Northeast Late Model Standouts Set Sights on ACT International 500
Waterbury, VT – American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model drivers throughout the northeast United States and Canada are now gearing up for the third annual ACT International 500 at Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY. The two-day event on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 is setting up as the summer showpiece of local short-track racing in the northeastern United States and Canada.
The International is also the third doubleheader of the year between ACT and the Pro All Stars Series (PASS). Both the ACT Late Models and PASS Super Late Models will run 200-lap straight-up features, with more than $110,000 in total prize money and $10,000 guaranteed to each winner. The ACT portion of the event marks a change from the three-segment format used in the first two Internationals.
“I feel like this year’s race is more my style,” 2013 International winner Joey Polewarczyk Jr. said. “Obviously we had success in the first International, and we’ve had success at the Vermont Milk Bowl before, but I like to think of myself as more of a long distance–type racer. I think 200 laps straight-up plays into my favor a little bit more.”
“Joey Pole” is one of several drivers who have committed to running both the ACT and PASS features, including 2014 ACT International winner Patrick Laperle, eight-time ACT Tour Champion Brian Hoar, and former ACT Tour Rookie of the Year Bobby Therrien. It will be Pole’s second time doing double-duty this year after running both series in the inaugural ACT-PASS doubleheader at Oxford Plains Speedway in April.
“At Oxford we had our ACT car going well, and we thought we had our PASS car going well, but we ended up struggling with it,” Pole said. “We’re still learning with the Super Late Model, but we’re going to Airborne, which we’ve been to numerous times – and we have our ACT car going pretty good there. Airborne is one of if not my favorite tracks, and hopefully that gives us an advantage on the PASS drivers, because they’ve never been there before.”
Many of the top ACT Tour runners will be in attendance, including third-place point driver Jeff White, Merchants Bank 150 winner Brad Babb, and multi-time Tour winner and Thunder Road Late Model Champion Nick Sweet. The event is also the second leg of the Série ACT Airborne Triple Crown for Quebec drivers such as current Série ACT point leader Dany Trepanier and former Champions Alex Labbé and Jean-François Déry.
On the PASS side, current PASS North point leader Mike Rowe of Turner, ME has committed to the race, as have former Champions D.J. Shaw, Ben Rowe, Johnny Clark, and Cassius Clark. PASS South second-place point driver Tate Fogelman will make the trip from Durham, NC for the National Championship event, and former NASCAR Modified Champion Ted Christopher will drive a Mulkern Racing entry.
“One of the benefits of the off-season discussions we (ACT) had with PASS was the opportunity to put on a race like the International,” ACT President Tom Curley said. “Both the opening doubleheaders at Oxford Plains in Maine and Thunder Road in Barre, VT this spring were well received by fans who follow both series. We now add in Série ACT with Quebec teams like Alex Labbe, Jean-François Déry, Dany Trepanier, and Donald Theetge, who will all join the battle for $10,000 to win. It is a dream event for fans. With some teams racing in both 200-lap events, and more than $100,000 up for grabs racing on one of the best ½-mile tracks in the country, this is a Late Model fan’s dream weekend. It is definitely a do not miss event if you like Late Model stock car racing.”
The third annual ACT International 500 will take place on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 at Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY. Qualifying begins on Saturday, July 18 at 6:30pm, with features on Sunday, July 19 with a post time of 1:00pm. An optional practice day will be held on Friday, July 17. General admission is $40 for Saturday and Sunday, $20 for Saturday only, or $35 for Sunday only. Reserved seats are $60 for both days or $50 for Sunday only.
For more information or to order tickets contact the ACT offices at 802.244.6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com or www.airborneparkspeedway.com.
Sources: Michael Stridsberg/ACT PR