By Lou Modestino
The entry list for the American Racer Challenge event to be held at the New Smyrna Speedway (NSS) during the 2015 World Series of Asphalt Racing in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, on Monday and Tuesday, February 16 and 17, is filled with ACT Champions from both the ACT US and Quebec tours.
Defending New Smyrna Challenge Champion, and 2014 American Canadian Tour (ACT) Champion, Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. (Pole) from Hudson, New Hampshire won the first event held at New Smyrna in 2011. “I can’t think of a better way to start the new season off than to win again at New Smyrna. I really like the race track, and we had a blast there a few years ago. Our goal is to use this as a springboard for defending our Championship on the Tour (ACT) this year,” said Pole.
Additionally, newly crowned Serie ACT Quebec Champion, Alex Labbe, from Ste. Albert, QC has entered the two-day racing event. Labbe will pull double duty as he will also compete in the Pro Late Model division throughout the week of racing at NSS. Two-time Serie ACT Champion, Donald Theetge, Quebec City, will join fellow Quebec racers, Jonathan Bouvrette and Jean-Pierre Ouimet, Montreal, and Martin Latullippe from Vallee-Jonction to fill out the entry list from Canada.
Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour said, “We really enjoyed our first trip to New Smyrna Speedway (NSS) in February 2011. When longtime owner and promoter Robert Hart called and asked us to come back in 2015, we had immediate interest from ACT teams. I would expect the twin 100 races to be even more exciting than the first time we visited the fast half-mile at NSS. When you are from Quebec and New England, there is nothing wrong with heading to the Daytona Beach, Florida region for Speedweeks during February. Bringing along a race car makes for extra fun.”
Additional entries include two-time ACT Champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Dover, NH, and 2014 runner-up Jimmy Hebert from Williamstown, VT. Full-time ACT Maine drivers Travis Stearns and Rowland Robinson, Jr. will make the trek down from the Pine Tree State.
Over 20 cars have entered the American Racer Challenge which will run two 100-lap races over the two nights at New Smyrna. Individual winners will be crowned in each race, and the Cup will go to the winner of the two best combined finishes over the event.