2012-03-16

ACT CHEVY vs. FORD HEATS UP IN 2012

 

For Immediate Release:                     ACT – 031612-9

 

        Waterbury, VT – Three years ago the American Canadian Tour (ACT) introduced a Ford crate engine option to their racing program. The goal was to give the Late Model teams some variety, and hopefully make the racing more exciting for the fans, many of whom are die hard Ford fans.

 

Many of the top teams in ACT elected to switch from the Chevrolet crate program, which had been the mainstay of ACT racing since it was developed in 1999. After a couple of years of ‘tweaking’ the rules, officials are hoping that the two major manufacturers’ engine programs have reached the ultimate goal of parity for which ACT racing is known. The goal of Late Model racing has always been to make it a ‘driver’s series’, not a cubic dollar series.

 

“When I was asked to test the original version of the Ford crate motor, I knew it would take some time to get things sorted out. There was no perfect science without actually competing with the engines in actual race conditions,” said Chris Michaud, the three-time Thunder Road Champion and original team elected to do the Ford testing.

 

“The most difficult part of getting the two engines in compliance has been the different needs for different sized tracks. Engine set back requirements for the Ford, different torque levels, particularly high end torque, have been a challenge. With the help of Butler & MacMaster Engines, and a lot of co-operation from teams, we think we have reached that goal for 2012. There are some adjustments we have made over the past couple seasons, and along with the rule changes we have made going into 2012, that should help make both engine more compatible. Now it is up to the drivers and team set ups, as it should be”, said Dean Gallison, the Director of Competition for ACT.


 

 

Some of the challenges will come from the following teams in 2012:

 

Chevy                                        Ford

 

ACT US

                       

#32 Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT                  #37 Brian Hoar, Williston, VT

#02 Randy Potter, Groveton, NH              #97 Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, NH

#78 Quinny Welch, Lancaster, NH             #27 Wayne Helliwell, Jr. Dover, NH

#55 Brent Dragon, Milton, VT                  #57 Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, ME

#51 Ricky Rolfe, Albany Twp., ME            #  7 Glen Luce, Turner, ME

#15 Ben Ashline, Pittston, ME                  #17 Ray Parent, Tiverton, RI

#16 Mark Lamberton, Mooers Forks, NY   

                       

ACT CASTROL SERIES

               

#80 Donald Theetge, Boischatel, QC          #48 Karl Allard, Ste Felicien, QC

#21 JF Dery, Quebec, QC                        #91 Patrick Laperle, Ste Denis, QC

#19 Dany Trepanier, St- Edouard, QC                         

#40 David Michaud, St-Anne-de-Pin, QC             

#51 Patrick Hamel, St-Edouard, QC         

#11 Claude Leclerc, Lanoraire, QC

 

THUNDER ROAD

 

#14 Phil Scott, Middlesex, VT                   #44 David Pembroke, Montpelier, VT

#88 Nick Sweet, Barre, VT                     #  6 Chris Michaud, E. Montpelier, VT

#89 Scott Payea, Milton, VT                    #26 John Donahue, Graniteville, VT

#85 Trampas Demers, Shelburne, VT

#18 Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, VT

#68 Brooks Clark, Waitsfield, VT

#41 Jamie Aube, Bow, NH

#99 Cody Blake, Barre, VT

#00 Mike Bailey, E. Barre, VT

#58 Jamie Hebert, Williamstown, VT

 

 

The Chevy vs. Ford rivalry will begin on Sunday, April 15, 2012 at the Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH for the 22nd running of the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150. The Merchants Bank 150 will open the Thunder Road season with the American Canadian Tour on Sunday, April 29, 2012.

 

 

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

                                          -30-          

 


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ACT AND LEE USA HAVE LONG HISTORY

       

2012 Opening Day New Hampshire Governor’s Cup up next


For Immediate Release                                              ACT – 031312-7

        Waterbury, VT – In 1986 Beaver Dragon from Milton, VT won the opening event at the newly restored Lee USA New Hampshire speed plant.

“Red” and Judy MacDonald had just purchased the facility and called on the newly created American Canadian Tour (ACT) to open the track in the Spring of 1986. Later that season, the seven-time ACT Champion Robbie Crouch from Tampa, FL would win the first New Hampshire Governor’s Cup. Crouch backed that win up with a consecutive Governor’s Cup win in 1988.

Another ACT Champion, Russ Urlin, from London, Ontario won back-to-back at Lee in 1989 and 1990. Other notable winners at Lee during the ACT Pro Stock era were: Paul Richardson, Dave Dion, Kevin Lepage, and Ralph Nason.

When the present American Canadian Tour, featuring the Late Model teams throughout the Northeast took over the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup in 2003, Patrick Laperle from St Denis, Quebec won the Late Model renewal of the event. A surprise Canadian driver from Ontario, former CASCAR and present NASCAR Canadian Tire champion, DJ Kennington won the 2004 version in his only race ever contested on the ACT. Thunder Road three time champion Chris Michaud won in 2005. A string of five more different drivers have won the New Hampshire Governors Cup 150 over the past five seasons including: Ben Rowe, Turner ME, Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. (Pole), Hudson, NH; two more New Hampshire natives, Brad Leighton, and when a Lee weekly racer surprised a huge crowd Miles Chipman won in 2009 and 2010 respectively. The defending champion is the all-time winningest driver of ACT events and tour championships, Brian Hoar of Williston, VT who finally won in 2011.

The 2012 edition of the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup has a very good chance to continue the first-time winner streak since 2003. Wayne Helliwell, Jr., runner-up to Hoar in 2011 is a multi-time track champion at Lee USA. In his first full season of competing on the ACT US he finished an impressive second for the season-long point championship. Most observers would tag Helliwell as the favorite to continue the ‘new winner streak’ at Lee in 2012. Helliwell led 89 laps of the event in 2011 and is coming off both another Lee track championship, and his outstanding 2011 season with ACT. Austin Theriault, the sensational teenaged racer from Fort Kent, ME has raced down South during the off-season for Brad Keslowski Racing as a development driver. Strong top ten finishes, and a very successful second half on the American Canadian Tour in 2011, also make Theriault a good candidate to continue the first-time winner streak at the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup in 2012. ACT veteran Randy Potter of Groveton, NH, and Quinny Welch, multi-time White Mountain Motorsport Park champion hope to bring the Cup back to New Hampshire in 2012. Along with Hoar, veteran Brent Dragon has never missed a Late Model start and will attempt to be the first-time winner, while returning the Cup to Vermont. Two Maine top contenders Ricky Rolfe and Glen Luce have also entered the season opener and will look for their first Lee USA wins.

The traditional ACT opening event expects over forty (40) teams to attempt to qualify for the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 which will take place on Sunday, April 15, 2012. A voluntary practice day is scheduled for all teams on Saturday, April 14, 2012 to give teams a chance to shake out new cars, new rules, and prepare for what is usually one of the most competitive and exciting races of the season.

For ticket pricing and gate opening times go to www.leeusaspeedway.com.

For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963 or media@acttour.com
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Bartemys prep for Airborne and DIRTcar 358-Modified Asphalt Series

For immediate release – Airborne Speedway – March 11, 2012

SOUTH PLATTSBURGH, NY – Herb Bartemy and sons Aaron, 25, and Adam, 23 of Bartemy Motorsports had some bad breaks – literally – in 2011.

                In the midst of trying to run a weekly DIRTcar 358-Modified schedule on the asphalt at Airborne Speedway, Herb tore up his left shoulder at work and underwent rotator cuff surgery. A few weeks later, while mounting a truck tire at their TDI Truck Repair and Towing facility in Swanton, VT, Adam broke his left forearm.

 

                The trio has six good arms back at work on the task of getting two new cars ready for the upcoming Airborne season, which opens Sunday, April 29. The Bartemys also plan to compete in the new DIRT-sanctioned four race asphalt series put together with Dunn Tire Raceway Park in Lancaster, NY.

                Adam and Aaron finished 1st and 4th in a DIRTcar Modified event at Dunn Tire Raceway Park in 2011.

                “We have built two new chassis on our own with last year’s machinery on hand as back-up cars,” Aaron Bartemy said. “The biggest difference this year I think will come from our being completely moved in and organized at our new shop – Bartemy’s Speed Shop in Swanton.

                “We got off to a slow start last year,” Aaron said, “and then my father and Aaron got hurt.  These days the Modified field at Airborne is full of talented guys. It makes it neat to race there, but you’ve got to be on your game.” Aaron won two races and finished 3rd in points in 2009, but hasn’t cracked the top ten in points since.

                “The track seems to change more week to week than it did right after getting repaved,” Herb Bartemy said. “Aaron likes a tight car and he never got comfortable until 3/4 of the way through last season. The shock package wasn’t working and we were chasing the car a lot.”

                “Adam likes a car that’s looser,” Bartemy continued. “He designed his car and he just needs more seat time to hit his stride. Having a broken arm didn’t help that any last year.”

                “We liked Lancaster, it’s a real clean track, a good place to race,” Aaron said. “We donated some of our winnings to the Buffalo Children’s Hospital after that race. We’re looking to be going back to what we’ve done in the past and donate some winnings to Vermont Children’s Hospital this season.”

                Team members for the B3 (Aaron) and X (Adam) cars include Donnie Regimbal, Danny Pion, Joey Roberts, Aaron’s wife Meeghan and his sister Ellen. Sponsors include PTP Transmission, Castle Chemicals and TDI Truck Repair & Towing.

                The four-race DIRTcar 358-Modified Series opens at Airborne Wednesday, June 20 and then moves to Dunn Tire Raceway Park on Tuesday, June 26 and Tuesday, August 21.

 

 

Contact: Tom Herzig

802-882-8131

 


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