedway where the average speeds reach 120 miles per hour, but the short track superstar is equally at home on the quarter miles. Still Rowe doesn’t have a “Grovetona” win to his credit, unlike Johnny Clark, Cassius Clark and Kelly Moore.

Cassius Clark is having a solid 2010. He’s third in the point standings with five top tens in eight starts, but there’s a big goose egg in his win column and Riverside might be the place where Clark corrects that. Johnny Clark seems to have taken a liking to Riverside’s high banks with feature wins in 2004 and 2008. The PASS North super late model point leader lost a few markers to Rowe at Thompson and he will be looking to regain those valuable championship points and more on Saturday night.

The PASS Mod squad will battle for 40 laps and point leader Andy Shaw is the only driver to carry the checkers twice in 2010. Bill Dixon joined Shaw, Wayne Whitten Jr., Leo Oliveira and Chris Staples on the 2010 race winners list Saturday when he raced home in front of Alan Wilson and Jon Brill at Canaan Fair Speedway. Dixon has a Riverside win to his credit but there’s a host of Mod drivers that will have a shot at victory when the green flag drops.

There’s a whole lot more in store for this two day festival of speed. On Friday July 30 the Jake McDowell Memorial 100 takes to the track with up to 40 of the finest street stock drivers in the Northeast Kingdom doing battle in the second segment of the Bond Auto Parts Triple Crown Series. The race is 100 laps with the winner pocketing $1000. Time trials for the pole position have been added to the excitement, with a cool $100 going to the car with the fastest lap time. Add to that card the Caron Building Center Daredevils, the Isaacson Structural Steel Angels, and the North Country Ford Late Models. Plus, Kyle Chandler and his monster truck Dominator will put on a display of car crushing, grass ripping, and car jumping second to none. Once the excitement is done on the speedway, you’ll be able to rock the night away at Jean and Jane’s Pit Stop located in turn four. Outlaw/Sportsman driver Jordan Davis will have his rock group perform from the top of the VIP area until the mid-night hour. Monster trucks are the opening act on Friday at 7:00 PM.

In addition to the PASS North super late models and Mods, Saturdays’ day two of Summerfest will feature the Nelcar Legends, Riverside Speedway’s Budweiser Super Stocks and Jiffy Mart Cyclones. The monster trucks will close out the weekend with an encore performance. Saturdays’ extravaganza goes green at 5:00 PM sharp.

Ste-Croix, QC – St-Felicien’s Karl Allard claims his second Série ACT Castrol Edge win in a row in the Riverside 100 at Riverside Speedway in St-Croix, QC. Allard started in the 19th position and worked his way to the front after having to pit under yellow [...]]]> Karl Allard Wins Second In a Row at Riverside

Ste-Croix, QC – St-Felicien’s Karl Allard claims his second Série ACT Castrol Edge win in a row in the Riverside 100 at Riverside Speedway in St-Croix, QC. Allard started in the 19th position and worked his way to the front after having to pit under yellow for minor repairs in the early stages on the event. Allard took the lead from Patrick Laperle who would hold on for second followed by Donald Theetge in third.

The race was slowed by 16 cautions and took just over 2 hours and 20 minutes. The remainder of the results remain unofficial and will be announced following a scoring recheck.

Allard already qualified for the second annual ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 18 with his win at Autodrome Chaudiere last Saturday, June 12.

The Série ACT Castrol will be back in action on Saturday, July 3 for a 250 lap event at Autodrome Montmagny in Montmagny, QC.