Media Picks MacDonald to Win at Lee NH Governor’s Cup
The Northeast Media have picked the ‘outlaw’, Eddie MacDonald of Rowley, MA to win the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 this weekend at the Lee USA Speedway.
The contest, conducted by the American Canadian Tour sanctioning body, (ACT) asked media from throughout the Northeast to send in their picks for those drivers they think will qualify for the inaugural ACT INVITATIONAL Late Model event to be held this September at New England’s only Super-Speedway, the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS).
The deadline for entries is in and the media from the Northeast and Canada have entered 104 names of potential winners who might be eligible to compete at the ACT INVITATIONAL! MacDonald, a full-time NASCAR Camping World East driver, was the consensus pick to win the opening event of the season, followed closely by the defending champion of the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup, Joey Polarwarczyk of Hudson, New Hampshire. The two drivers duked it out in the 100-lap version of the NH Governor’s Cup last season, with MacDonald running down a dominant performance by Pole in the final laps. MacDonald said, ” I think we might have been able to catch up to Joey, but I am not sure we could have gotten past him for the win. Of course, he might have been saving it a little, he had a pretty good lead on the field with 20 laps to go.” Over 50 of the best Late Model drivers in New England and Canada are expected to try to qualify for the 30 spots in Sunday’s 150 lap quest for the NH Governor’s Cup. Pole said, “I can’t think of a better way to start the ACT season than to win the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup back-to-back. I especially want to get the NHMS Qualifer off my ‘to do’ list as early as possible. My team has talked about how good Eddie (MacDonald) is at Lee–actually, everywhere he races with us–but we are focused, and I like the 150 laps instead of 100. He (MacDonald) probably does too, but I am confident and excited about getting the 2009 season started.”
The media also did their homework. There was a four-way tie among drivers who received the most votes to win a qualified spot in a race that has quickly captured the imagination of the Northeast and Canadian short track race teams and fans. The four teams tied at the top of the media favorite list to get qualified out of the 100 plus picks were: Brent Dragon and Scott Payea of Milton, VT, Patrick Laperle defending ACT Champion from Montreal, Quebec, and Joey Pole.
Phase one of the contest will run from the opening event at the Lee New Hampshire speedplant beginning April 19 until mid-September, just prior to the annual NASCAR Cup weekend at NHMS, when the Late Models will have their first-ever event at the ‘magic mile’. Media who pick the top 36 Late Model teams who qualify either by winning a race on the American Canadian Tour, the Série ACT Castrol, which runs races throughout the season in Quebec and Ontario, or track champion candidates from the ACT affiliate weekly tracks that are part of the ACT program, will become eligible for a week’s vacation prize at one of New Hampshire’s favorite resorts.
Media members who end up in the top twelve in standings at the conclusion of phase one will then have a chance to pick the winner of the 50 mile ACT INVITATIONAL in phase two. The media winner will have an all- expense paid trip for two to Lowe’s Motor Speedway, in Concord, North Carolina for the Bank of America 500 in October.
Members of the media will have some pressure themselves this race season. Each week there will be ‘championship point standings’ for the media. Pick the winner and earn 10 points. There are also bonus races for bonus points including the TD Bank 250 at Oxford, ME; Fall Foliage 300 at the new Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY; the Sizzler 200 at Kawartha Speedway in Ontario; Center of Speed 300 Late Model portion at Wiscasset Speedway in Maine, along with several other select events. Follow the media contest standings on the ACT web site at www.acttour.com.
Following the opening race at Lee USA, the ACT Tour will move to Thunder Road to open its 50th season with the 11th edition of the Merchants Bank 150 on Sunday, May 3, 2009. There will be the traditional 100+ race car show in downtown Barre on Saturday morning, followed by the race car parade up Route 14 and Quarry Hill into Thunder Road.
For additional information contact the Thunder Road office at 802.244.6963 or media@acttour.com.
Sources: ACT Tour