Ford Blue Oval Challenge Bonus Lifts Milk Bowl Winner Past $15,000
The Ford Blue Oval Challenge contingency awards, announced earlier this season for the competitors on the American Canadian Tour (ACT) and various affiliated weekly track participants, was the final bonus at Thunder Road’s Milk Bowl to raise winner Joey Polewarczyk, Jr.’s (Joey Pole) total winnings to over $15,000.00. The race posted over $80,000.00 in posted prize money and awards.
The unique three-segment event, promoted as the ‘toughest short track race in America’, was contested for the 48th time at the high-banked quarter mile oval in Barre, VT on Sunday, October 03, 2010. Joey Pole bested over 60 of the region’s top Late Model teams to win one of the most prestigious short track events in the country. With the $1,000.00 posted by the 2010 FORD contingency program for the event, Joey Pole became not only the youngest to win the event in the past 48 years, but set a record winner’s share of $15,420.00.
“We at Ford could not be prouder of Joey Pole and the entire team. They have worked all season to bring our Ford crate program to the front and there is no question that Ford is now in the short track business with a very competitive program. Winning on the mile at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last month was certainly the highlight of our initial full season with the Ford Blue Oval Challenge, but now winning the biggest race of the year at Thunder Road’s quarter mile is far more than we expected this early with the development of it,” said Mike Delahanty, Program Manager-Sportsman Circle Track Racing for the Ford Racing Technology division of Ford Racing.
When asked what it meant to Joey Pole, he said, “This is really unbelievable, I sure hope my dad gives me some of the money! I have had a love-hate relationship with this tough old racetrack since I started coming here five years ago. When I won the Vermont Governor’s Cup last year in front of Tony Stewart, I thought nothing could ever compare to that. I think I just fell in love with this place again”, he concluded.
The final race of the ACT season is set for Waterford Speedbowl on the coast of Connecticut this Sunday, October 10, 2010. Post time is 1:00. Joey Pole will look for his third consecutive win.
Sources: ACT PR