Archive for January 10th, 2009

Laperle, Dragon, Williams Honored at ACT/Thunder Road Banquet of Champions

Published at January 10, 2009 in ACT LM Tour and Thunder Road. 0 Comments

American Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model driver Patrick Laperle from Montreal was honored as a first time winner of the United States ACT Championship at the annual Banquet of Champions on Saturday night at the Sheraton-Burlington Hotel & Conference Center in South Burlington, VT. Over 500 teams and fans celebrated with Laperle, as he became the first Canadian driver to win the ACT title since Jr. Hanley took the honors in 1995. Laperle is the first Quebec driver to ever win the US championship. Laperle won the ACT Canadian Serie Castrol championship in 2007. Laperle beat Milton, Vermont driver Scott Payea for the 2008 US title by a single point in the final race of the year. He had to win his third Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl at Thunder Road last fall to win the ACT title.

The 40th winner of the prestigious MacTavish Award was given to Milton, Vermont’s Brent Dragon. The award named for legendary New England racer Don MacTavish, who lost his life racing at the Daytona Int’l Speedway in 1969, made Dragon the third member of the first family of racing in Vermont to be honored with receiving the MacTavish, following wins by his father Harmon “Beaver’ Dragon in 1979, and uncle Bobby Dragon in 1983.
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Dave Davis Motorsports and Joey Pole Set to Tackle the Toyota Showdown

Published at January 10, 2009 in Toyota All-Star Showdown. 0 Comments

19-year-old Late Model Sensation Joey Pole and Dave Davis have struck an agreement that will allow the Hudson, N.H. native to race the #03 Dave Davis Motorsports NASCAR CWE Chevrolet in the 2009 Toyota Showdown at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA on January 23-24, 2009

Joey Pole wheeled the #03 Chevrolet at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last September and more than raised a few eyebrows with a fantastic top 10 finish after receiving some early race damage.
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Seekonk Speedway Readies for 63rd Annual Dinner and Awards Banquet

Published at January 10, 2009 in Seekonk. 0 Comments

Seekonk, MA –On Saturday, January 17, 2009, the Venus De Milo in Swansea MA will once again play host to the Seekonk Speedway Awards Banquet. As the 63rd season under the ARC banner comes to a close, the staff and management will honor the 2008 ARC Champions.

Being honored for the first time will be Pure Stock Champion Scott Cestodio from Swansea MA, SYRA 750 champion Dylan Estrella from North Attleboro and SYRA 600 Champion Jake Spillers from Ashburnham MA.

While the Fast Friday series saw three new title holders, the Super Saturday honorees have 13 titles between them. Westport’s Flyin’ Fred Astle picked up his 3rd ARC Pro Stock title, edging out Tom Scully Jr. by just 4 points. Riding a division tying 5 wins, he becomes the fourth driver in ARC Pro Stock history to win a third title. A second generation driver, he came up through the Charger ranks and moved into the Pro Stocks in 1987. Fred picked up his first Pro Stock feature on April 30, 1988, and his first title in 1994. In 2007, he hooked up with former Pro Stock driver Ron Lauro, and picked up 6 wins over a two year period. Ron, a former winner in the Late Model ranks moved into the owners’ role several years ago, and with Astle behind the wheel, this formidable duo picked up Ron’s first title as a car owner.

Gerry DeGasparre Jr moved to the head of the Late Model class for the third consecutive season, and fourth overall, driving for his father, Gerry Sr. 2008 started slow for the Pawtucket RI native, waiting until June 21 to visit victory lane. He would go on to win three of the next four 30 lap mains, finishing the season with 5 victories, tops in the Late Model division. Gerry started in the Street Stock division, and moved into the Late Models in 1999, picking up his first LM win on September 11, 1999. Gerry picked up his first Late Model Championship in 2003, with additional titles in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Over this 6 year period, Gerry has picked up 21 first place trophies.
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Economaki To Receive NEAR’s Media Award

Published at January 10, 2009 in NEAR. 0 Comments

Chris Economaki, “The Dean of American Motorsports” will receive the Jack Ratta Memorial Media Award at the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame Induction Banquet Sunday Jan. 25 at LaRenaissance Banquet Hall in East Windsor, CT.

“Hooked” on the sport since age nine, the 88-year-old National Speed Sport News and television stalwart, has spent a lifetime in auto racing. He played a leading role in New England’s auto racing history as both a writer and track announcer in the 1940s and early 1950s. He announced at, among other places, Thompson, West Haven and West Springfield speedways.
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