Labbé Eyes Série ACT Title
Alex Labbé of St. Albert, Quebec will return to the Série ACT full time in the #48qc Larue Industrial Snow Blower Ford Fusion for Denis Larue. Desjardins Ford, Garoy Construction, and Orleans Express will also provide sponsorship.
“We will obviously try to win the championship here in the Quebec tour. I am also looking forward to perform really good at the big races like the International 500, the Invitational at Loudon and the Milk Bowl. Even if I had a really good run (there last) year, I want a come back this year and be as competitive … and win that thing!”
Labbé is looking to build on the momentum from last year’s runnerup points finish. Labbe ended the season with four consecutive top fives, including back to back wins at Circuit Riverside and Autodrome Montmagny. The Can-Am 200 win gave Labbé a starting spot in the Bond Auto Invitational. Labbé finished 11th in the Bond Auto Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
“We had a really good season, especially by the end of the season when we had our new car,” Labbe said. “We really had a good roll. We battle(d) for that championship till the last lap of the last race in Ste-Eustache. I am really happy me and the Larue (team) got to understand each other pretty quick and that showed in the results. We’ve been battling for the win already at the initial race in Ste-Croix. (I’m) really happy to work with those guys. They are really professional and I trust them every single (time) I get strapped in the car. I know I can battle for the win.”
“I am sure that (defending champion Jean-Francois) Dery … will still be one of the toughest guys this year. I don’t know how (many) races Pat Laperle is going to run but he will surely be real fast every time he unloads his car. Donald Theetge too and there is Jonathan Bouvrette that is getting faster and faster and they’ve really put lots of efforts this offseason so I’m pretty sure he is going to be a fast guy.
The Governor’s Cup at Lee USA will be one of Labbé’s ACT Late Model appearances. “I don’t really know what to expect with the new restrictions on the suspension and the new shocks for this year but I am really confident that my team with Dale Shaw’s help are going to find out something so we will be competitive down there. I trust them 100 percent.”
The historic Milk Bowl was the first race for American Racer tires, which are replacing Goodyear. Labbé’s first visit to Thunder Road Speedbowl last fall saw him win the pole and finish third. “I didn’t feel a big difference on my side,” Labbé said. “…They felt good on the track. A little slower on the short run, but they felt pretty good with (a) lot of laps on them.”
Labbé was strong in his limited ACT Late Model Tour appearances last season, with three podium finishes in four starts. Labbé was second at Sanair and won at Circuit Riverside in two ACT combination races. He won the season finale, the Fall Foliage 200 at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY.
“Pretty sure Joey Pole is still going to be real tough to beat,” Labbe said. ” (He) and his dad make a real good team together. I would of like (to think) that Wayne Helliwell would still run (for) the championship because they are real fast and he is a really cool driver to race with. Don’t know about Brian Hoar how many races he is going to run but he is always fast for sure. Jimmy Hebert will surely be fast even if he didn’t have a good end of season ,” Labbé said.
“We are still working on a deal to run the full season in NASCAR Canadian Tire (Series),” Labbe said. “We are also going to run the PASS races in Quebec and probably a couple more in the North when we will have time.” VR Victoriaville, Construction Claude Therrien, and Soudure Plastique Quebec will support his efforts.
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com