2013-01-16

Helliwell, Laperle Take Top Honors at ACT Banquet

Richard Green Wins Prestigious MacTavish Award

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                   ACT-011213-01

 

Burlington, VT – 2012 American Canadian Tour Champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr., and 2012 Serie ACT Castrol Champion Patrick Laperle were the stars of the ACT Banquet at the Doubletree Inn in Burlington, VT on Saturday, January 12th, earning the highest awards for their respective titles. ACT awarded over $700,000 in point funds and event purses to teams in 2012.

 

Helliwell was honored after one of the most entertaining point-battles of ACT’s history, beating out eight-time Tour Champion Brian Hoar in an epic battle for his first-ever ACT Championship.  He won four races in 2012, including his first-career ACT victory, and only finished worse than seventh once.  He won $10,000 for his ACT Championship, but also picked up an additional $5,000 from the Ford point fund for winning the Ford Blue Oval Challenge for a record third time in a row. 

 

 Laperle enjoyed a comeback year on the Série ACT Castrol.  After falling as low as sixth in the beginning of the season, Laperle surged for four wins and nine top-fives to claim an unprecedented third Castrol Series Championship, along with a $10,000 check.  Laperle, now with 17 feature victories, sits just one win away from having the most in Series history.

 

The prestigious MacTavish Award was given to car owner Richard Green of Enosburg Falls, VT.  Green, who in 2012 owned the 16VT of Joey Becker and the 16NY car on the ACT Tour, was given the award for the first time for his dedication and loyalty to ACT, and his contributions to the sport of auto racing.

 

The Pete Hartt Memorial Media Award was earned by Vermont Motorsports Magazine editor T.J. Ingerson, who was touted for his emergence as one of the region’s premiere auto racing writers, and was also praised for his tireless dedication to ACT and other motorsports through his publication. 

 

The Doc Nielson Rookie Award was given to Williamstown, VT’s Jimmy Hebert, who also won Rookie of the Year on the American Canadian Tour.  Hebert impressed with top ten finishes at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Airborne Speedway, and Thunder Road, and also finished in the top ten in overall points on the American Canadian Tour.  Etienne Cliche took Rookie of the Year honors in the Castrol Series after a career-best sixth place finish in the season finale at St-Eustache. He finished eleventh overall in the 2012 Série ACT Castrol Standings. 

 

 

For the second year in a row, the ACT Crew Chief award went to Bruce Bernhardt, who served as both crew chief and car owner for the ACT US Championship #27NH car driven by Wayne Helliwell, Jr.  The pair won over 20 races in the region in 2012, including their first ACT Championship.  Bernhardt is the first Crew Chief to win two consecutive Crew Chief awards.

 

On the Série ACT Castrol Tour, the Crew Chief of the #21QC driven by Jean Francois Dery, Gabriel Drouin, won the award for the first time.  The team finished second in the overall standings on the Castrol Series, and finished on the podium a stunning nine times in 2012. The team only finished outside the top ten twice. 

 

With the off-season already halfway complete, the 2013 season approaches quickly.  The American Canadian Tour season begins at Lee USA Speedway with a 150-lap event on the weekend of April 13/14.  Série ACT Castrol kicks off at Autodrome Montmagny on Saturday, May 25 with a 100-lap event.

 

For additional information, head to www.acttour.com, call the ACT office at (802) 244-6963, or email us at media@acttour.com

 

-30-

 

 


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Dévoilement du calendrier sur Glace de REVSTAR

Un mini championnat sur glace

Après un an d'absence, le championnat de Glace STR sera de retour avec un calendrier de 3 courses dont le Grand Prix de Valcourt. Les pilotes attendaient avec impatience cette décision. Le champion Maxime Plante en sera à sa première expérience sur la glace, mais il sera à surveiller car nous sommes convaincu qu'il va s'adapter très rapidement sur cette surface.

 

Le mini-championnat comprendrat 3 courses.

La première sortie est prévue au Stadium de St-Guillaume le 26 janvier prochain. Ensuite, il y aura une pause pour permettre aux pilotes québécois de participer à la Classic Annual de Slingshot à Atlantic City. À mon retour, le mini championant de glace va se poursuivre le 9 février à Kanawake* et la courte saison prendra fin lors du Grand Prix de Valcourt le 16 février.

Calendrier du mini-championnat de glace 2013

Date

Endroit

26 janvier

Le Stadium de St-Guillaume

9 février

Kanawake (tentative)

16 février

Grand Prix de Valcourt

 

REVSTAR a décidé d'élaborer un calendrier très peu chargé durant la saison hivernale, trois courses seulement mais c'est suffisant pour permettre aux pilotes, qui vont participer, d'aiguiser leurs réflexes en prévision de la prochaine saison. On prévoit qu'une dizaine de pilotes seront en piste pour ce deuxième championnat de glace, pour plusieurs il s'agira d'une toute nouvelle expérience.

 

Qui succédera à Gabriel Richer, Champion de  Glace 2011 ?

 

Carl Labonté

REVSTAR

 


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Les spectateurs en auront pour leur argent le samedi à Valcourt

 

 

 

Communiqué pour diffusion immédiate

 



LES VOITURES DE LA SÉRIE REVSTAR S'AJOUTENT AU PROGRAMME DU GRAND PRIX SKI-DOO DE VALCOURT PRÉSENTÉ PAR FOX

 


Valcourt, QC, 10 janvier 2013 - L'organisation du Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt présenté par FOX a conclu une entente avec Carl Labonté, directeur général de la série Revstar, pour la présentation d'une épreuve de stock-car sur l'anneau de glace du circuit Yvon-Duhamel le week-end du 15 au 17 février 2013. Lancée en 2009, la série Revstar STR dispute son championnat sur les pistes ovales asphaltées et de terre battue du Québec et du nord-est des États-Unis, mais les pilotes de ces voitures stock-car à roues découvertes de style Midget avaient également disputé un calendrier sur anneaux de glace à l'hiver 2011. À Valcourt, toutes les activités en piste seront disputées en fin de journée le samedi 16 février, à la conclusion des épreuves de motoneiges et VTT.

 

« Nous sommes évidemment heureux que l'organisation du Grand Prix de Valcourt ait ajouté une course de notre série à l'horaire du week-end, déclare Carl Labonté, directeur de la série Revstar. Valcourt est un événement prestigieux qui a une longue tradition d'excellence au niveau de la préparation de leurs pistes de course. Pour les pilotes, la qualité de surface de la glace est très importante pour la tenue de route de leur bolide. Nous sommes persuadés que notre expérience sera concluante, car la série Revstar espère relancer le championnat d'hiver en 2014, et Valcourt sera l'un des événements majeurs du calendrier. »


Plusieurs pilotes réguliers ont confirmé leur présence à Valcourt dont la jeune sensation de 15 ans Maxime Plante de Saint-Hyacinthe, qui a remporté deux titres Revstar STR l'an dernier. À la suite de la course finale Revstar STR, le Grand Prix invite les amateurs à assister au concours de Freestyle snocross sous les réflecteurs à partir de 18 heures. L'entrée au circuit Yvon-Duhamel coûtera 10 $ après 16 heures. La soirée Budweiser se poursuivra sous le grand chapiteau avec les groupes Jon Jed et The Porters dont la musique rend hommage à Johnny Cash.


Durant trois jours, le Grand Prix de Valcourt met en vedette sur le circuit Yvon Duhamel les as de la glisse sur motoneiges de piste ovale, de même que les meilleurs pilotes snocross des circuits professionnels du continent américain. Également, les pilotes de motos, de VTT et de tout-terrain côte à côte épateront la foule par leurs prouesses sur la glace vive. Vendredi en fin d'après-midi, les amateurs sont invités à assister gratuitement à partir de 15 heures au défi d'accélération de motoneiges sous les réflecteurs. De plus, un grand nombre d'activités pour la famille sont aussi au programme, incluant des jeux gonflables et essais de motoneiges pour enfants. Pour connaître les détails du programme de courses, consulter le site www.grandprixvalcourt.com/.


Les billets pour le Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt présenté par FOX du 15 au 17 février 2013 sont en vente au service de la billetterie au numéro sans frais 1 866 532-7543 de 9 h à 16 h 30 du lundi au vendredi ou en ligne en tout temps au www.grandprixvalcourt.com à la section Billetterie. Jusqu'au 13 février 2013, les amateurs peuvent profiter d'un rabais sur le forfait Loge Privilège G pour la somme de 90 $ le billet de trois jours, taxes incluses, au lieu du prix régulier de 100 $. Les amateurs de grand air peuvent se procurer en prévente des billets d'admission générale au coût de 45 $ chacun au lieu de 55 $. Les enfants de 12 ans et moins accompagnés d'un adulte sont admis gratuitement sur le site du Grand Prix. Cette offre n'est cependant pas valable pour les loges chauffées.

 

- 30 -

 



Source :       
Max d'Orsonnens

IMAGES
Photos : Voitures de course Revstar
Lancée en 2009, la série stock-car Revstar STR a disputé son dernier championnat d'hiver en 2011. L'épreuve du Grand Prix de Valcourt 2013 marquera un retour sur la glace pour ces monoplaces Midget à roues découvertes.
Photos gracieuseté de la série Revstar

 


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Conley To Launch 2013 Campaign In Daytona

For Immediate Release

 

 

K&N Pro Series East Driver Set For UNOH Battle At The Beach

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2013) – After a successful part-time run a year ago in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, Cale Conley plans to launch his first full season in the series in 2013 by competing in the UNOH Battle At The Beach on the short track at Daytona International Speedway, Feb. 18-19.

 

 

After testing the waters of the K&N Pro Series East in 2011, Conley exploded for a win and a pair of poles in a second season of part-time action in 2012. That victory at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway on July 21 secured a locked-in position for the inaugural UNOH Battle At the Beach, to be contested on a .4-mile oval on the backstretch at the “World Center of Racing.”

 

“Growing up around racing, Daytona is as big as it gets,” Conley said. “I was always a NASCAR guy when I was little, so this is it for me. We’re not running the 2.5-mile track, but being at Daytona in the month of February is pretty much a dream come true for me.”

 

Drivers that won touring series races and championships in 2012 are locked into their respective features in Daytona. All others must qualify through heat races. Teams from both the K&N Pro Series East and K&N Pro Series West will compete alongside each other in the inaugural non-points event.

 

Conley, from Vienna, W.Va., recorded two additional top-five finishes to go along with his Columbus win in eight starts a year ago when he competed out of the JTG-Daugherty shop. This year he will move back to the family-owned operation, although they will remain a North Carolina-based team with many of the same crew members, headed by crew chief David Hyder.

 

“We have every intention of running for the championship,” Conley said of his 2013 plans. “I saw that they added a road course race (Road Atlanta) this year, so I’m really excited to try that for the first time.”

 

“I know that the series is going to be even better than it was last year, with all of the new teams and with all of the drivers that are coming back. So I’m super excited to get going, especially after what we did last year in just running half of the races.”

 

Conley, 20, feels like that the opportunity to race at Daytona will give his No. 47 Toyota team a good shot to get a head start on their first upcoming season.

 

“I haven’t raced for a championship for anything since I was a kid in quarter midgets, so I’m excited to learn what points racing is about and really go into it with a strategy,” Conley said.

 

The K&N Pro Series events will be just one facet of the inaugural UNOH Battle At The Beach. The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Models will have qualifying races and a 150-lap feature on Monday, Feb. 18 while the action on Tuesday, Feb. 19 will include a similar schedule of qualifying races and 150-lap races for both the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours and NASCAR K&N Pro Series.

 

All three features are non-points events and will be carried live on SPEED while supplemental event coverage will be provided at www.nascarhometracks.com.

For more information, please visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Grandstand and garage admission can be secured via the website or by calling 1-888-PITSHOP.

 

For more information, contact:

Jason Cunningham

NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications

 


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Daytona On Deck For Best Of NASCAR's Short-Track Stars

For Immediate Release

 

 

UNOH Battle At The Beach Final Event Details Announced

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 11, 2013) – Nearly 11 months ago, NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway announced the concept of a unique short-track event to take place Feb. 18-19 during the 2013 Speedweeks. With the kickoff just over five weeks away, the anticipation and excitement around the inaugural UNOH Battle At The Beach continues to rise.

 

Friday, NASCAR released the entry blanks to the competitors that outlined the complete details, from the final event schedule to the complete race format for the special non-points events.

 

“Our team has devoted a great deal of time generating feedback from not only drivers and owners, but fans and media as well, to work to create a truly special event that will serve as the crown jewel of the short-track calendar,” said Brad Moran, NASCAR touring series director. “The end result is a format and rules package designed to showcase the best talent throughout NASCAR’s regional and touring series.

 

“The benefit of this being a completely new and unique event is we were able to take a fresh look at everything and really create something special and exciting.”

 

The UNOH Battle At The Beach will take place on a .4-mile oval located on the Superstretch at Daytona International Speedway. The two-day event will begin Feb. 18, the day after pole qualifying for the 55th running of the Daytona 500 and setting the stage for the “World Center of Racing” to host the entire spectrum of NASCAR racing during Speedweeks.

 

Highlights of the UNOH Battle At The Beach include:

·         Three 150-lap features: the Late Model division of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series.

·         The final race for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series will be Monday night, while the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours and NASCAR K&N Pro Series will be Tuesday night. Both nights of racing will air live on SPEED.

·         The event is designed to highlight the star power throughout the NASCAR touring & regional series and is limited to non-national series competitors.

·         The qualifying concept is simple: Race your way into the field. Translation: 2012 race winners and series champions received protected spots in the main events of their respective tour races. The remaining spots of each of the 34-car fields will be decided through heat races, and a last-chance race if necessary.

·         Top-10 finishers in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division I national standings earn starting spots in the Late Model race.

·         Heat races will be seeded by fastest lap speeds in each of the final practices. Locked-in drivers must still compete in the heat races to determine where they’ll start in the features.

·         There will be two heat races apiece for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours. The winners of each of the heat races will make up the front row, with a coin flip to determine which row will start on the inside and which will start on the outside.

·         The Late Model division will have four heat races, followed by a special draw to determine starting positions one through four for the heat-race winners.

·         The three international series champions – D.J. Kennington of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, Jorge Goeters of Mexico’s NASCAR Toyota Series, and Spain’s Ander Vilarino of Euro Racecar Series, NASCAR touring series, received locked-in spots to whichever one of the three races they elect to enter.

 

The Late Model rules were announced in October and are based on both sections – Late Model Stock Car Division and Mid-West/West Coast Late Model Division – as outlined in the 2013 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Rule Book.

 

During 2012 Champions Week in Charlotte for the NASCAR regional and touring series, Daytona President Joie Chitwood unveiled the special event trophies. In a tribute to Daytona’s racing heritage, the trophies are designed to reflect those previously presented to race winners during the days of racing on the beach.

 

Entry blanks for NASCAR-licensed competitors are being mailed to competitors and are available through the NASCAR's membership website; non-licensed competitors are asked to contact Sharon Grzanich (sgrzanich@nascar.com or (386) 310-6324).

 

Fans can follow NASCAR regional and touring series (@NASCARHomeTrack) and Daytona International Speedway (@DISUpdates) on Twitter and stay up to speed on the latest news by using hashtag #NASCARBattle.

 

Tickets for the UNOH Battle At The Beach, along with all other Budweiser Speedweeks 2013 events, can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

 

For more information, contact:

Jason Christley

NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications

 


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