American-Canadian Tour Brimming with Star Power in 2023
Barre, VT — The 45th season of the American-Canadian Tour is already setting up to be a spectacular year filled with star power drama, and excitement. Over a dozen teams have already filled their full-season entries to compete in thirteen prestigious events across New England and Quebec at ten unique venues. A strong balance of genuine touring stars and fresh faces already dot the year-long roster with competition expected to be some of the best of the decade for the international touring series.
At the top of the list comes a triple threat of hardened veterans ready for more on the ACT circuit. 2022 champion D.J. Shaw has made it known to Officials that he intends to defend his crown in the Arny Hill-owned A.H. Fence Company Ford Mustang once again. Although the Center Conway, New Hampshire-native has found strong footing in the ACT ranks, he will have his hands full this season.
Fellow Granite State stand-out, and 2014 American-Canadian Tour champion Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. has filed a full-season entry for the 13-race slate. The Hudson driver is certainly one of the biggest standouts in his iconic black 97NH Ford but even ‘Joey Pole’ won’t be facing a cakewalk. Three-time Thunder Road ‘King of the Road’ track champion Jason Corliss has also stated his intentions to take the 2023 ACT Tour championship. The 2017 ACT Rookie of the Year from Barre, Vermont has secured new sponsorship with Booska Worldwide Movers and he’s looking to take his experience to the top for his first career American-Canadian Tour championship.
Our first full-season entry into the Barre, Vermont office was that of longtime veteran Jimmy ‘Scruffy’ Linardy, piloting his famous Kayem’s Hot Dogs Chevrolet from Somerville, Massachusetts. Although the veteran has plenty of laps left in him, he’s also put young talent behind the wheel of his machine including Northern New England stand-outs Kasey Beattie and Stephen Donahue.
Fellow Massachusetts campaigner Tom Carey III has also thrown his hat in the ring. The eye-catching Brookside Equipment machine has become a staple in ACT competition and car owner Roger McHugh expressed interest in getting to Canada for the first time this year. The Bay State also brings back Peru’s Pete Yetman. Yetman last campaigned with the ACT Tour full-time in 2011, later earning a career-best 6th-place finish at New Smyrna Speedway during the American-Canadian Tour’s last Florida Speedweeks visit in 2015.
Even with Shaw and Polewarczyk leading the New Hampshire contingent, there’s still plenty of talent to be had. Former Rookie of the Year Erick Sands has secured two third-place finishes in the Seacoast Truck & Auto machine in his first two seasons and will be searching for the elusive first win once again in 2023. Gabe Brown has stated his intentions to go for the championship after a strong lap-leading run at New London-Waterford Speedbowl in October. The former Oxford Plains Speedway champion has had four top-10 runs in just six starts with the checkered flag in view nearly every time out. Rochester’s Cam Huntress also returns after his first full year behind the wheel of the Camaro Heaven Chevy after coming home tenth in the final standings.
2022 ACT Rookie of the Year Alexendre Tardif is also set to return in 2023. ‘Fireball’ became the first leading rookie to hail from Quebec in American-Canadian Tour history after posting five podium finishes in 2022. Tardif will almost certainly be in contention for the championship once again this year and gunning for his first win with the Gestion Roy Electricite Ford Mustang.
Taking rookie contenders Tanner Woodard, Jason Gammon, Andrew Molleur and Bryan Wall Jr. into consideration, the 2023 American-Canadian Tour season looks bright. Quebec stars Patrick Laperle and Jonathan Bouvrette have also filed for their ACT Licenses along with a host of track champions and race winners from across New England and Quebec.
For more information, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com. You can also get updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ACTTour.
Sources: Cale King/American-Canadian Tour PR
(_DSC0547.jpg): Three-time Thunder Road Track Champion Jason Corliss is ready to chase down defending American-Canadian Tour champion D.J. Shaw in 2023. (Erik Tavares photo)
(IMG_4790.jpg): No stranger to the tough competition on the ACT circuit, 2014 Tour champion Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. is ready to return for the 13-race schedule in 2023. (Alan Ward photo)