ACT Entry List for Richmond Continues to Grow

One of the biggest events in the history of American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Models just continues to get bigger. A total of 35 drivers have now officially filed their entries for the ACT Commonwealth Classic 65 at Virginia’s Richmond Raceway on Saturday, March 30. With nearly three weeks still left before the event, the potential is there for even more names to be added to the list by the time the haulers arrive in Virginia.

“The interest in this event from teams has already surpassed what we were hoping for,” ACT managing partner Cris Michaud said. “When we first agreed to be part of the Commonwealth Classic, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect. The amount of entries we have speaks to how excited ACT Late Model teams are for the chance to race on this track – without spending a fortune to do so. We’re thankful to Tom Mayberry and the Pro All Star Series for giving us and our teams this opportunity.”

The latest round of entries includes even more names known to ACT Late Model and weekly racing fans in the Northeast. St-Denis, QC’s Patrick Laperle threw his name into the mix at the end of February when he sent his entry in. “Le Grand” Laperle is one of the most prolific and popular drivers in the history of ACT, making him one to watch at Richmond.

A win for Laperle and the FRAMECO Racing team he is driving for would be big in more ways than one. The Quebec veteran is currently tied with Brian Hoar for the most victories in ACT-sanctioned Late Model events. His next win would be his 45th and would break that tie.

Two more strong weekly Late Model racers have also submitted their Commonwealth Classic entries. Rehoboth, MA’s Nicholas Johnson is the latest racer to commit to the event. Johnson was the 2018 Thompson Speedway Late Model Champion, meaning all of the track’s top-3 point drivers last year will be at Richmond. It also adds another family dynamic to the event as Johnson’s cousin Jake previously sent in an entry.

Wolcott, VT’s Marcel Gravel has also made the decision to travel south. Gravel is the official track record holder at Barre, VT’s Thunder Road International Speedbowl, a record his set in qualifying for the 2017 Vermont Milk Bowl. He also captured his first Late Model win there last August. He will drive a second car that his team purchased over the winter while carrying his familiar #86VT.

There have been several surprises on the Richmond entry list, and the latest one is Barton, VT’s Blair Bessett. The veteran has spent decades racing on the NASCAR North Tour, ACT Pro Stock Tour, and in Thunder Road’s weekly Late Models and Flying Tigers. He will climb back behind the wheel in a car prepared by his friend Eric Johnson.

These drivers just the latest additions to an event that will feature a who’s-who for ACT Late Model racing’s past, present, and future. Former ACT Champions Laperle, Wayne Helliwell Jr., Joey Polewarcyk Jr., Nick Sweet, and Jonathan Bouvrette are all making the trip to Richmond. So are weekly track champions such as Johnson, Ryan Kuhn, and Jeff Marshall. Established ACT star Jimmy Hebert and rising standouts Rich Dubeau and Christopher Pelkey are on the entry list, as are father-son duo John and Stephen Donahue. Add in a large contingent of Quebec drivers and several new faces to ACT, and the event already has the makings of a classic.

The ACT Commonwealth Classic 65 on Saturday, March 30 is part of a huge day of action at Richmond Raceway. Almost $165,000 in total awards have been posted for a card that also includes the Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models, Tour-type Modifieds, Mid Atlantic Street Stocks, and North East Mini Stock Tour. Qualifying begins at 1:00pm. Open practice is scheduled for 11:00am to 5:00pm on Friday, March 29.

2019 ACT Commonwealth Classic Entry List

       CAR#    DRIVER                             HOMETOWN                         TEAM

1     4NY       Brandon Atkins               AuSable Forks, NY                Northline Utilities Dodge Charger

2     5MA     Tommy Carey III             Warwick, MA                        Brookside Equiment Sales/Lyon Auction Chevy Monte Carlo

3     6MA     Nicholas Johnson           Rehoboth, MA                      Propane Plus/Lins Propane Trucks Ford Fusion

4     9QC      Mathieu Kingsbury        Blainville, QC                        DuroKing/Dynamitage Piche Ford Fusion

5     10ME    Jesse Switser                   Whitfield, NH                        Laflamme's Landscaping

6     13VT     Boomer Morris               Barre, VT                                K. Bellevance/Classic Auto Chevy Impala

7     15MA   Jake Johnson                   Rehoboth, MA                      Daffodil's Gift Shop/Lin's Propane Trucks Chevy Monte Carlo

8     15NY     Gerard Giordano Jr.       Freeport, NY                         K-1 Logistics Chevy Impala

9     18QC    Jean-Philippe Bergeron Saint-Donat, QC                   Prolon Controls/JC Perreault Chevy Impala

10   19NH    Bryan Kruczek                Newmarket, NH                   Little Webb's Fuel/Sunoco Chevy Camaro

11   20VT     Blair Bessett                    Barton, VT                             Eric Johnson Ent./Sanborn Machine Chevy SS

12   21QC    Alexandre Tardif            Notre Dame des Pins, QC   Gestion Roy Electrique Ford Fusion

13   22RI      Mark Jenison                  Warwick, RI                           Jenison Motorsports Ford Mustang

14   26VT     John Donahue                Graniteville, VT                     Donahue Motorsports Chevy Monte Carlo

15   27NH    Wayne Helliwell Jr.        Dover, NH                              E Keys 4 Cars/Unique Ford Ford Fusion

16   28VT     Stephen Donahue          Graniteville, VT                     Donahue Motorsports Chevy Monte Carlo

17   29MA   Joshua Hedges               New Bedford, MA                Chuckran Auto Parts/NLaro Photo Toyota

18   30NH    Rich Dubeau                   Plainfield, NH                        Upper Valley Equipment Rental Toyota Camry

19   32NH    Jeff Marshall                   Gilman, VT                             Knudson Salvage/Fadden Automotive Chevy Monte Carlo

20   37QC    Marc Begin                      St-Philibert, QC                    Begin Auto Parts Chevy Impala

21   38VT     Tyler Cahoon                  Danville, VT                           Berlin Optical Expressions/P&H Transportation Chevy Impala

22   40VT     Nick Sweet                      Barre, VT                                Mansfield Heliflight Chevy Impala

23   41QC    Jonathan Bouvrette      Blainville, QC                        Globocam/DLGL Chevy

24   48QC    Alex Guenette                Terrebonne, QC                   Larue Industrial Snow Blower Chevy SS

25   58VT     Jimmy Hebert                 Williamstown, VT                 Hebert Excavation/Lowrey's Auto Chevy SS

26   64VT     Chris Pelkey                    Graniteville, VT                     Vermeer Chevy

27   72MA   Ryan Kuhn                       East Bridgewater, MA         Everetts Auto Parts/Berniers Liquors Chevy SS

28   72VT     Scott Coburn                  Barre, VT                                Coburn Motorsports Chevy Impala

29   77MA   Jimmy Linardy                Malden, MA                          Kayem Hot Dogs Chevy SS

30   83QC    Martin Goulet Jr.           St. Calixte, QC                       Goulet Motorsport Chevy Impala SS

31   86VT     Marcel J. Gravel             Wolcott, VT                           Gravel Motorsports Toyota Camry

32   91QC    Patrick Laperle               St-Denis, QC                          FRAMECO Ford Fusion

33   97NH    Joey Polewarczyk Jr.      Hudson, NH                           Pole's Automotive/Headman Headers Ford Fusion

34   00MA   TJ Moreshead                 Seekonk, MA                        T. Moreshead Landscaping/Miller Chiropractic Chevy Impala

35   04NH    Shawn Swallow               Lancaster, NH                       North Conway Incinerator/Central Paving Chevy Impala

                               as of 03.11.19