25 Years of ACT Racing: 1988 – Crouch Dominates for Fifth Title
The 25 years of American Canadian Tour racing in review continues with a look at the 1988 season. The 1988 season saw another dominating performance from Robbie Crouch, who won a record third consecutive ACT Coors Tour Championship and set the record for the most wins in a season at 11. Ironically the 1988 season also saw the first ACT Coors Tour win for Junior Hanley who would eventually match Crouch’s three straight titles and set a new record of 12 wins, all in the 1993 season. The following is an excerpt from the 1989 souvenir racing guide:
“1988 saw Robbie Crouch win 11 races (a new record) on his way to an unprecedented fifth title. Crouch outdistanced first year runner Russ Urlin of London, Ontario, Jean-Paul Cabana, Ricky Craven, and Paul Richardson for the championship.
Four drivers broke into victory lane for the first time on the Coors Tour in 1988. Urlin, Junior Hanley, and ASA regulars Butch Miller, and Ted Musgrave. Urlin picked off three wins, while the other three each garnered one victory. A strong contingent of rookie drivers vied for the Bosch/BFCP rookie title which Urlin won over STP Most Improved driver Tom Quinney, and Dan Beede. Over ten competitors raced for the title, with seven of them finishing in the top twenty in the final point standings.
Other drivers claiming victory during the 1988 season were Rick Craven, Jean-Paul Cabana and Paul Richardson.”
Quick Facts – 1988
Number of events……………………………………………………………………21
Number of drivers…………………………………………………………………146
Number of race winners……………………………………………………….…..8
Most wins…………………………………………………..….11(Robbie Crouch)
Most top 5 finishes…………………………………………14(Robbie Crouch)
Most top 10 finishes……………………………………………….17(Russ Urlin)
Most laps led………………………………………………..624(Robbie Crouch)
Most speed trial wins…………………………………..…11(Robbie Crouch)
Most money won……………………………………………………………$98,505
Largest purse……………………………………………$148,120(Molson 400)
Largest winner’s purse…………..$14,755(Butch Miller, Molson 400)
Longest race……………………………………………..267 miles(Molson 400)
Top Ten
1. Robbie Crouch 1868
2. Russ Urlin 1748
3. Jean-Paul Cabana 1742
4. Rick Craven 1724
5. Paul Richardson 1665
6. Claude Leclerc 1466
7. Barney McRae 1451
8. Tom Quinney 1446
9. Jeff Stevens 1374
10.Ralph Nason 1280
Sources: ACT PR