ACT & PASS Announce 2023 Thompson Speedway Oval Schedule

 Posted by Wayne G.Barber  Photo Ice Breaker 2022 by Wayne G. Barber

To keep ahead of tire shortage questions and upcoming point battles at neighboring Stafford Speedway and New London-Waterford Speedbowl, the Sunoco Modifieds have been relegated to five events; Two on Icebreaker Weekend and the return of the Sunoco Modified Triple Crown on World Series weekend.

Barre, VT & Naples, ME — Officials from the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) and Pro All Stars Series (PASS) are excited to announce the 2023 Schedule for the Thompson Speedway oval. The nine-event schedule is highlighted by the iconic Icebreaker and World Series weekends along with four Wednesday night programs throughout the summer. 2023 will mark the fourth year ACT and PASS have sanctioned the iconic 5/8-mile oval in Northeast Connecticut.

The 84th year at Thompson Speedway will start and end with a pair of New England’s premier race weekends. Beginning with the 49th Icebreaker, an optional Friday practice day on March 31st gives a sneak-peak prior to the annual lid-lifter on Saturday, April 1st and Sunday, April 2nd. Saturday will be headlined by the PASS Super Late Models while Sunday will once again feature the $10,000-to-win Icebreaker 125 for the Thompson Outlaw Open Modifieds. Along with the Thompson Late Models, Limited Sportsman, SK Lites and Mini Stocks, a full division line-up will be announced for the Icebreaker at a later date.

The 2023 season will close with the traditional three-day Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing starting Friday, October 6th and ending Sunday, October 8th. In its 61st iteration, the annual stock car extravaganza will once again feature three days of Tour-type Modified racing starting with the Modified Racing Series on Friday followed by the $10,000-to-win Thompson Outlaw Open Modified Sunoco 100 on Saturday and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on Sunday. The World Series will also feature championship action for the weekly Thompson divisions as well as a host of touring series that will be announced in the months ahead.

The Wednesday night showdowns will look a little different in 2023 with the introduction of the all-new Dash for Cash Series for the Thompson Outlaw Open Modifieds. In an effort to cut down on the need for a larger pit crew during these midweek events, the Dash for Cash events will be cut down to 50 lap sprints, leaving the need for change tires and scheduled pit stops behind. The three Dash for Cash events will continue to feature the $5,000 to win, $600 to start purse that has been in effect for the Wednesday Open Modified shows since 2021.

“After talking with teams, we feel the format change to 50 laps without change tires will bring more teams to our midweek shows,” said PASS President Tom Mayberry. “Now it’ll be up to the driver to chase down the cash, not relying on a fast right-rear tire changer.”

The Dash for Cash for the Outlaw Open Modifieds debuts on Wednesday, June 21st alongside the Thompson Late Models, SK Lite Modifieds, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks. The New England Supermodified Series (NESS) will also have their midweek debut on the Thompson highbanks after a stellar run at October’s World Series.

On Wednesday, July 26th the SK Lite Modifieds take center stage alongside the second Dash for Cash. The SK Lites will contend for Double Features alongside the Outlaw Open Modifieds, Thompson Late Models, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks.

Wednesday, August 16th brings the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour back to their midweek tradition at the Big-T. The NWMT Thompson 150 will be supported by the Thompson Late Models, SK Lite Modifieds, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks.

The final Wednesday night showdown on September 13th will feature the final Dash for Cash for the Outlaw Open Modifieds in 2023 alongside an Open Street Stock special and the Thompson local divisions.

Sunoco Modifieds are noticeably absent from the Wednesday shows but will remain part of Thompson Speedway in a big way in 2023. With the ongoing tire shortages still affecting the Sunoco Modifieds in particular, and keeping the upcoming point battles at Stafford Speedway and New London-Waterford Speedbowl in mind, officials have chosen to keep the Sunoco Modifieds to Icebreaker and World Series weekends.

“We didn’t want to get to June or July and begin making Sunoco Modified teams choose,” said ACT managing partner Cris Michaud. “To keep out of their tire inventories and save equipment for the Stafford and Waterford point battles, the Sunoco Mods will race both days of Icebreaker weekend and once again with the Triple Crown on World Series weekend.”

For more information about the American-Canadian Tour, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com.  You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ACTTour.

2023 Thompson Speedway Schedule of Events

#             DAY       DATE     TIME                      EVENT

--             Fri           Mar 31   10:00pm                Icebreaker Practice Day

1              Sat           April 1    6:00pm                  Icebreaker – Day 1 feat. PASS Super Late Models

2              Sun         April 2    6:00pm                  Icebreaker – Day 2 feat. $10k Open Mod Icebreaker 125

3              Wed       Jun 21    6:00pm                  Dash for Cash #1 plus the New England Supermodified Series

4              Wed       July 26    6:00pm                  Dash for Cash #2 – SK Lite Modified Double Features!

5              Wed       Aug 16   6:00pm                  NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour plus Local Divisions

6              Wed       Sept 13  6:00pm                  Dash for Cash #3 plus Street Stock Open

7              Fri           Oct 6      6:00pm                  61st World Series Friday - MRS

8              Sat           Oct 7      6:00pm                  61st World Series Saturday – Sunoco 100 Open Modifieds

9              Sun         Oct 8      7:00pm                  61st World Series Sunday – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour

- Schedule Subject to Change -

ACT Tour 2023 Schedule

 2023 American-Canadian Tour Schedule of Events

#             DAY       DATE    EVENT                                                 TRACK                                                 LOCATION

**            Fri           Mar 17    St. Patrick's Day 125                               Hickory Motor Speedway                       Hickory, NC

**            Sat           Mar 18    Easter Bunny 125                                    Hickory Motor Speedway                       Hickory, NC

--             Fri            Apr 14     Northeast Classic Practice Day               New Hampshire Motor Speedway         Loudon, NH

1              Sat           Apr 15     Northeast Classic - $5,000 to Win            New Hampshire Motor Speedway         Loudon, NH

(Rain Date Sun. April 16)

2              Sat           Apr 29     Spring Sizzler ACT 75                              Stafford Motor Speedway                      Stafford Springs, CT

--             Sat           May 6      Thunder Road Car Show/Practice Day    Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl               Barre, VT

3              Sun          May 7      25^th Community Bank N.A. 150              Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl               Barre, VT

4              Sun          May 21    New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150     Lee USA Speedway                                 Lee, NH

5              Sat           Jun 3        48^th Spring Green 123                             Seekonk Speedway                                 Seekonk, MA

6              Sat           Jun 24      Claude Leclerc 150 - $5,000-to-Win         Autodrome Chaudiere                            Vallée-Jct., QC

7              Sun          July 9       Oxford 125                                              Oxford Plains Speedway                         Oxford, ME

8              Sat.          July 22     CAN-AM 200 - $10,000-to-Win                Autodrome Montmagny                         Montmagny, QC

9              Sat           Aug 5       Milton CAT Midsummer Classic 250      White Mtn. Motorsports Park                N. Woodstock, NH

$10,000-to-Win!

10            Sat           Aug 26     Oxford Plains 125                                   Oxford Plains Speedway                         Oxford, ME

11            Sun          Sep 3       45^th Labor Day Classic - $5,000 to Win    Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl               Barre, VT

presented by New England Federal Credit Union

12            Sat           Sep 16     45^th Fall Foliage 200 - $5,000 to Win       White Mtn. Motorsports Park                N. Woodstock, NH

** Sat/Sun     Sep 30/Oct 1     61^st Vermont Milk Bowl                          Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl               Barre, VT

presented by Northfield Savings Bank

13            Sat           Oct 21     Waterford 150                                        New London-Waterford Speedbowl      Waterford, CT

 - Schedule Subject to Change -

Brandon Ward ends SMART Tour season in Motor Mile Speedway victory lane

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber Live Report by James Snape and Photos by "Simply the Best", Crystal Snape

Brandon Ward ends SMART Tour season in Motor Mile Speedway victory lane.

Caleb Heady claims SMART Tour Pace O Matic Championship

   Brandon Ward driving the Randy Renfrow owned #2 modified, capped off the 2022 Smart Tour season with a perfectly executed strategy on Oct. 22 claiming his second SMARTY trophy. This was Ward's second win in a row at Motor Mile Speedway.

   Burt Myers and Brian Loftin brought the potent field to green and Myers streaked away with the initial lead with Loftin, Jonathan Brown and Ward in Pursuit.

   Points leader Caleb Heady, 20 years old from Shelbyville, KY experienced a suspension failure and retired from the race on lap eight and the first yellow flag flew on lap eleven for a minor spin by Brian Weber.

The restart tightened the field up but Myers showed his strength by pulling away with the lead until Loftin put pressure on the leader racing to the inside where the two ran for a couple of laps. Myers eventually prevailed, leading Loftin and Brown. The three ran nose to tail while Ward was on cruise control in fourth.

   The stage break caution came on lap thirty which allowed a majority of the field to pit for adjustments. The top three of Myers, Loftin and Brown elected to stay on track.

   On the restart Jonathan "Jon Boy" Brown wasted no time and used the outside groove to race past Loftin and Myers to lead by lap thirty one. Jason Myers put himself in contention by getting by Loftin for third place.

   Brown tested his new motor by pulling away and running in clean air while Ward, who pitted on lap thirty and restarted in tenth, methodically worked his way forward. By lap forty Ward ran in eighth, ten laps later he was sixth and by lap sixty he raced into fifth place.

   A lap sixty three caution flag waved when Chris Finocchario and Michael Ritch made contact causing Ritch to spin on the back stretch. Pit road became a busy place when a majority of the competitors pitted. It was a perfect time for a new Hoosier for a run to the finish.

   Ward's pit crew had a perfect stop getting their driver back on track with the lead.

   The final restart of the event now had Ward and Brown race off turn four with Bobby Labonte and Loftin in the next row. Ward's Randy Renfro prepared #2 looked to be on  a rail keeping Brown and the rest in his rear view mirror.

   On lap eighty, Loftin overpowered Labonte taking over third place. The final laps ran incident free and Ward raced under the checkered flag with Brown, Loftin and Labonte trailing.

   Early race leader Burt Myers came back from a slow pit stop on lap sixty three restarting in tenth place but powered his way into fifth by the end of the 99 lap marathon

   Caleb Heady driving the Tommy Baldwin Jr #7NY had a comfortable points lead going into the Motor Mile Speedway event, but that lead diminished quickly when his mount failed him on lap eight but he gained enough points in the event to become the 2022 SMART Tour Champion by Pace O Matic.

Motor Mile Speedway Finish

1   #2-Brandon Ward

2   22- Jonathan Brown

3   15-Brian Loftin

4   25-Bobby Labonte

5    1-Burt Myers

6   21W-Jimmy Wallace

7    8-Chris Finocchario

8    4-Jason Myers

9   18-Daniel Yates

10  6A-Randy Butner

11  17-Michael Ritch

12  13-Chris Fleming

13  45-Gary Young Jr.

14  01-Brian Weber

15  07VA-Dennis Holdren

16  7NY-Caleb Heady

17  3-Craig Young

AWARDS

Brandon Ward won for a second year in a row at Motor Mile Speedway. Along the way, Ward led more laps than anyone else earning him the JOSTEN'S lap leader award

Burt Myers won the Jerry Hunt Super Center stage win leading at the 30 lap mark.

The Shady Grady Racing #15 piloted by Brian Loftin turned the 4/10 mile Motor Mile Speedway at a lap time of 15.256 earning Loftin and team the MJ Printing & Graphics fastest lap of the race.

Jonathan Brown led at the halfway mark earning the Bankers Life Halfway Leader Award.

Jimmy Wallace advanced 6 positions from his starting spot to earn the Pace-O-Matic Harn Charger Award plus Wallace was also the highest finishing non touring winner thus earning him the Carolina Drilling "Blast To The Front" Award.

2022 POINTS

1   7NY- C.Heady-334

2   2-B.Ward-320

3   25-B.Labonte-309

4   15-B.Loftin-275

5   1-B.Myers-267

6   22-J.Brown-266

7   60-M.Hirschman-256

8   4/6A-J.Myers-230

9   07VA-D.Holdren-208

10  14-B.Measmer Jr-181

11  21W-J.Wallace-157

12  77-G.Putnam-157

13  79/8NY-J.Gerstner-155

14  02C-J.Coulter-147

15  01-B.Weber-133

69 different drivers ran the SMART Tour in 2022.

Story by James Snape

Photos by Crystal Snape

NASCAR Whelen Modified 2023 Race Schedule

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber  Photo Wayne G. Barber Library Thompson Speedway

Saturday, Feb. 11

New Smyrna Speedway

Friday, March 31

Richmond Raceway

Saturday, May 6

Monadnock Speedway

Saturday, May 20

Riverhead Raceway

Saturday, May 27

TBA

Saturday, June 10

Seekonk Speedway

Saturday, June 24

Riverhead Raceway

Saturday, July 8

Wall Stadium

Saturday, July 15

New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Saturday, July 29

TBA

Saturday, Aug. 5

Lancaster Motorplex

Wednesday, Aug. 16

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

Saturday, Aug. 26

Langley Speedway

Saturday, Sept. 2

Oswego Speedway

Saturday, Sept. 9

Monadnock Speedway

Saturday, Sept. 16

Riverhead Raceway

Saturday, Sept. 30

North Wilkesboro Speedway

Sunday, Oct. 8

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

Thursday, Oct. 26

Martinsville Speedway

Hirschman Scores Hickory Hundred

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber   Report by James Snape and Photos by" Simply the Best"Crystal Snape

Hickory Motor Speedway

October 08, 2022

SMART Modified Tour

   Matt Hirschman claimed his fifth SMARTY trophy Saturday Oct. 8th in the running of the Hickory Hundred presented by Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet at the famed Hickory Motor Speedway.

   In the twenty eight car starting field Hirschman topped the charts in qualifying, turning the quick 3/8 mile oval with a time of 14.191 sec. To top that off, when the top ten fastest qualifiers redrew for feature starting positions Hirschman pulled the number one starting spot.

   At the drop of starter J.B. Cole's green flag, Hirschman outdragged Jason Myers and easily ran in the lead. While Hirschman was on cruise control, behind him Jason Myers constantly fought off the challenges of SMART points leader Caleb Heady driving the Tommy Baldwin owned #7NY.

   By lap ten more heavy hitters were making their way forward. Bobby Labonte and Burt Myers put Heady behind them putting heavy pressure on Jason Myers.

   A lap 12 yellow flag waved when Chris Finocchario and Austin Kochenash made contact with the turn one wall, Kochenash was able to drive away, Finocchario was unable to continue.

   The restart was the chance that Labonte and Burt Myers needed to put Jason Myers behind them and eight laps latter Burt Myers flexed his muscle again, racing into second place following in Hirschman's Hoosier tracks until a lap 57 caution. This was the opportunity that a majority of the field used to pit for adjustments and a new Hoosier tire including race leader Hirschman. Electing not to pit was the new race leader Austin Kochenash with  Labonte, rookie Carson Loftin and Jonathan Brown.

   Hirschman's quick pit stop dropped him into the seventh starting spot. With laps running out Jonathan Brown started his run to the front finding himself in second place behind Kochenash while Hirschman powered into third place by lap 70.     

   On lap 73 Hirschman raced by Kochenash and ran in clean air while behind him Brown started to mount his attack on the leader, looking inside and outside for the opportunity to take over the point position.

   A lap 84 restart ended Brown's chance for victory when he jumped the restart and was penalized by being placed at the rear of the field.

   Hirschman ran out the remainder of the marathon in the lead while Burt Myers and Brandon Ward could only follow him to the checkered flag.

   Thirteen caution flags slowed the event.

Pace-O-Matic Finish

1-Matt Hirschman-(1)

2-Burt Myers-(9)

3-Brandon Ward-(8)

4-Bobby Labonte-(7)

5-Joey Coulter-(4)

6-Caleb Heady-(3)

7-Jonathan Brown-(18)

8-Daniel Yates-(21)

9-Gary Putnam-(15)

10-Jason Myers-(2)

11-John Smith-(22)

12-Spencer Martin-(24)

13-Wes Gilbert-(28)

14-Carson Loftin-(13)

15-Kevin Orlando-(11)

16-Brian Weber-(27)

17-Jonathan Cash-(10)

18-Bobby Measmer Jr.-(6)

19-Brian Loftin-(12)

20-Gary Young Jr.-(25)

21-Austin Kochenash-(23)

22-Zack Brewer-(5)

23-Greg Butcher-(14)

24-Michael Rich-(17)

25-Dennis Holdren-(20)

26-Andrew Harrah-(26)

27-Jimmy Wallace-(16)

28-Chris Finocchario-(19)

Cautions-(13)-Laps,9-10-12-20-39-40-44-57-64-75-84-90-96

Next SMART event: Tri County Speedway, Saturday 15,2022  

Story by James Snape

Photos by "Simply the Best" Crystal Snape

2022 Champions Night for 9-26-22

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber & Photos courtesy of Facebook Share

News, Results, Schedules, Sponsor Changes, Driver Interviews.

E-Mail the program at waynewnri@yahoo.com

Podcast to follow at anchor.fm/wayne-barber

Tentatively scheduled for 6:10pm will be Seekonk Speedway 2 Division NASCAR Weekly Track Champion in the Late/ Models and premier Pro/ Stocks on the same night, driver, Mark Jenison

Mark  Jenison

Stafford Speedway Cancels Friday Nights Racing Card due to Heavy Rain Forcast.

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber 

Stafford Speedway August 26 Weekly Racing / Kids Night Event Canceled

(Stafford Springs, CT)---Tonight’s Kids Night event has been canceled due to incoming severe weather.  Kids night, including the big wheel race, will be added to next Friday’s Paradiso Insurance Late Model 50. All tickets purchased for tonight will be honored next Friday. Please contact the track office for more information.

 

For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.

Alexandra Fearn Wins May 27th Limited Late Model Feature;

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber  Source: Story & Track Photot by Scott Running Media Press Release and my comments.

(Stafford Springs, CT)---Stafford Speedway returned to Friday night racing action with a Stafford Weekly Series program on Friday night, May 27th.  Alexandra Fearn won the Limited Late Model feature before rain prematurely brought the rest of the evening to a halt.  All tickets sold for the May 27^th event will be honored next Friday night, June 3^rd for the Weekly Racing / Kids Night program at Stafford.

In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature event, Gary Patnode took the lead from polesitter Damian Palardy at the drop of the green and he led the first lap before the caution flag flew for Dana Wray, who spun in turn 4.

Patnode took the lead again back under green with Alexandra Fearn pulling alongside Palardy for second.  The field completed one lap before the caution came right back out with 2 laps complete for a spin in turn 4 by Trinity Provost.

Patnode again took the lead with Fearn and Palardy going side by side again for second.  Matt Clement worked his way up to fourth with Devon Jencik in fifth place.  Fearn took second on lap-4 and Matt Clement followed her through to move into third and drop Palardy back to fourth.  Devon Jencik took fourth from Palardy on lap-5 with Jay Clement right behind Palardy in sixth place as Patnode continued to hold the lead with Fearn giving chase.

With 10 laps complete, Patnode was still in the lead followed by Fearn, Matt Clement, Devon Jencik, Rich Hammann, Palardy, Jeremy Lavoie, Jay Clement, Kevin Cormier, and Matt Scappini.  With 5 laps to go, Fearn had closed to within a car length of Patnode for the lead while Jencik was applying heavy pressure to Matt Clement for third place.

Fearn caught Patnode with 2 laps to go and as they took the white flag, Fearn made her move to the inside of Patnode to take over the lead.  Fearn led Patnode back to the checkered flag to pick up her first win of the 2022 season after a rough start to her first three races.  Matt Clement finished third with Devon Jencik and Hammann rounding out the top-5.  Alexandra's first victory came on 7-11-14 and now as the Stafford Speedway All-Time Female Driver at 23 Career Wins and the 2021 Weekly Point Champion.

LIMITED LATE MODEL (20)

1) Alexandra Fearn, East Longmeadow, MA (1)  23 Career, 2021 Division Champion

2) Gary Patnode, New Hartford

3) Matt Clement, Wethersfield

4) Devon Jencik, Canton

5) Rich Hammann, Tolland

6) Jeremy Lavoie, Windsor Locks ( 2 time track champion)

7) Damian Palardy, Willington

8) Jay Clement, Wethersfield

9) Kevin Cormier, Agawam, MA

10) Matt Scappini, Litchfield

11) John Orsini, Morris

12) David Shinder, West Granby

13) Trinity Provost, Holland, MA

14) Dana Wray, Durham

Driver Line-Up for 5-16-22

 Posted by Wayne G.Barber &  Facebook photo credit.

Racing News, Results, Driver Changes, Schedules, Driver Interviews

E-Mail the program at waynewnri@yahoo.com 

Tentatively Scheduled for 6:10pm , Driver Bert Ouellette will discuss his big Truck Win at the

New-London Waterford Speedbowl. live.

Stafford Speedway Hot Late/Model action on 5-13-22

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Looks like the most heated division in our local tracks will be the popular Late/Models.

In the 30-lap Late Model feature, Andrew Molleur took the lead at the green flag although Kevin Gambacorta was all over his back bumper and was looking to take the lead but Chris Meyer spun on the backstretch to bring the caution out with 1 lap complete.

Molleur again took the lead with Tom Fearn getting by Gambacorta to move into second.  Gambacorta was now third followed by Paul Varricchio, Jr. and Wayne Coury, Jr.  Gambacorta didn’t take long to get back to second as he made a move to the inside of Fearn on lap-4 and was able to reclaim the spot.  Adam Gray was on the charge in the early laps, moving into seventh place on lap-5 after starting in 15^th place.  Gambacorta continued his march to the front as he went to the inside of Molleur in turn 4 on lap-8 to move into the lead.  Fearn was still third with Varricchio and Michael Wray making up the top-5.

Michael Bennett made a move to get around Coury for sixth place on lap-14 with Gray right behind Coury in eighth place.  Wray took fourth from Varricchio on lap-18 and now Bennett was closing in on Varricchio in the fight for fifth.  Bennett made the move around Varrichio on lap-20 to move into fourth as Gambacorta was starting to slowly pull away from Molleur and Fearn at the front of the field.

With 5 laps to go, Gambacorta was comfortably leading  Molleur, Fearn, Wray, and Bennett.  Gambacorta cruised to the checkered flag to pick up his first win of the 2022 season.  Molleur finished second with Fearn, Michael Wray, and Bennett rounding out the top-5.  Sourc: Scott Running Stafford Speedway press release and track photo credit. Tom Fearn is the track's late/model all/time winner and all time weekly points champion in his certain first round Hall of Fame career and struggled in 2021.

LATE MODEL (30)

1) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington

2) Andrew Molleur, Shelton

3) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma

4) Michael Wray, Durham

5) Michael Bennett, Willington

6) Wayne Coury, Jr., Fairfield

7) Adam Gray, Granby, Ma

8) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin

9) Darrell Keane, Enfield

10) Paul Arute, Northbridge, Ma

11) John Blake, North Haven

12) Dave Wray, Durham

13) Chris Meyer, North Franklin

14) Duane Noll, Monroe

15) Marc Curtis, Brookfield, Ma

Drivers Line-Up for 5-9-22

Posted by Wayne G. Barber 

News, Results , Driver Changes, Driver Interviews, Opinions 

E-Mail your comments at waynewnri@yahoo.com 

Available on Podcast   anchor.fm/wayne-barber

Tentatively Scheduled 6:05 pm National Champion, David Greenslit and at 6:35 pm Josh St. Clair

Driver Line-Up for 4-25-22

 Posted by Wayne G.Barber  

News, Results, Driver Changes Schedules, Southern Reports and Driver Interviews. 

E-Mail the program at waynewnri@yahoo.com 

Tentatively Scheduled for 6:10 pm  Mapleville, R.I. Limited Sportsmen Ice Breaker Winner,, Cory Fanning 

Podcast interview on anchor.fm/wayne-barber 

Driver Line-Up for 4-18-22

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber  

News, Results, Sponsor Changes,

Driver Changes, Schedules and Driver Interviews.

E-Mail the program live at waynewnri@yahoo.com 

Tentatively Scheduled for 6:05pm, Derek Gluchaki of his red hot start in 2022.

Gluchacki Launches a Strong Championship Bid with Magic Mile Victory

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber  

Loudon, NH — We couldn’t properly call it the Northeast Classic without Mother Nature staying true and changing the weather 987-times in a seventy-two-hour span. We experienced it all, warm sunshine, blistering winds, downpouring rain, skies both clear and packed with clouds and even the occasional flurry of snow. Through it all, well over a hundred different stock cars took to the 1.058-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the 2^nd Annual Northeast Classic with Derek Gluchacki taking the biggest win of his career in the 50-lap ACT Late Model Tour season-opening event.

Unfortunate mechanical failures from early-season gremlins whittled a 38-car field that participated in Friday practice to a 32-car starting grid for Sunday’s Northeast Classic. Bolstered by Canadian teams returning stateside for the first time in two years, a strong contingent of new faces and a collection of old favorites, the American-Canadian Tour was ready to start off the 31^st season of Late Model racing in the Northeast United States and Canada.

Case-in-point, when the field started off for warm-up laps they were led by St-Edouard, Quebec’s Dany Trepanier, multi-time ACT winner Dillon Moltz and Jeffery Lebrecque Jr. from Strafford, New Hampshire. From the initial green, it was the ‘5’ show. Moltz in the RB Performance #5ME led the early goings with the #5MA of Tom Carey III hot on his heels.

On Lap 13, Quebec City’s Alexandre Tardif got sideways coming out of turn-two and slammed hard into the inside retaining wall on the backstretch, allowing the #91QC of Patrick Laperle, among others, to hit pit road for much needed adjustments. On the restart, Moltz chose the outside which allowed Carey to taking the lead on Lap 14 using the inside line. The five’s continued to stay in file across the speedway with the #7NH of former North East Mini Stock Tour (NEMST) champion Cody Leblanc stalling out in his rookie-year venture with ACT.

Following the Lap 26 competition caution, ‘TC-3’ continued to lead with Moltz stalking from behind, closely followed by DJ Shaw and Jimmy Hebert in third and fourth. This foursome would pace the field with Gluchacki and local Late Model star Jaime Swallow Jr. jousting each other in and out of the Top-5. Given the ten-to-go signal from Chief Starter Jason Lamoy, Hebert became the first to step out and try a new line, nearly taking second from Moltz in turn-two. Poised to work the bottom again in turns three and four, it all went up in smoke when Woody Pitkat and Raphael Lessard smashed into the turn-four SAFER barrier, ending their day just nine laps early.

On the restart, Hebert again darted to the bottom under Carey just after the start/finish line before bombarding into turn-one. Again, the move would be squandered by a yellow flag flying after the frontstretch spin by Derek Ming and a right-front flat tire under the Shawn Swallow machine. A second restart proved disastrous when Hebert went spinning, sliding backward into the turn-two wall, pinching 2021 Rookie of the Year Erick Sands with him while the avoidance-melee took several mid-packers including Jacob Burns, Remi Perreault, Jamie Swallow Sr. and Robby Gordon Douglas.

Following the red flag cleanup, Carey would lead Gluchacki, Moltz, Shaw and Jamie Swallow Jr. to the final restart of the race. Gluchacki launched beneath the Brookside Equipment #5MA, leading Lap 44 while a three-wide blanket of yellow and orange followed in the fight for fourth with Laperle pushing past Swallow Jr. and Moltz to steal the position. Keeping his momentum, Laperle would lead over Shaw for third on Lap-45 by just a grill cover! Carey would mount one final charge against Gluchacki in the final two laps, but the #03MA prevailed.

Gluchacki’s victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is the biggest of his young career, his second ACT Late Model Tour win following Thompson Speedway’s Sunoco World Series in 2021. Tom Carey III earned his second-consecutive silver Northeast Classic trophy while Patrick Laperle made his return to the United States a statement, earning his best NHMS finish in third. DJ Shaw in the A.H. Fence #04VT took fourth and Dillon Moltz capped a strong run with fifth. 2013 Serie-ACT Champion Dany Trepanier took sixth, defending ACT Tour champion Ben Rowe charged from 25^th to finish seventh, Jamie Swallow Jr., Jean-Phillippe Bergeron and Shawn Swallow rounded out the top-10.

The ACT Late Model Tour returns to its roots with the 24^th Annual Community Bank N.A. 150 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vermont on Sunday, May 1^st. The ACT Late Models will also join the annual Thunder Road car show and practice day on Saturday, April 30^th alongside the Lenny’s Show & Apparel Flying Tigers, rk Miles Street Stocks and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors. Race-day schedules, times and pricing information will be available soon on both acttour.com and thunderroadvt.com. The Community Bank N.A. 150 will also be available live online and around the world on FloRacing!

For more information about the American-Canadian Tour, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com. You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ACTTour.

Unofficial Results

Finish / Driver Number / Driver / Hometown / Sponsor / Laps                                                                 

1) 03MA Derek Gluchacki North Dartmouth, MA Gluchacki Motorsports 50

2) 5MA Tom Carey III New Salem, MA Brookside Equipment Sales Chevy Camaro 50

3) 91QC Patrick Laperle St-Denis, QC Laperle Motorsports 50

4) 04VT D.J. Shaw Center Conway, NH A.H. Fence Co. Ford Mustang 50 

5) 5ME Dillon Moltz New Sharon, ME Moltz Motorsports 50

6) 19QC Dany Trepanier St-Edouard,QC Trepanier Motorsports 50

7) 4ME Ben Rowe Turner, ME Richard Moody & Sons Ford Mustang 50

8) 4NH Jamie Swallow Jr. Stark, NH Swallow & Sons Concrete Chevy Camaro 50                                                

9) 18QC Jean-Philippe Bergeron Terrebonne, QC Bergeron Motorsports 50                                           

10) 04NH Shawn Swallow Groveton, NH North Conway Incinerators Chevy Impala 50                   

11) 8NH Connor McDougal Wakefield, NH Eleveight Design Chevy SS 50

12) 30RI Jacob Rowdy Burns E. Greenwich, RI Burns Motorsports 50

13) 27NC Robby Gordon Douglas Charlotte, NC East Derry Collison Chevy Camaro 50

14) 3NH Brenna Humphrey Cornish, ME Downforce Motorsports 50

15) 58VT Jimmy Hebert Williamstown, VT Hebert Motorsports 43

16) 36NH Erick Sands Derry, NH Seacoast Truck/Auto Chevy SS 43

17) 33QC Remi Perreault Joliette, QC Perreault Motorsports Chevy SS 43

18) 04ME Jamie Swallow Sr. Groveton, NH Swallow Motorsports 43

19) 50RI Mike Benevides Westerly, RI Benevides Motorsports 43

20) 45VT Derek Ming West Burke, VT Ming Motorsports Ford Mustang 43

21) 48QC Raphael Lessard Quebec, Canada Larue Ford Mustang 41

22) 07MA Woody Pitkat Bellingham, MA Summit Ice Motorsports 41

23) 12NH Jeffrey Labrecque Jr. Strafford, NH Labrecque Motorsports 39

24) 30NH Rich Dubeau Lebanon, NH Dubeau Motorsports 35

25) 00NH Jimmy Renfrew Candia, NH R&R Public Wholesalers/R&R Race Parts NH Chevy SS 30

26) 15ME Mike Hopkins Herman, ME Port City Racecars/Hopkins Energy Chevy Camaro 29

27) 49NH Matt Anderson Franklin, NH Hawthorne Automotive 26

28) 03QC Sebastien Couture Quebec, Canada Couture Motorsports 26

29) 7NH Cody Leblanc Berlin, NH Naylen Farms Chevy SS 17

30) 91CT Jake Johnson Reheboth, MA Jim Morrissette's Oil Burner Service Ford Fusion 15

31) 21QC Alexandre Tardif Quebec, Canada Tardif Motorsports 13

DNS 27NH #Cam Huntress Rochester, NH Camaro Heaven Chevy SS

-30-

Cale King

American-Canadian Tour

Media Director

(802) 244-6963 ext. 104