ACT New Smyrna Field Adds Ford Power with Latest Entries
The battle for the Goodyear Speedweeks Cup just got tougher with the announcement from the American Canadian Tour (ACT) that three of the powerhouse Ford teams in ACT will make the trip to the sunshine state for the first ever New Smyrna Speedway (NSS) World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.
Joey Polewarcyzk, Jr. (Pole) from Hudson, NH was the hottest driver on the ACT at the end of 2010. His wins at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) ACT Invitational last September were followed up with a $15,000 payday at the Peoples United Bank Milk Bowl at Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, VT. Pole finished the touring season with a stunning performance in the 150-lap closer at the Waterford Speedbowl in Connecticut.
“I had a great finish to what started out as being a little frustrating while we tried to get our Ford program mastered during the first half of the season. I have to give my dad (Joe Pole Sr.) and the whole team a lot of credit for the effort they put in to get the car to work. It sure paid off when we got to NHMS and Thunder Road for those big races,” said Pole.
“We won on the mile at New Hampshire, the high-banked ¼ mile at Thunder Road, and then the 1/3rd mile at the Waterford. Now we get to tackle the ½ mile at New Smyrna. It should be a great break from the snow and cold and get us headed for the 2011 ACT title in the spring,” concluded Pole. Joey Pole was only one of a few ACT drivers who have competed at the famous winter haven for short track racers and fans, the New Smyrna Speedway.
Pole will be joined by Lee USA Speedway Late Model Champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr.from Dover, NH. Helliwell won 9 feature events driving for Bruce Bernhardt’s Ford team in 2010. The team has entered the full 2011 ACT US schedule and is using the Goodyear Speedweeks Cup event to get an early start to the season.
Joey Laquerre from Barre, VT, a veteran racer for over four decades, will round out the Ford team heading to New Smyrna over the February Speedweeks campaign. Laquerre had one of the fastest Fords at the Invitational last September and likes the speed tracks. “I really am excited about heading to New Smyrna this February. I like our chances with our Ford against the 20+ Chevys we will compete against at NSS. I have raced at a lot of places over a lot of years, but this is one trip that I am really happy to be a part of. Everyone should have fun and a good break from the winter,” said Laquerre.
The Goodyear Speedweek Cup will feature double 100-lap events. Sunday, February 13, 2011 will be the first feature, and then the field will be inverted for the second 100-lap event to be held on Monday, February 14, 2011. Both features will pay a moderate purse, with the bulk of the $30,000.00 posted awards going to the overall combined standings of the two events.
Sources: ACT PR