WOOD WOWS HOMETOWN FANS IN SPORTSMAN SERIES SPRING GREEN OPENER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     TSS-050706-1

            PLATTSBURGH, NY – Hometown favorite, Robin Wood, kicked off the 2006 American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Sportsman Series in the same fashion as he did last year by winning Sunday’s 31st annual Adirondack Auto Spring Green 100 at Plattsburgh, New York’s Airborne Speedway.  Wood, 34, becomes the first driver since legendary Canadian racer, Junior Hanley, to win the Spring Green back-to-back.  Hanley, a multi-time ACT Champion won the 1992-1993 events.  Wood remains the lone driver from the Empire State to carry the Spring Green checkers.

            Unlike in his 2005 victory, Wood was not the man to beat.  That status went to his uncle, Bucko Branham.  Branham, also from Plattsburgh, started on the pole of the 100-lap feature and was virtually untouchable for the duration of the Spring Green including the restarts after each of seven caution periods.  He raced to the checkers, the apparent winner ahead of Wood and Jason Bonnett from St. Albans, VT.  Branham’s victory was erased when his Chevrolet Monte Carlo did not meet the pre-established post-race weight.

            Branham’s disqualification advanced each driver one position, including nephew Wood into first place.  Bonnett, the 2003 Sportsman Champion at the Airborne half-mile was second and the track’s defending Sportsman Champion, Toby Ebersole from Peru, NY was third.  Joe Tetreault of Enfield, NH was fourth in his first visit to the D-shaped half-mile while Williamstown, Vermont’s Chuck Beede rounded out the top five.

            “My car ran great today,” Wood stated as he collected the winner’s trophy in the tech area.  “I was a little concerned about how the track would be following all of the rain we had last night.  As it turned out, there wasn’t a problem, the second groove was fine if someone wanted to try going outside.  I should know, I spent quite a bit of time out there today,” he finished with a grin.  The Spring Green was originally scheduled for Saturday, May 6 but persistent rain forced postponement of the program early in the afternoon.

Wood’s win puts him atop the ACT Sportsman Series Championship standings over Bonnett (100-86) following the first of seven events.   As the defending ACT Sportsman Series Champion, the second generation competitor is accustomed to sitting atop the standings although he did not secure the crown until the final event of the 2005 season, and then the title was his by just ten points.

            ACT’s Sportsman Series next moves to the ¼-mile Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl for its first of two visits to the Barre, VT track.  The Casella Mother’s Day 100 is slated for next Sunday, May 14.  Post time for the second race on the schedule is 2:00 pm.  Joining the Sportsman Series will be the track’s Late Model, Allen Lumber Street Stock and PowerShift Warrior divisions.

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Contact:  Marjorie Mulligan Fay                                                                          802-238-1200/cell

E-mail:  marjorieatact@aol.com                                                                             

Official finish of the ACT Tiger Sportsman Series’ Adirondack Auto Spring Green Sunday at Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, NY showing finishing position, driver, hometown, laps complete and status:

1.                  Robin Wood, Plattsburgh, NY, 100, Running

2.                  Jason Bonnett, St Albans, VT, 100, Running

3.                  Toby Ebersole, Peru, NY, 100, Running

4.                  Joe Tetreault, Enfield, NH, 100, Running

5.                  Chuck Beede, Williamstown, VT, 100, Running

6.                  Gregg Lyman, Hinesburg, VT, 100, Running

7.                  Skip Liberty, Peru, NY, 100, Running

8.                  Chris Gendreau, N Middlesex, VT, 100, Running

9.                  Richie Turner, Fairfax, VT, 100, Running

10.              Joey Laquerre, E Montpelier, VT, 100, Running

11.              Jamy Begor, Mooers Forks, NY, 100, Running

12.              Nick Sweet, Barre, VT, 100, Running

13.              Doug Murphy, Barre, VT, 100, Running

14.              Shawn Duquette, Morrisonville, NY, 100, Running

15.              Andy Heywood, Morrisonville, NY, 100,Running

16.              Joe Steffen, Essex Jct, VT, 99, Running

17.              Kyle Tatro, Hyde Park, VT, 98, Running

18.             Harold LaVair, Gabrielles, NY, 98,  Running

19.              Erick Sayles, Lake Clear, NY, 98, Running

20.              Scott Coburn, Barre, VT, 98, Running

21.              Shaun Corbett, Williamstown, VT, 96, Running

22.              Mike Wells, Plattsburgh, NY, 96, Running

23.              Brendan Moodie, N Wolcott, VT, 96, Running

24.              Mike Chagnon, Saranac, NY, 95, Running

25.              Mark Barnier, Essex Jct, VT, 82, Running

26.              Chris LaVair, Gabrielles, NY, 80, Axle

27.              Kevin Campbell, Fairfax, VT, 76, Handling

28.              Matt White, Northfield, VT, 68, Brakes

29.              Tylor Terry, Morrisonville, NY, 51, Brakes

30.              Brian McGinley,  Plattsburgh, NY, 39, Rear End

31.               Ben Hough, Champlain, NY, 38, Brakes

32.              Justin Hart, Williamstown, VT, 18, Power Steering

                Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, NY, Disqualified