Hebert, Kruczek Win Qualifying Races

Loudon, NH — Five months after triumphing in a virtual event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) for American-Canadian Tour (ACT) racers, East Bridgewater, MA’s Ryan Kuhn is on the pole for the real thing. The defending ACT Rookie of the Year earned the first starting spot in Friday’s qualifying round for the Full Throttle 75 at “The Magic Mile” on Saturday, September 12.

Kuhn, the winner of the Speed51 Northeast eClassic this past April, came from the eighth starting spot to finish fourth in the second qualifying heat. This earned him a +4 under ACT’s “plus-minus” qualifying system along with two other drivers.

Dover, NH’s Wayne Helliwell Jr. and Newmarket, NH’s Bryan Kruczek actually posted the highest plus-minus qualifying values. Helliwell charged from 12th to 3rd in the first qualifier for a +9 while Kruczek posted a +6 after holding off Dillon Moltz to win the second heat.

However, both drivers already have an ACT feature win this year, meaning they can start no higher than 10th in the main event. As such, it will be Kuhn leading the field to the green after winning a tiebreaker with North Dartmouth, MA’s Derek Gluchacki and Somerville, MA’s James Linardy. Kuhn also topped the day’s only practice session.

Part of Kuhn’s success came from the good fortune of avoiding some opening-lap carnage in the second qualifier. Sandy Hook, CT’s Michael Lindquist got together with West Burke, VT’s Jesse Switser while battling for the lead on the backstretch. Jamie Aube, Christopher Pelkey, and Woody Pitkat were all innocent victims of the resulting crash and are hard at work fixing their cars for Saturday’s 75-lap main event.

Warwick, RI’s Mark Jenison ran into trouble before qualifying even began. Jenison’s Ford lost a rear end during the practice session and he missed the heats as a result. The veteran will start at the rear on Saturday after making repairs.

The two top title contenders had strong days of qualifying. Point leader Jimmy Hebert of Williamstown, VT won the first heat from the pole, unofficially adding four points to his lead over Center Conway, NH’s D.J. Shaw. However, Shaw will take the green flag in fourth on Saturday compared to Hebert’s 12th starting spot, giving him an early edge.

The rest of the top-10 in the starting line-up is full of notable names. Multi-time PASS champion Ben Rowe, 2018 ACT Rookie of the Year Dylan Payea, top-five Thunder Road Late Model driver Marcel J. Gravel, and former Thompson Speedway winner Tom Carey III all earned single-digit starting spots. Recent Midsummer Classic 250 winner Moltz will start 13th while Bobby Therrien, the winner of the most recent ACT Late Model Tour event, is posted to roll off 21st.

The Full Throttle 75 for the ACT Late Model Tour goes green at Loudon’s New Hampshire Motor Speedway this Saturday, September 12. The program also includes the Musket 200 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and two events for the Granite State U.S. Legend Cars. Action begins at 10:30am.

Walk-up adult admission is $45 for general reserved seating and $50 for VIP seating. Tickets for kids ages 12 and under are $10 for all seats.

ACT LATE MODEL TOUR

NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

FULL THROTTLE 75

STARTING LINE-UP

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

Start Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown

1. Ryan Kuhn ( 72MA ) , E.Bridgewater, MA

2. #Derek Gluchacki ( 03MA ) , Dartmouth, MA

3. James Linardy ( 21VT ) , Somerville, MA

4. D.J. Shaw ( 04VT ) , Center Conway, NH

5. Ben Rowe ( 4ME ) , Turner, ME

6. #Marcel J. Gravel ( 86VT ) , Wolcott, VT

7. Dylan Payea ( 7NH ) , Milton, VT

8. #Tom Carey III ( 5MA ) , New Salem, MA

9. Nick Johnson ( 6MA ) , Rehoboth, MA

10. Wayne Helliwell Jr. ( 27NH ) , Dover, NH

11. Bryan Kruczek ( 19NH ) , Newmarket, NH

12. Jimmy Hebert ( 58VT ) , Williamstown, VT

13. Dillon Moltz ( 5ME ) , Sharon, ME

14. Mike Benevides ( 50RI ) , Westerly, RI

15. Matt Anderson ( 49NH ) , Andover, NH

16. Michael Lindquist ( 71CT ) , Sandy Hook, CT

17. Gerard Giordano Jr. ( 15NY ) , Freeport, NY

18. Jesse Switser ( 25NH ) , W. Burke, VT

19. Stephen Donahue ( 2VT ) , Graniteville, VT

20. James Aube ( 41VT ) , Charlotte, VT

21. Bobby Therrien ( 5VT ) , Hinesburg, VT

22. Christopher Pelkey ( 64VT ) , Graniteville, VT

23. Tom Sheehan ( 65NH ) , Bow, NH

24. Woody Pitkat ( 07MA ) , Bellingham, MA

25. Mark Jenison ( 22RI ) , Warwick, RI