busch north scene

Excitement starting to build for 2011 ACT opener at Lee USA

By Phil Whipple

Staff Writer

After a long, drawn-out winter with plenty of snow and cold (that lingered into early April), the chance to watch some real live racing is just around the corner.

On Sunday, April 17, Late Model race teams from around the northeast and eastern Canada will converge on Red & Judy MacDonald’s immaculate Lee USA Speedway, as the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) opens its 2011 season with a 150-lap contest.

Tom Curley and staff will preside over what will arguably be the finest mix of Late Model talent ever assembled at Lee. From young guns looking to make a name for themselves, to veterans like former Busch North Series standout Tom Carey Jr., the depth of talent within the Vermont-based tour’s pit area this season is unsurpassed.

There will be no shortage of interesting storylines this year within ACT, with Brian Hoar’s drive for a record eighth championship atop the list. Combine Hoar’s experience with Rick Paya’s top-notch equipment, and you’ve got a genuine super-team.

Remember the momentum young Joey Polewarczyk Jr. built late in 2010, winning the prestigious Milk Bowl and ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The young athlete from Hudson, NH, has to be the undisputed favorite going in as we head for Lee USA.

“Joey is without a doubt on top of his game right now,” said ACT president Tom Curley via telephone this week. “He knows how to win at Lee, and certainly has momentum going for him. I expect him to contend for the win at Lee, and battle Hoar for the title all season long.”

Along with Polewarczyk, Curley says there are a number of other drivers to watch at Lee who could run up front. Some of the ACT veterans who struggled in 2010 could return to their old winning ways.

“I think this deal that Brent Dragon has with the Avery family has really rejuvenated him,” Curley added. “And seven-time champion Jean-Paul Cyr has assembled a terrific group of guys for him team this year, as well. I think a lot of those guys like Brent, Jean, Ricky Rolfe, Glen Luce and even Randy Potter could bounce back in a big way this season. We have a ton of those savvy veterans in the pits, and they aren’t about to let the new kids steal all the headlines.”

Among those aspiring young drivers to watch at Lee is Maine native Austin Theriault. After several impressive runs in his own equipment last year, Theriault is now a teammate to Hoar at the powerhouse Rick Paya Motorsports (RPM Racing) operation. With top-notch cars and Hoar as a mentor, expect big things from this youngster right out of the box.

“Austin is a young man with tons of talent,” Curley said. “To put him in a car equal to Hoar’s gives him the opportunity of a lifetime. He had a terrific run last year over at Beech Ridge, and I expect to see him among the top three and top five fairly often.”

Two other Maine natives will try their hand at a little ACT racing in 2011. Dennis Spencer Jr. and Shane Green. Spencer is a two-time Late Model champion at Oxford, while Green is a multi-time champion in the Strictly Stock division. Both drivers have years of experience on a variety of tracks and will represent Oxford in fine fashion at Lee.

Other Oxford regulars we could see in the pits at Lee include 2004 Late Model champion Shawn Martin, Auburn native Travis Stearns and Corey Morgan. Martin came on strong late last year and battled eventual champion Timmy Brackett right down to wire for the 2010 title. He adapts well to any track, and could very easily run in the top 10 at Lee USA.

Regardless of who comes out on top at the ACT opener, it is sure to be a great race.