ACT Invades Oxford 250 Weekend as Season Nears Apex

The American-Canadian Tour (ACT) returns to the U.S. this Saturday, August 25 as the cars and stars of the series head to Maine’s Oxford Plains Speedway for their second visit of the season. The Oxford Plains 150, part of the 45th Annual Clark’s Scrap Metals Oxford 250 Weekend, comes as the ACT Late Model Tour hits the stretch drive of the 2018 championship chase.

With just three point-counting events remaining, things are getting serious near the top of the standings. Colchester, VT’s Scott Payea continues to show the way in his quest for back-to-back ACT titles. The veteran secured the ACT Triple Crown last Saturday with a 5th-place run in the Bacon Bowl at Vallée-Jct., QC’s Autodrome Chaudiere, which he hopes will serve as a precursor to the $10,000 top prize that goes to the season-long champion.

But Williamstown, VT’s Jimmy Hebert is making the battle interesting. After breaking a winless drought of nearly five years last month, Hebert has now gone back-to-back on the Tour. In the process, he has cut his deficit to Payea nearly in half. Hebert now sits 41 points behind the lead, leaving him ready to strike should the defending champion have even the smallest of slip-ups.

Rowley, MA’s Eddie “The Outlaw” MacDonald isn’t ready to be counted out either. MacDonald is in the third position, trailing Payea by 52 points and Hebert by 11. But as a 4-time ACT Late Model Tour winner at Oxford — including the Summer Showdown Series opener this past May — the speedster knows a few things about getting around the famed oval. In short, a win by either Hebert or MacDonald could put either one right on the heels of Payea.

Behind the front three, there are a number of drivers who could grab the Saturday night spotlight away. Groveton, NH’s Corey Mason surprised many with a 4th-place finish at Oxford in May, and he has since established himself as one of the top runners on the Tour. For Lebanon, NH’s Rich Dubeau, Oxford is one of his best tracks, and he would love nothing more than to finally get his first ACT win. Top-10 runners Bryan Mason, Dylan Payea, Chip Grenier, and Brian Tagg will all look to improve on their first visit this year.

Qualifying for the Oxford Plains 150 begins at 5:00pm on Saturday, August 25. The ACT Late Model Tour will be part of a full evening of racing that includes the North East Mini Stock Tour, PASS Modifieds, Northeast Classic Lites, Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association, Allen’s Coffee-Flavored Brandy Street Stocks, and Figure 8’s. The pits open at 9:00am and the grandstands open at 12:00pm. Admission is $25 for adults, $23 for seniors and military, $12 for kids ages 6-12, and $60 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids).