ROGER BROWN SCORES AT ACT’S SEEKONK STOP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                            ACT-080506-1

            SEEKONK, MA –Roger Brown’s two year American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Victory Lane drought ended Saturday night with a convincing win in the Bay State 100 at Seekonk (MA) Speedway.  During the qualifying heats Brown, from Lancaster, NH, served notice he was hungry for the checkered flag.  He passed the most cars (six) of any of the 18 qualified drivers to earn the pole starting position due to ACT’s +/- qualifying system.  At the drop of the green flag he was off like a rocket, with outside pole sitter Dave Pembroke of Montpelier, VT in tow.

            Even though the two young guns were the only drivers to lead the touring Series’ seventh race of the season, several others attempted to challenge the pair for the lead which had the Seekonk fans on their feet as positions switched back and forth.  The contenders included Vermont drivers, Brent Dragon of Milton, and Shelburne’s Jamie Fisher, as well as Joey Polewarczy from Hudson, NH as well as those who finished among the top ten.

Former ACT Tour Champion, Phil Scott from Middlesex, VT pushed the nose of his Ford across the stripe to finish second in his best outing of the year.  Pembroke was third by a paint job.  Completing the top five finishers were Dragon and local favorite, Ryan Vanasse from nearby Warwick, RI.

            “It’s been a long time,” 27 year-old Brown, who is known in the racing circles as “The Rocketman,” stated in Victory Lane.  “We finally sealed the deal!  All of the other times, when I’ve had a good car, some thing broke (on it), I’d get caught up in someone else’s problem or I’d do something stupid, but not this time.  The crew gave me a great car and the lapped traffic was the best it’s ever been, gave us plenty of room,” he finished.  The 2003 ACT Tour Rookie of the Year’s previous victory came at Waterford (CT) Speedbowl in 2004.

            Scott, who celebrated his 48th birthday on August 4, has been experiencing an resurgence in recent events.  In addition to racing the 11 event ACT Tour, the Vermont State Senator also competes on a weekly basis at Barre, Vermont’s Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl where he’s posted top finishes.  “I love racing here,” the runner-up said, “It’s one of the greatest facilities racing wise.” The proof was in the pudding as the ACT Tour competitors circled the 1/3 mile oval two and three cars wide.

            Ray Parent from Tiverton, RI finished sixth in his second career ACT start, and 63 year-old Joey Laquerre from E. Montpelier, VT was seventh.  Rounding out the top ten were Turner, Maine’s Ben Rowe in eighth, Mark Lamberton from Mooers Forks, NY and A.J. Begin from Merrimac, MA.

            Jean-Paul Cyr from Milton, VT, the ACT Tour point leader entering the race maintains his position atop the points although his advantage has been cut from 66 points to an unofficial 38.  He struggled to a 16th place finish at Seekonk.  Pembroke’s third place moves him into second in the standings while fourth place finisher Dragon occupies third.

            Six minor incidents slowed the Bay State 100 to a 42 minute pace, one of the fastest events in recent memory.  Thirty Late Models started the event with 23 still in competition when the checkered flag flew.

            The ACT Tour competitors next head to the ¼ mile White Mountain Motorsports Park speedplant in N. Woodstock, NH on Saturday, (August 12) for the Kancamaugus 150.  Post time is 5:00 pm.                                                                                                                                               

Contact:  Marjorie Mulligan Fay                                                                        802-244-6963

E-mail:  Marjorie@acttour.com  OR  marjorieatact@aol.com    802-238-1200/cell