ACT Opens Summer Showdown Series This Sunday

Some extra green will be on the line for American-Canadian Tour (ACT) competitors this Sunday, May 20 when they head to Maine’s Oxford Plains Speedway. The Oxford 150 will kick off this year’s Summer Showdown Series, with $5,000 ready to be awarded to the winner.

 With increased payouts throughout much of the field and more than $30,000 in total posted awards, drivers from throughout the Northeastern United States and Canada will have plenty to shoot for on Sunday. Plenty of big names will be on hand to gun for the top prize, which will surely lead to sizzling action throughout the field.

 I think the Summer Showdown Series is a really neat deal,” Northfield, VT’s Matt White said. “The last time I went to Oxford I believe was in my rookie year, so just to be competitive there and have a chance to win would be huge. And after the season I had last year with two wrecked race cars, to rebound and start the right way and not go in the hole so fast would be nice. Knocking five grand off on Sunday sure would do the trick!”

 White has been one of the pleasant surprises of the early ACT Late Model Tour season. The veteran weekly racer sits fourth in the point standings entering the Summer Showdown Series opener. He is part of a contingent of drivers who might not be on everyone’s radar, but who could potentially outrun the field on Sunday.

 Others in this camp include Miles Chipman, Rich Dubeau, Corey Mason, and Bryan Mason, a quartet of New Hampshire racers who have all shown speed in 2018. Another New Hampshire native, North Haverhill’s Ryan Olsen, is expected to make his ACT return at Oxford as part of a limited 2018 schedule.

 But the big dogs will be out to play in search of the $5,000 top prize. Colchester, VT’s Scott Payea comes off a win last Saturday at Lee USA Speedway and was the victor the last time ACT visited Oxford Plains Speedway in 2016. Rowley, MA’s Eddie MacDonald and Hinesburg, VT’s Bobby Therrien are also former winners at Oxford. Williamstown, VT’s Jimmy Hebert has had one of the fastest ACT Late Models so far this season and sits third in points despite having to overcome setbacks at each event.

 As if the oversized purse wasn’t enough, Sunday’s winner will make themselves eligible for an additional $5,000 bonus should they go on to sweep the Summer Showdown Series. Future events include the Waterford 150 at Connecticut’s New London-Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday, June 16 and the Coca-Cola Labor Day Classic at Vermont’s Thunder Road Speedbowl on Sunday, September 2.

 Qualifying for the Oxford 150 gets underway at 2:00pm this Sunday, May 20. The event is part of an ACT/PASS doubleheader which will see both the ACT Late Model Tour and the Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models go 150 green-flag laps. The PASS Modifieds will round out the program. Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for kids ages 6-12, and $45 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids).