More Drivers Invited To NHMS ACT Invitational - Includes Complete Invite List

WhelenModifiedTour · WMT Moderator

More Drivers Invited To NHMS ACT Invitational - Includes Complete Invite List

openwheelracer · Admin/Mod/Eyewitness

ACT INVITATIONAL ANNOUNCES MORE INVITEES

For Immediate Release - ACT 090909-37

Waterbury, VT The much anticipated ACT INVITATIONAL list is just one spot from completion with todays announcement of the next seven drivers to be asked to join the field of 28 teams that have already accepted invitations to participate at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) Magic Mile on Saturday, September 19, 2009.

This has been a whole lot more difficult than I had anticipated, said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour (ACT), the sanctioning body that will host the INVITATIONAL in conjunction with the first of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase for the Cup weekends that is being held at NHMS on September 18-20.I have had a short list sitting on my desk and traveling with me for over a week. I knew there would be four spots reserved for track champions (Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine and three New Hampshire tracks ---Lee USA, White Mountain Motorsport Park and Twin State Speedway). That left me with 8 solid choices on my list and only four spots available. The toughest part of this process was trying to find reasons not to invite any of the 8 teams I had put on the list. I started looking for reasons why to invite the final teams. The final 36 teams will make some history for Late Model racing. It is my hope that others will get an opportunity to race at NHMS in the future because of their efforts, continued Curley.

The following will be receiving invitations to the historic event at NHMS:

Travis Adams --- Adams has captured the Oxford Plains Speedway point championship for the fourth straight year. He is a five-time champion of the famous New England speedway, and with his accomplishment, will rank up with the great champions before him. Travis Adams will forever be mentioned in the same company as Mike Rowe, Al Hammond, and Jeff Taylor. He will now represent Oxford in the ACT INVITATIONAL. The invite was especially meaningful to the #03 team. Travis Adams lost his dad just before the 2009 season. They changed some plans and headed back to Oxford because that is where his dad would have wanted him to go. Travis said in victory lane last Saturday night, Dad got what he would have wanted, the Oxford Championship in an ACT legal car --- I got what I wanted with an invitation to race in the ACT INVITATIONAL at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Guy Caron --- The Goshen, New Hampshire Late Model driver was dominant in his quest for the Twin State title in the first season of the Speedway taking on the ACT rules package. Caron participated in the test and tune session at NHMS last month and was comfortable and impressive right from the early test sessions. Caron will join fellow Granite State competitor Wayne Helliwell, Jr., who will represent the Lee USA Speedway at the INVITATIONAL. Helliwell has a seemingly overwhelming lead going into the final two weeks of competition over Brian Kruczek, from near-by Newmarket, NH. When asked what if Kruczek were to overtake Helliwell, which is mathematically possible, Curley said, I guess we would have to consider a change in the format and add his name. Brian did a great job at the test and I would not have a second thought about adding him, if we found ourselves in that situation. I just think it is only fair to let the Helliwell team know they are in, so they can prepare for the NHMS experience while still chasing the title. Curley went on to say Actually, we are taking a bit of a gamble by making these announcements before this weekends Fall Foliage 300 at the new Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY. If we had a surprise winner who could be approved, I guess we would have to look at that in the same way. Like I said earlier, this has been a whole lot more difficult than I had originally envisioned.

The final track championship is too close to call at White Mountain Motorsports Park. Quinny Welch leads veteran Stacy Cahoon by a mere six points after they battled last Saturday night. There are two races left in the WMMP championship chase, and in all likelihood, it will not be decided until the eve of the ACT INVITATIONAL. Both teams tested well at NHMS and one will not only win the title, but will secure the 36^th spot in the INVITATIONAL at Loudon on Saturday, September 19^th.

A veteran of over 50 years of winning races and championships will receive his invite to the INVITATIONAL. Joey Laquerre from Barre, VT has been King of the Road at Thunder Road and has raced just about every kind of stock car at nearly every track in the Northeast over a storied career. Laquerre was pretty much singularly responsible for helping ACT and Goodyear develop the 8 slick that is now being used throughout North America. He has mentored many younger drivers such as Joey Pole, his own sons, and has a goal of racing at Thunder Road against his grandsons before he hangs up his helmet. Laquerre tested at New Hampshire last month and proved that age has not slowed him down. He was one of the fastest cars at the track over the two days, ironically, the 66-year-old Laquerre raced with Brandon Watson from Ontario for several practice sessions, and both were clocked as two of the quicker drivers. Watson is 16 years old and was on the original list of invitees to come back to New Hampshire.

The only Ford in the field will be driven by three-time Thunder Road track champion Cris Michaud, from Williamstown, VT. Michaud was the original R&D driver for ACT on the GM crate motor program back in 1999. When asked if he would take on the Ford project, he didnt hesitate this past spring. Although his original goal was to try and win the 50^th season championship at his home track, Thunder Road, Michaud gave up some of that effort to work on the Ford crate. He finished third, only losing the title by 53 points to 7-time ACT Champion Jean Paul Cyr, but he made some history of his own when he piloted the first ACT crate Ford motor to victory at Thunder Road this past July.

The Pine Tree state will send another favorite son and veteran race driver to the magic mile in less than two weeks. Glen Luce from Turner, Maine was a former Pro Stock racer who went full-time with ACT in 2008. Luce brings strong credentials to NHMS, especially with his impressive outings at the longer and faster tracks that the American Canadian Tour visits on an annual basis. The veteran of Maine ovals has adapted well to the long distance races. His strength seems to be on the longer and faster tracks. He will get to test that at the 160-mile per hour New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 19th.

The group that makes up the ACT INVITATIONAL will have a balance of the veteran stars and the young teams that have proven capable of competing on the big stages of short track in our region. Nick Sweet, from Barre, VT will join the all-star line-up. Sweet has proven to be one of the most popular drivers to come out of the ACT system over the past couple years. This family team, led by Shayne Sweet, Nicks father, has been consistently a top threat to win races almost since his Late Model team was created in 2008. Sweet tested extremely well at Loudon last month, and will join an impressive cast of young guns comprised of Joey Pole of Hudson, NH, Shawn Martin of Turner, ME, Watson from Ontario, Joey Doiron from Berwick, ME, and Tim Jordan from Plainfield, CT.

ACT INVITATIONAL Invited Teams:

Car# State Name Hometown Track/Series

6 VT Cris Michaud Williamstown, VT ACT/TR

7 ME Glen Luce Turner, ME ACT

8 NH Guy Caron Goshen, NH Twin State

9 ON Brandon Watson Stayner, ON Kawartha Downs

10 NH Ben Rowe Turner, ME ACT

11 VT Jean Paul Cyr Milton, VT Thunder Road

11 RI Ryan Vanesse Warwick, RI Seekonk

14 VT Phil Scott Middlesex, VT Thunder Road

14 ON Sean Kennedy Dunrobin, On Capital City

15 VT Joey Laquerre Barre, VT ACT/TR

17 MA Eddie MacDonald Rowley, MA ACT

18 VT Jamie Fisher Shelburne, VT ACT/TR

21 QC Jean Francois Dery Quebec City, QC ACT Castrol

26 VT John Donahue Graniteville, VT ACT/TR

27 MA Wayne Helliwell, Jr Dracut, MA Lee USA

35 CT Bruce Thomas Groton, CT Waterford

37 VT Brian Hoar Williston, VT ACT

40 VT Eric Chase Milton, VT ACT/TR

44 VT Dave Pembroke Montpelier, VT Thunder Road

47 CT Tim Jordan Plainfield, CT Waterford

48 QC Karl Allard Ste Felicien, QC ACT Castrol

51 ME Ricky Rolfe Albany Twnshp, ME ACT

55 VT Brent Dragon Milton, VT ACT

55 NH Brad Leighton Center Harbor, NH ACT

71 ON Dan McHattie Cavan, On Kawartha Downs

73 ME Joey Doiron Berwick, ME ACT

80 QC Donald Theetge Quebec, City, QC ACT Castrol

88 VT Nick Sweet Barre, VT ACT/TR

89 VT Scott Payea Milton, VT ACT

91 QC Patrick Laperle Montreal, QC ACT Castrol

94 ME Shawn Martin Turner, ME Oxford Plains

97 NH Joey Polewarczyk Hudson, NH ACT

03 ME Travis Adams Canton, ME Oxford Plains

02 NH Randy Potter Groveton, NH ACT

04 ME TJ Watson Cundys Harbor, ME Wiscasset

The ACT INVITATIONAL will take place at 5:30 on Saturday, September 19, 2009. Tickets for NASCAR Chase weekend, including the ACT INVITATIONAL can be purchased by logging on to www.nhms.com. For additional information on the ACT INVITATIONAL, check the American Canadian Tour website at www.acttour.com

-30-

openwheelracer · Admin/Mod/Eyewitness

ACT INVITATIONAL AT NHMS FILLED WITH 24 PAST CHAMPIONS

For Immediate Release - ACT 091509-40

Waterbury, VT The field is set for the inaugural American Canadian Tour (ACT) Invitational to be held this weekend at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) in Loudon, NH. The 36-car field for the historic first-ever Late Model stock car race is filled with the best short track drivers in the Northeastern US and provinces of Quebec and Ontario, Canada. The $65,000 event is slated to take green at 5:30 Saturday afternoon, following the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Heluva Good! 200.

ACT teams from throughout the Northeast have spent the past six months battling each other for a coveted spot in what will be the most unique racing opportunity most have had in their careers.

Veteran racer from Barre, VT, Joey Laquerre said, This has to be the highpoint of my 50-plus years of racing. I had so much fun at the test and tune (over 50 ACT teams were invited to a test session at NHMS in August) and I really wanted to get an invitation to this race. I hope this will be good for the future of Late Model racing. I think it is just great for the young kids like Joey Pole (Polewarczyk), those two 16- and 17-year olds, (Brandon Watson from Stayner, ON and Joey Doiron from Berwick, ME). They are the future, but I wish I could be starting all over again with them. They are going to have a lot of fun racing in the next ten years or so. Laquerre was a former Thunder Road Track Champion and has raced at just about every track in New England for over 5 decades, in just about every kind of stock car.

The starting grid for the ACT Invitational will have twenty-four former and present Track Champions and Series Champions. Three of the hottest drivers in ACT racing represent each of the Touring Series which the sanctioning body manages.

Montreals Patrick Laperle has the most wins entering the Invitational, with four (4). Laperle is contending to win his second Série ACT Castrol Championship on Sunday, following the NHMS event. He is chasing two-time Castrol Série Champion Donald Theetge from Quebec City, who leads the Series by 33 points going into the 300 lap finale at Autodrome Ste. Eustache outside of Montreal. Laperle will receive a $2,000 bonus for his 4 Invitational wins.

Veteran driver Brent Dragon from Milton, VT enters the Invitational with three qualifier wins and is coming off an impressive third place finish after starting twelfth at the Fall Foliage 300 at the Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh last Sunday afternoon. Dragon battled eventual winner Laperle for over 100 laps in the final half of the event, swapping the official lead a half dozen times. Laperle won the 300-lap event, but only after running out of fuel while pitting during the final caution, on lap 255.

Former NHMS Track Champion, and now full-time ACT competitor, Brian Hoar of Williston, VT took over the ACT Tour point lead following the Fall Foliage 300. Hoar leads Scott Payea, of Milton, VT by 28 points going into the final event of the campaign at Oxford Plains Speedway on October 11^th. I really am not thinking about the ACT title with the Invitational in front of us. When I was racing on the old NASCAR Busch East Series, this was a place I just loved to come to. Being named as the NHMS Track Champion ranks right up there with my five ACT titles. I cant wait until 5:30 on Saturday, and I think fans are going to have some fun also. During the testing we found out that these cars can draft, carry big speed through the corners, and that the outside lane is the place to be. That should provide a good combination for putting on a great show. MY RPM team is pumped up and ready, said Hoar.

Nine tracks from throughout the Northeast and Canada will be sending their 2009 champions to the ACT Invitational, along with 6 other past track champions from throughout the region. There are 5 ACT TOUR Champions entered, 3 Serie Castrol Champions and a multi-time PASS Super Late Model Champion.

The starting field for this event will be the very best 36-car field in the 25-year history of ACT racing. These teams all deserve to be here based on what they have accomplished either in the Qualifiers or in their racing careers, and we are proud to have them represent ACT and Late Model racing. We are grateful to Jerry (Gappens, Vice President and Executive Manager of NHMS), Bob Bahre (founder and former owner of NHMS and lifelong supporter of short track racing) and the entire NHMS staff for their support and confidence in short track racing in our region, said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour. I am especially happy to have such a great mix of veteran teams and new young stars who will get the chance to have this experience. I guess it is now time to start the engines and let them get after each other, concluded Curley.

The ACT Invitational will take place at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway as part of the weekend-long NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup activities. The Invitational will post at 5:30 on Saturday, September 19, 2009 and will be run over a distance of 50 miles. Information for tickets can be obtained by contacting the ticket office at NHMS or their web site at www.nhms.com

For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963 or media@acttour.com

-30-

openwheelracer · Admin/Mod/Eyewitness

NHMS HOME TRACK ADVANTAGE TO SOME FOR ACT INVITATIONAL

For Immediate Release - ACT 091509-41

Waterbury, VT This weekends American Canadian Tour (ACT) Invitational at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) will seem like a homecoming of sorts to several of the drivers who race with the ACT. Former NASCAR driver Brian Hoar from Williston, VT is a past NHMS Track Champion. Hoar is currently leading the 2009 ACT Championship point battle and looking for his 6^th overall ACT title. Brad Leighton is the most prolific winner in NHMS history, with eight (8) wins to his credit. Part-time ACT racer Eddie MacDonald from Rowley, MA won both Camping World East events held at the Speedway in 2008. MacDonald is in a point race with Ryan Truex for the NASCAR Camping World East title and will be entering both races at New Hampshire this weekend.

When asked how he felt about heading to the Invitational, former King of the Road title holder and recent winner of the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 at Barre, VTs Thunder Road, Dave Pembroke, of Montpelier, VT said, I am a little concerned that those guys will try and pay me back!

Pembroke won the 200-lap event a couple of weeks ago. He not only won the event, but he led all 200 laps and nearly put the entire field of 30 starters down a lap in the process. The race went 181 green flag laps before the one and only caution on lap 182. This was accomplished on what is regarded as one of the toughest quarter mile racetracks in America. Seriously, I am really excited about going back to New Hampshire. I dont have any great expectations, I am just happy to get the invitation to compete at that beautiful place. I kind of wish I was in Phils car instead of my own. (Pembroke took part in a two-day Goodyear tire test in April in the car of Montpelier, Vts Senator Phil Scott. On the second day of testing Scott was called back to the Senate for a critical vote and asked Pembroke to substitute for him). It certainly performed better at Loudon than mine did when we were testing in August, but we have worked since Labor Day to get it ready, so we will hope for the best, concluded Pembroke.

The home track advantage might be somewhat neutralized when the draw for starting spots is concluded around 12:30 on Saturday, September 19^th following the drivers meeting. We have been working on a handicap system that reflects what is good about short track racing. We wont have an opportunity to qualify by heats or time trials, due to some time constraints, so we have created a fair system to try and give our teams a good racing experience, and also to give our fans the best show possible, said Nick Bigelow, the ACT Chief Handicapper. The system that has been created for the first ACT Invitational will have all thirty-six teams draw for positions, but the draw has been broken into three parts, and the final line-up will reflect what officials believe will be both competitive and safe for the race teams.

The inaugural ACT Invitational will be comprised of teams from all 6 New England states and the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Vermont will send the largest contingent of teams with 12, followed by Maine with 7 entrants, and then Quebec and New Hampshire with 4 each.

The $65,000 ACT Invitational will be part of the biggest one day of racing in New England. The ACT race will follow the popular NASCAR Whelen Modified Series 100 and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 200. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling NHMS or by visiting their site at www.nhms.com. Post time at NHMS on Saturday, September 19^th is 1:00pm. The ACT Invitational is scheduled to post at 5:30pm.

For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963 or media@acttour.com

-30-