20th Anniversary Press Conference: Bob Bahre

Jay Hall — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:58:59 +0000

Special guests Ricky Craven, NASCAR star and ESPN2 Analyst, and NASCAR legend Bobby Allison talk about Bob Bahre’s vision, and his impact on New England’s racing culture.

20th Anniversary Press Conference: Significance of NHMS

Jay Hall — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:51:32 +0000

Special guests Bob Bahre, founder of New Hampshire International Speedway; Ricky Craven, NASCAR star and ESPN2 Analyst; Bobby Allison, NASCAR legend; and Brad Leighton, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Driver; discuss what the speedway means to New England’s racing culture.

Leighton To Pull Double Duty At NHMS

Jay Hall — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:06:13 +0000

Center Harbor, NH (September 7, 2009): Brad Leighton has a chance to add to an already stellar record at New Hampshire Motor Speedway when he heads to the track September 18-19 for a double-header weekend that includes competing in the NASCAR Camping World Series East and ACT Invitational races. Leighton will pilot the No. 55 Irving Oil-sponsored car in both events.

Leighton has eight wins in 38 starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Series East, and has been looking to add to that total since he last won there in 2003. He’s led over 600 laps at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and is always a fan-favorite for the win.

“We’ve come close so many times over the last couple of years, so hopefully, this time will be our trip back to victory lane,” said Leighton, who has posted five top-10 finishes since his last win. “We’re aiming to bring home back-to-back wins.”

The Center Harbor, N.H. resident will also compete in the inaugural ACT Invitational on Saturday. Leighton earned an invitation by virtue of his win at the at the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup at Lee USA Speedway earlier this year. He was the first driver to earn one of the 36 total invitations to the race.

Late last month, Leighton participated in a test session in preparation for the Late Model event that will carry a purse of more than $65,000 for invited and approved teams.

“The test went well, but we discovered we have a lot more work to do,” said Leighton. “You can really drive the ACT car deep into the corners unlike the East Series car, but the East Series cars have a lot more power. The good thing is the two races are a day apart so it’ll lessen any transition issues.”

Leighton is already the winningest driver in the history of New Hampshire Motor Speedway so a win in either division would be a feather in his cap.

“If we win the East Series race, we’ll end a dry spell I’ve been trying to end for some time now, but at the same time I’d really like to win that ACT Invitational. It’s going to be a busy weekend, but I’m going to have a lot of fun with it all. I can’t wait – I’ll be like a kid in a candy store.”

Catch Brad Leighton and the Irving Oil Chevrolet in the Heluva Good Fall 125 NASCAR Camping World Series East race on Friday, September 18th at 5 p.m and the ACT Invitational on Saturday, September 19th at 5:30 p.m.

For more information on Brad Leighton or Irving Oil, visit www.bradleighton.com

Brad Leighton Wins Summer Sizzler 200 at Kawartha Speedway

Jay Hall — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:41:31 +0000

Peterborough, ON – Brad Leighton of Center Harbor, NH captured his second ACT Tour victory of the 2009 season in the Summer Sizzler 200 at Kawartha Speedway in Peterborough, ON. Leighton started on the outside pole with a plus four handicap in ACT’s plus/minus system and led until Patrick Laperle took control on lap 27.

Laperle wouldn’t hold the lead for long as Randy Potter got by him on lap 56. Potter and Laperle then battled until a caution flag on lap 92 when Potter along with several other cars pitted for fresh tires and gas. Laperle would not be contested again until Joey “Pole” Polewarczyk, Jr. caught him on lap 113.

Laperle and Pole rubbed fenders until lap 139 when Laperle lost the lead for good. It then appeared that Pole was going to run away from the field until a caution on lap 181 grouped the field back together and brought Potter within striking distance. Pole and Potter then swapped the lead through three more late restarts until it appeared Potter had issues on the lap 189 restart.

Leighton took advantage of Potter’s mishap and got by Pole for the final lead change on lap 191. Pole would hang on to finish second followed by ACT Tour point leader Scott Payea in third. Karl Allard and Jonathan Urlin finished fourth and fifth. Brian Hoar, Patrick Laperle, Dave Morgan, Brandon Watson and Chip Grenier filled out the sixth through tenth positions.

Leighton scored his first victory of the season at the ACT Tour opener at Lee USA Speedway in April, where he received the first invite to the ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 19th. Therefore the total number of qualifiers remains at eleven.

The ACT Tour has next weekend off but many of them will make the trip to Oxford Plains Speedway for the Oxford 250 on Sunday, July 19th. The next ACT Tour event will be at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, ME on Saturday, July 25^th.

Unofficial ACT Tour Summer Sizzler 200 Results – 1.Brad Leighton (55NH) Center Harbor, NH, 2. Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. (97NH) Hudson, NH, 3. Scott Payea (89) Milton, VT, 4. Karl Allard (48QC) St-Felicien, QC, 5. Jonathan Urlin (4) London, ON, 6. Brian Hoar (37) Williston, VT, 7. Patrick Laperle (91) St-Denis-sur-Richelieu, QC, 8. Dave Morgan (70) Buckhorn, ON, 9. Brandon Watson (19) Stayner, ON, 10. Chip Grenier (9VT) Graniteville, VT, 11. Ricky Rolfe (51ME) Albany TWP, ME, 12. Donald Theetge (80) Boischatel, QC, 13. Derek Lynch (15) Warkworth, ON, 14. Dan McHattie (71) Cavan, ON, 15. Pete Vanderwyst (72) St. Thomas, ON, 16. Cole Powell (25) Mount Bridges, ON, 17. John Donahue (26VT) Graniteville, VT, 18. Justin Holtom (17ON) Ottawa, ON, 19. Glen Luce (7ME) Turner, ME, 20. Sylvain Lacombe (3) Terrebonne, QC, 21. Claude Leclerc (11PQ) Lanoraie, QC, 22. Daniel Descoste (2) St-Joseph du Lac, QC, 23. Randy Potter (02NH) Groveton, NH, 24. Pete Potvin (41) Graniteville, VT, 25. Stéphane Descoste (10QC) OKA, QC, 26. Tyler Cahoon (38VT) St.Johnsbury, VT, 27. Mike Sinopoli (8) Courtice, ON, 28. Nick Sinopoli (1) Oshawa, ON, 29. Bryan Mercer (81) Port Hope, ON, 30. Spencer MacPherson (31) Carleton Place, ON, 31. Ryan Kimball (16) Norwood, ON, 32. Tim Kirby (07) Carleton Place, ON, 33. Darragh Moroney (5) Peterborough, ON, 34. Tim Fernandes (77) Peterborough, ON, 35. Eric Chase (40VT) Milton, VT, 36. Brent Dragon (55VT) Milton, VT, 37. Yvon Bédard (67) St.Nicolas, QC.

Unofficial ACT Summer Sizzler 200

Pos Car # Driver

1 55NH Brad Leighton

2 97NH Joey Polewarczyk, Jr.

3 89 Scott Payea

4 48QC Karl Allard

5 4 Jonathan Urlin

6 37 Brian Hoar

7 91 Patrick Laperle

8 70 Dave Morgan

9 19 Brandon Watson

10 9VT Chip Grenier

11 51ME Ricky Rolfe

12 80 Donald Theetge

13 15 Derek Lynch

14 71 Dan McHattie

15 72 Pete Vanderwyst

16 25 Cole Powell

17 26VT John Donahue

18 17ON Justin Holtom

19 7ME Glen Luce

20 3 Sylvain Lacombe

21 11PQ Claude Leclerc

22 2 Daniel Descoste

23 02NH Randy Potter

24 41 Pete Potvin, III

25 10QC Stéphane Descoste

26 38VT Tyler Cahoon

27 8 Mike Sinopoli

28 1 Nick Sinopoli

29 81 Bryan Mercer

30 31 Spencer MacPherson

31 16 Ryan Kimball

32 07 Tim Kirby

33 5 Darragh Moroney

34 77 Tim Fernandes

35 40VT Eric Chase

36 55VT Brent Dragon

37 67 Yvon Bédard

Brad Leighton Wins Summer Sizzler 200 at Kawartha Speedway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ACT-071209