ACT Tour Unveils Commonwealth Classic Early-Entry List

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Photo by ACT Tour Media

Waterbury, VT – The American-Canadian Tour (ACT) has announced the full early-entry list for the Commonwealth Classic 65 at Virginia’s Richmond Raceway. A total of 27 entries have been received as of Monday, February 4 from teams that will be in action when ACT takes to the historic track on Saturday, March 30.

The entry list to date includes drivers from five U.S. state and the province of Quebec. A mix of ACT Late Model Tour stars, weekly Late Model standouts, Super Late Model regulars, and special-event favorites are ready for ACT’s inaugural trip to the state of Virginia.

Many current and former ACT top dogs have filed their entries for the Commonwealth Classic and will battle for the $5,000 top prize. Former ACT Champions Wayne Helliwell Jr. of Dover, NH and Nick Sweet of Barre, VT bring instant star power. Williamstown, VT’s Jimmy Hebert and Barre, VT’s Christopher Pelkey were both top-10 point drivers in 2018. AuSable Forks, NY’s Brandon Atkins has competed sporadically in a Late Model the past two seasons, but the 2014 ACT Rookie of the Year will make the trip down south.

ACT’s “home track” of Thunder Road Speedbowl will also send a strong contingent of drivers. Multi-time winner Jim “Boomer” Morris of Barre, VT, former Memorial Day Classic winner Tyler Cahoon of Danville, VT, and rising star Stephen Donahue of Graniteville, VT are making their plans for the end of March. Stephen’s father John, a 15-time Late Model winner at the track, has also entered, as has longtime Thunder Road competitor Scott Coburn of Barre.

A number of Late Model racers from the Southern New England area have entered the Commonwealth Classic. The state of Massachusetts along will send at least six drivers: 2018 Seekonk Late Model Champion Ryan Kuhn of East Bridgewater, 2018 Seekonk Pro Stock runner-up Jake Johnson of Rehoboth, Thompson Speedway winner Tommy Carey III of Warwick, 2018 Seekonk Sport Truck Champion Joshua Hedges of New Bedford, longtime ACT Late Model Tour racer James “Scruffy” Linardy of Malden, and part-time ACT competitor T.J. Moreshead of Seekonk. Warwick, RI’s Mark Jenison, a multi-time Thompson Speedway winner and former ACT regular, has entered the event as well.

At least sixedrivers from the province of Quebec will haul to Richmond. They’ll be led by Blainville, QC’s Jonathan Bouvrette, the 2017 Série ACT Champion. Former Série ACT winner Martin Goulet Jr. of St. Calixte, QC and Mathieu Kingsbury of Blainville, QC will join him along with Saint-Donat, QC’s Jean Philippe Bergeron, the 2018 Canadian Stock Car Championship Rookie of the Year. Autodrome Chaudiere NASCAR Late Model regulars Marc Begin and Alexandre Tardif will take on the D-shaped Richmond oval.

Last but not least, the state of New Hampshire will be well-represented. Multi-time PASS winner Bryan Kruczek of Newmarket, NH was the first racer to enter the event, and he will be joined by Helliwell, Lancaster, NH’s Shawn Swallow, and Whitfield, NH’s Jesse Switser. Jeff Marshall resides in Gilman, VT, but he has been a big winner at New Hampshire track in his Late Model career, and he will try to add a victory in Virginia to his résumé.

Drivers and teams may still enter the ACT Commonwealth Classic by filling out and submitting the entry form on the ACT website at www.acttour.com. These entries will be subject to a $100 late-entry fee.

The 65-lap event is part of a huge day of racing for the PASS Commonwealth Classic. The Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models will hold a 75-lap open show plus a 75-lap event for crate engine cars. There will also be open events for Tour-type Modifieds, the MASS 8-cylinder Street Stocks, and the North East Mini Stock Tour.

ACT will have much more on the Commonwealth Classic 65 in the coming weeks. For more information, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com, www.proallstarsseries.com, or www.richmondraceway.com.