25 Years of ACT Racing: Crouch Rolls to Fourth Championship
While the second season of American Canadian Tour racing saw various changes in the rulebook, the outcome was the same as the Inaugural 1986 season. The 1986 saw firsts, like the creation of the Stock Car Connection, a combination series with the American Speed Association (ASA) and the ACT Tour, and lasts, like the final race at Catamount Stadium. Below is another excerpt from the 1989 souvenir program:
“A whole new look for ’87 – sleek, classy, fast fiberglass machines. Lighter weights, 9:1 engines, all 105” wheelbase, made for the transition to the SCC-type (Stock Car Connection) cars in preparation for the six combination races.
Beaver Dragon jumped out of the box, scoring a win at the first-ever Coors Tour event at Lee USA. Eventual Bosch/BFCP Rookie of the Year Paul Richardson, won event #2 at Catamount, garnering a $1,000 bonus from the New Champions program for breaking into the Winner’s Circle. Jean-Paul Cabana, looking at retirement at the end of ’87(Note: Jean-Paul didn’t cut back on his racing schedule until the 1992 season), showed that he hadn’t forgotten the way to victory lane by putting his Olds in victory lane 4 times including the VT Milk Bowl and the last ever Late Model event to be held at Milton, Vermont’s Catamount Stadium, the New England 300. It was history in the making, as Cabana had won the first ever main event at the same track in 1965.
The final event of 1987, including the Coors Showdown, took place at Beech Ridge in Maine. Dave Dion, a former Tour runner, held off Robbie Crouch for his first Series win in four years. His victory put him in the $5,000 to win 20 lap Showdown. The “Dash for Cash” was won by Claude Leclerc.
Robbie Crouch won his fourth Coors Tour championship, outdistancing Jamie Aube by some 60 points. Aube had led the standings, but Crouch’s string of three straight was too much to overcome. A disappointing final event finish by Aube with a flat tire cemented the title for Crouch.
In addition to the 20-race Coors Tour schedule, many of the drivers participated in the four Stock Car Connection events. Strong performances were turned in by several drivers at various events, including Robbie Crouch, Beaver Dragon, Mike Rowe, Rick Craven, Claude Leclerc, Jamie Aube, and Paul Richardson.”
Quick Facts – 1987
Number of events………………………………………………………………..……20
Number of drivers………………………………………………………………..…101
Number of race winners…………………………………………………………..…9
Most wins………………………………………………………….5(Robbie Crouch)
Most top 5 finishes……………………………………………….15(Jamie Aube)
Most top 10 finishes………………………………………..18(Claude Leclerc)
Most laps led………………………………………….……..511(Robbie Crouch)
Most speed trial wins……………………………………..…8(Robbie Crouch)
Most money won……………………………………$85,230(Robbie Crouch)
Largest purse……………………………………………………$70, 471(N.E. 300)
……………………………………………………..…….$214,025(SCC Molson 400)
Largest winners purse………….$10,691(Jean-Paul Cabana, N.E. 300)
…………………………………………$27,845(Butch Miller, SCC Molson 400)
Longest race…………………………………………………….300K (Molson 300)
………………………………………………………………….400K (SCC Molson 400)
Top Ten – 1987
1. Robbie Crouch 1880
2. Jamie Aube 1819
3. Beaver Dragon 1777
4. Claude Leclerc 1767
5. Jean-Paul Cabana 1701
6. Paul Richardson 1654
7. Barney McRae 1611
8. Rick Craven 1588
9. Herb Simpson 1397
10.Jack Bateman 1355
Sources: ACT PR