Bobby Therrien never looked back when he took the lead in the ACT Tour 100 at Oxford Plains Speedway. (Credit: Speed 51 photo.)
Hinesburg, VT’s Bobby Therrien passed defending American Canadian Tour Champion Wayne Helliwell Jr. on lap 49 and never looked back winning the Oxford 100 going away on Sunday, April 17th at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Therrien led the final 51 laps, holding off Steuben ME’s Rowland Robinson Jr. on a pair of late restarts to win the 2016 ACT season opener. It was Therrien’s second career victory and first since 2013.
Robinson came home second to earn his first career podium finish with ACT. Former Oxford winner Eddie “The Outlaw” MacDonald charged from 16th on the starting grid to finish third.
Helliwell grabbed the lead on the start from pole sitter Brad Babb and led the first 29 circuts. Meanwhile, Robinson quickly moved up from the ninth Starting position, grabbing the lead from Helliwell on lap 30 as the two worked through traffic.
Helliwell stuck with Robinson, and took the lead back just prior to the race’s second caution on the lap 44. Therrien then came to life on the restart, steaking from the third position to the secure the lead 4 laps later.
Therrien opened up his advantage on the green flag run while Helliwell and Robinson continued to fight for second, with MacDonald entering the fray in the late stages. Cautions on laps 94 and 95 for spins by Mark Jenison and Mark Hudson gave the field two more shot at Therrien, but he was not to be denied en route to the win.
Helliwell slipped to fourth in the final rundown, while Scott Dragon came home fifth. Jimmy Hebert, Quinny Welch, Raymond Christian, Babb, and Brandon Atkins rounding out the top ten.
The ACT Late Model Tour visits Lee USA Speedway Sunday April 24 for the NH Governors Cup 150. Post time is 1:15pm.
Unofficial Results
| Pos | Car # | Driver | Hometown |
| 1. | 5VT | Bobby Therrien | Hinesburg, VT |
| 2. | 28ME | Rowland Robinson Jr. | Steuben, ME |
| 3. | 17MA | Eddie MacDonald | Rowley, MA |
| 4. | 27NH | Wayne Helliwell, Jr. | Dover, NH |
| 5. | 16VT | Scott Dragon | Milton, VT |
| 6. | 58VT | Jimmy Hebert | Williamstown, VT |
| 7. | 78NH | Quinny Welch | Lancaster, NH |
| 8. | 93CT | Raymond Christian | Norwich, CT |
| 9. | 15NH | Brad Babb | Windham, ME |
| 10. | 4NY | Brandon Atkins | AuSable Forks, NY |
| 11. | 40VT | Nick Sweet | Barre, VT |
| 12. | 5CT | Dillon Moltz | Waterford, CT |
| 13. | 9ME | Emily Packard |
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| 14. | 9NH | Kyle Welch | Newport, NH |
| 15. | 1NH | Corey Mason | Groveton, NH |
| 16. | 30NH | Rich Dubeau | Lebanon, NH |
| 17. | 12RI | Robert Pelland | Cranston, RI |
| 18. | 49NH | Matt Anderson | Franklin, NH |
| 19. | 37VT | Scott Payea | Miton, VT |
| 20. | 04NH | Shawn Swallow | Stark,NH |
| 21. | 11QC | Claude Leclerc | Lanoraie, QC |
| 22. | 19QC | Dany Trepanier | St Edourad, QC |
| 23. | 54VT | Mike Ziter | Barre, VT |
| 24. | 22RI | Mark Jenison | Warwick, RI |
| 25. | 21NH | Oren Remick | Warner, NH |
| 26. | 61NH | Ryan Olsen |
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| 27. | 10NH | Bryan Mason | Stark, NH |
| 28. | 82MA | Mark Hudson | Norton, MA |
| 29. | 1VT | Devin O’Connell | Madison, CT |
| 30. | 41QC | Jonathan Bouvrette | Blainville, QC |
| 31. | 13VT | Boomer Morris | Barre, VT |
| 32. | 0NH | Miles Chipman | Nottingham, NH |
| 33. | 23ME | Dave Farrington, Jr. | Jay, ME |
| Lap Leaders:Brad Babb, 0; Wayne Helliwell Jr., 1-29; Rowland Robinson Jr., 30-43; Helliwell, 44-48; Bobby Therrien, 49-100. (4 lead changes among 4 drivers)Source: ACT Tour PR/Jeffery Boyce | ||
| Time of Race: 47:54 | Margin of Victory: 0.806 seconds | |
| Cautions: 4 (laps 3, 44, 94, 95) | ||
| Heat Winners: Nick Sweet, Ryan Olsen, Mike Ziter, Jimmy Hebert. | ||
| Consi Winners: Scott Payea, Kyle Welch
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