Tag Archives: Jimmy Hebert

Mike Rowe and Joey Pole, Jr. win PASS/ACT twin races at Oxford Plains

64-year old Mike Rowe of Turner, ME ended up the winner in the PASS Super Late Model portion of thePASS/ACT doubleheader at the Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine! (Credit: PASS/Oxford Plains photo.)

64-year old Mike Rowe of Turner, ME (center lower)  ended up the winner in the PASS Super Late Model portion of the PASS/ACT doubleheader at the Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine! (Credit: PASS/Oxford Plains photo.)

Mike Rowe of Turner, Maine raced to his 151st Oxford Plains Speedway main event win, earning a trip to victory lane in his maiden voyage aboard Peter Petit’s lucky number 7 in AIM Recycling Pro All Stars Series Super Late Model competition at Oxford Plains Speedway on Sunday afternoon, while Joey ‘Pole’ Polewarczyk prevailed in the co-headlining ACT Late Model Tour 150-lapper.

Rowe, a 64-year-old veteran, multi-time track champion and all-around legend at the speedway where he was a track titlist a full four decades ago, waged a race-long battle with reigning series champion DJ Shaw of Conway, New Hampshire for supremacy in a thrilling 150-lapper for the ultra-quick AIM Super Late Models. Continue reading

Wayne Helliwell, Jr sets his sights on another ACT Tour title

Wayne Helliwell, Jr. will be looking for another ACT Tour championship when that series begins the 2015 season on Saturday, April 18 at Oxford Plains Speedway.  (Credit: ACT Tour photo.)

Wayne Helliwell, Jr. will be looking for another ACT Tour championship when that series begins the 2015 season on Saturday, April 18 at Oxford Plains Speedway. (Credit: ACT Tour photo.)

The American-Canadian Tour (ACT) will see the return of one of the Northeast’s most accomplished drivers this coming season. Wayne Helliwell Jr., the 2012 and 2013 ACT Champion, recently stated that he will be competing full-time on the Tour in 2015.

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New champions program for ACT Tour US

 

New Champions ACT Tour program gives some contenders an opportunity to race for extra winnings.  (Credit: ACT Tour photo.)

New Champions ACT Tour program gives some contenders an opportunity to race for extra winnings. (Credit: ACT Tour photo.)

American Canadian Tour officials have announced a New Champions Program for the ACT U.S. Tour in 2015. The program is a revival of the old New Champions point standings from the former ACT Pro Stock Tour in the 1980s and early 1990s. Continue reading

Rowley’s Eddie MacDonald will be looking for his first 2015 win at New Smyrna Speedway next month

Eddie MacDonald of Rowley hopes to start the 2015 racing season with a win at the New Smyrna Speedway's ACT Tour events in mid-February. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)

Eddie MacDonald of Rowley hopes to start the 2015 racing season with a win at the New Smyrna Speedway’s ACT Tour events in mid-February. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)

By Lou Modestino

Many of the long time race chasers in the Northeast have talked about the big half-mile at New Smyrna Speedway (NSS) in Florida being just like an extra-large Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH. If that is an accurate assumption, then one former Rookie-of-the-Year and two veterans from the American Canadian Tour (ACT) will have an edge going into the February trip to Florida at the “World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing”. The American Racer Challenge Cup will post $35,000 for teams from throughout the Northeast and Eastern Canada on Monday and Tuesday, February 16 and 17, 2015 in a unique twin 100 lap event over the two days. Continue reading

Joey Pole will lead US and Quebec drivers to New Smyrna Speedway during Speed Weeks in Florida

Joey Pole of Hudson, NH will lead a contingent of 20 ACT US and Quebec drivers to New Smyrna Speedway in Florida during the February Speed Weeks at New Smyrna Speedway.  (Credit: ACT Tour photo)

Joey Pole of Hudson, NH will lead a contingent of 20 ACT US and Quebec drivers to New Smyrna Speedway in Florida during the February Speed Weeks at New Smyrna Speedway. (Credit: ACT Tour photo)

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. Continue reading

Thunder Road’s Milk Bowl favors weekly racers

Even though he's an experienced and winning driver at Thunder Road, Nick Sweet knows well that the Milk Bowl is no easy race to win. (Credit: 5 Star bodies picture)

Even though he’s an experienced and winning driver at Thunder Road, Nick Sweet knows well that the Milk Bowl is no easy race to win. (Credit: 5 Star bodies picture)

 

 

 

By Lou Modestino

The 2014 People’s United Bank Milk Bowl has the makings of a battle between the Thunder Road (TR) regular teams and the American Canadian Tour (ACT) teams. The depth of the TR teams seems to give an edge to the Thunder Road regulars. Champions like Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. (Pole), Hudson, NH, Alex Labbe from Quebec City and Patrick Laperle, Montreal, QC, will join touring regulars Jimmy Hebert, Bobby Therrien and Jeff White, but it’s the regular Thunder Road weekly teams that look to make 2014 their year to kiss the cow.

“I don’t know, Thunder Road is like coming home and putting your slippers on after a hard day’s work,” said two-time Champion Nick Sweet from Barre. “I just think lots of guys worry more about the widow maker, the high banks, and the narrow front stretch than they do about those of us that race weekly at the ‘Road. I know I have my hands full racing Derrick (O’Donnell, Champion in 2013 and 2014), Trampas Demers, Cody Blake, Brooks Clark, Shawn Fleury, David Pembroke and Phil Scott…geez the list goes on and on with who can win 50 lappers at Thunder Road. I just know it is going to be a lot of fun, and it is a great way to end the race season,” concluded Sweet.

Teams from around New England and Canada will compete for the $10,000 dollars to win. Over 40 of the best Late Model drivers in the Northeast will attempt to qualify through time trials, 50 lap qualifiers, last chance races, and then still have to race three more 50-lap features before one driver will get the Thunder Road tradition of kissing the cow in victory lane. No wonder the 52 year-old race is called the “toughest short track race in America”.

“I guess if the Milk Bowl were three 100 lappers or 150 lappers, the regular Tour guys probably have some edge, but I know how hard it is to beat the TR regular weekly teams” said Derrick O’Donnell. “I am really proud to be a Thunder Road defending Champion and welcome the competition from veteran ACT teams. My goal is to win the Milk Bowl. It will not only be a great personal accomplishment, but in some strange way it will feel good to keep the Milk Bowl ‘in house’,” said the two-time Thunder Road Champion O’Donnell.

Many Thunder Road fans may pick Sweet, the first time winner and now defending Milk Bowl winner, to repeat. Others have seen O’Donnell surge to win his second in a row “King of the Road” title. Many of the famous TR bank dwellers, who generally like the underdogs, might favor a young new star like Jason Corliss or Chip Grenier. Older Thunder Road fans will remember when former champions Phil Scott and Dave Pembroke each won two Milk Bowls. Canadians will be rooting for Patrick Laperle to grab his fourth Milk Bowl, or perhaps the new Champion of the ACT Série Quebec, Alex Labbe, to bring the milk can trophy back to Quebec.

Whatever the outcome, the People’s United Bank Milk Bowl is certainly a one of a kind event in all of racing. For half a century racers have been chasing the dream of being the best there is on a fall day in Vermont. This Sunday, October 12, 2014 the dream comes true for the 52nd time.

Camping will open for fans on Friday, October 10 at 9am and campers must be off the grounds by noon on Monday, October 13.

Joey Pole ends the 2014 ACT Tour season with a win at New York’s Airborne Speedway

Joey Pole of Hudson, NH won the Fall Foilage 200 at Airborne Speedway in NY which resulted in also winning his first ACT Tour title. (Credit ACT photo)

Joey Pole of Hudson, NH won the Fall Foilage 200 at Airborne Speedway in NY which resulted in also winning his first ACT Tour title. (Credit ACT photo)

By Lou Modestino

Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. of Hudson, NH capped off his 2014 American Canadian Tour title with a win in the season finale Fall Foliage 200 at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY on Saturday, September 27. Polewarczyk used the high lane to get around Quebec’s Patrick Laperle on the final restart with just over 20 laps remaining in the event to take the lead and become the only repeat winner on the 2014 American Canadian Tour and claim his first career championship. Continue reading

Wayne Helliwell, Jr. claimed the 6th Annual Bond Auto ACT Invitational at NHMS

 Wayne Helliwell, Jr. held onto the lead in until darkness in the ACT Bond Auto Invitational at NHMS (Credit: Matt Wienarsz photo)


Wayne Helliwell, Jr. held onto the lead until darkness in the ACT Bond Auto Invitational at NHMS (Credit: Matt Wienarsz photo)

By Lou Modestino

Two-time American Canadian Tour Champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr. claimed the win in the 6th annual Bond Auto ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH on Saturday, September 20. The race was called complete on lap 44 due to darkness. Continue reading

Nick Sweet takes ACT Tour 150 race at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway

Nick Sweet #88 took the ACT Tour race at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway.  (Credit: ACT Tour photo.)

Nick Sweet #88 took the ACT Tour race at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. (Credit: ACT Tour photo.)

 

By Lou Modestino

Barre’s Nick Sweet became the 7th different American Canadian Tour winner in the 7th event of the 2014 season when the tour visited Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, ME on Saturday, August 9. Sweet led for the majority of the event, but not without fierce contention and multiple lead changes with runner-up finisher Ben Ashline. Continue reading

Joey Pole is the favorite going into the ACT Tour race at Beech Ridge

 

 

Joey Pole is a very talented driver and is always a threat to win where ever he races. (Credit: Joey Pole photo)

Joey Pole is a very talented driver and is always a threat to win where ever he races.  Be it in ACT, PASS or NASCAR. (Credit: Joey Pole photo)

By Lou Modestino

The American Canadian Tour (ACT) will next appear at the Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, ME on Saturday, August 9. The Hudson, New Hampshire native, Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. (Pole) has to be considered a favorite to win the race. In the 2014 ACT Championship standings Pole has a comfortable 56 point lead over second place racer Jimmy Hebert, from Williamstown, VT. He is also winless so far during the 2014 campaign. Continue reading