By Lou Modestino
The American Canadian Tour roster for the events at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Florida on Sunday through Tuesday, February 15-17 features several drivers from Barre’s Thunder Road International Speedbowl. East Montpelier’s Emily Packard, Montpelier’s Josh Demers and Milton’s Eric Chase will all make the journey south in just under a month.
Veteran Thunder Road Late Model competitor Chase is the only one of the three with experience at the fast half-mile. Back in 2008, Chase claimed a feature win at New Smyrna in the opening event of the “World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.” He was also competed in the first time ACT visited New Smyrna Speedway in February of 2011.
Packard is coming off of her second full season of Late Model competition at Thunder Road and her first full season on the ACT Tour. Her success on the Tour, highlighted by her 4th place finish in the final standings shows her talent in the long distance events and her abundance of experience at the Devil’s Bowl and Airborne half-miles should help her with the learning curve at New Smyrna.
Former Tiger competitor Demers claimed second in the Late Model Rookie Standings in 2014. He had a tremendous rookie season highlighted by a podium finish in just the third event of the season. The length of New Smyrna will be an adjustment, but he should feel right at home on the high banks.
The American Canadian Tour will run three 100-lap events at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach Florida. The first will be a stand alone race on Sunday, February 15, along with the season opening K&N East Series event. The American Racer Challenge Cup is still a two-day event with twin 100-lap races held on Monday and Tuesday, February 16-17, 2015. Combined finishes from the Monday and Tuesday events will decide the overall American Racer Challenge Cup winner.
Source: ACT Tour PR