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.
