ACT Loads Up for Second Round of Showdown Series

The American-Canadian Tour (ACT) makes its way to Connecticut’s New London-Waterford Speedbowl this Saturday, June 16 for round two of the ACT Summer Showdown Series. The New London-Waterford 150 will award the second $5,000 winner’s check of the 2018 season, meaning someone’s racing bank account is about to get a lot bigger.

The first round of the Showdown Series fittingly went to “The Outlaw”, as Rowley, MA’s Eddie MacDonald took home the big prize at Oxford Plains Speedway. A win on Saturday would make MacDonald eligible for an additional $5,000 should he sweep the three-race series, setting him up for an even bigger payday come September.

“It’s awesome what ACT is doing with this Summer Showdown Series,” MacDonald said. “It really helps give teams a boost and helps get a lot more cars to show up. It’s helped us a lot too – although we used up a lot of that first check after our crash at Speedway 51!”

“We’d love to be able to try and get another win down at Waterford,” he added. “It’d be a huge deal if we could pull of the sweep. You definitely have to just take it one race at a time though. It would be a very difficult challenge, but we’re up for it, and we’d love to get Exit Realty, Hancock Electric, Grimm Construction, and all our other sponsors back in Victory Lane.”

In addition to being a financial windfall, a Saturday victory would be a big boost for MacDonald in the chase for the ACT championship. MacDonald limped to a 12th-place finish last time out after being swept up in a mid-race accident. The result left him second in the standings, 31 points behind defending ACT Champion Scott Payea of Colchester, VT.

ACT reaches the halfway point of the 2018 season on Saturday with much still to be decided. Although Payea and MacDonald currently have some distance on the pack, a number of top drivers have time to make their way into the title hunt. Positions 3-6 are separated by just 22 points, and Saturday’s Showdown will set up what’s on the line for each.

Williamstown, VT’s Jimmy Hebert remained third in points despite taking the brunt of the mid-race Speedway 51 crash and looks to bounce back on Saturday. Meanwhile, Rich Dubeau made big gains, as the Lebanon, NH racer earned a 3rd-place finish to move up to fourth overall. Sitting in fifth is Groveton, NH’s Corey Mason, who has overcome mechanical issues to post back-to-back 4th-place efforts. Nottingham’s Miles Chipman rounds out the trio of New Hampshire drivers.

Plenty of other challengers could snag the $5,000 winner’s check. Oxford, MA’s Brian Tagg looks to represent southern New England as ACT will be racing an hour from his hometown. Northfield, VT’s Chip Grenier has improved his finish at each event and wants to continue that streak. Milton, VT’s Dylan Payea earned his first ACT top-10 at Speedway 51 and could really break open the Rookie of the Year chase with another strong effort. A number of local racers are anticipated as well to take on the Tour invaders.

The second round of the Summer Showdown Series begins with qualifying at 5:00pm on Saturday, June 16. The ACT Late Model Tour joins New London-Waterford Speedbowl’s SK Modifieds, Sportsmen, SK Lites, and Mini Stocks for a full night of Connecticut racing action. Admission is $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, $25 for military, $5 for youths age 13-16, and free for kids age 12 and under.