Carey Breaks Through with First ACT Victory in Spring Green
/N. Woodstock, NH — New Salem, MA’s Tom Carey III became the 81st different winner in ACT Late Model Tour history by taking the Caron Fabrication Spring Green at White Mountain Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 12. Carey snuck past eight-time track champion Quinny Welch in lapped traffic just before the halfway mark of the 121-lap event and then hung on in a checkered-and-yellow finish to get his first American-Canadian Tour (ACT) victory.
Groveton, NH’s Welch started on the pole thanks to a +3 in qualifying under ACT’s “plus-minus” system with Carey to his outside. After calamity struck on lap 10, with Dillon Moltz and Dylan Payea getting torn up in an accordion effect from Joey Laquerre’s spin, Welch spent the next several laps fighting for his racing life. Carey hung with him on the initial restart before Herman, ME’s Mike Hopkins dove inside both of them entering turn 3 on lap 13. Hopkins couldn’t make it stuck against Welch, though, and settled in behind the local hero as Carey made a smart move to hold third.
Welch then opened a gap on Hopkins, Carey, and Jeff Marshall as the field sorted itself out for a long green-flag run. As lapped traffic began to get thick, Carey swung back around Hopkins for second on lap 43, then reeled in Welch as the leader struggled with a pack of cars.
Carey got his chance when Welch tried to go inside Matthew Morrill in turn three on the 55th circuit. However, Welch broke loose off turn four, and the lost momentum allowed Carey to get to his outside. The sophomore ACT campaigner made the most of the opportunity and powered past to take the lead on lap 56.
The lead duo then knifed their way through traffic until Peyton Lanphear spun to bring out the second caution with 81 laps complete. What happened during the caution was the big story, though, as reigning ACT and Spring Green champion Jimmy Hebert shut down from the seventh position. Hebert spent nearly 30 laps in the pits diagnosing a fuel pickup problem, suffering another crushing blow in a rough stretch of races.
Carey chose the outside line for the restart and made it stick as Hopkins followed him around Welch for second. The lead trio spent the next 25 laps racing like they were stuck together with magnets. Hopkins tried the inside multiple times, but Carey stayed glued to the preferred outside line.
As the laps wound down, Carey began to pull away. But just as his victory seemed assured, Reilly Lanphear spun at the top of turn three coming to the white flag. The caution flew after most of the field had taken the one-to-go, meaning they had to race home to the checkered flag under ACT procedures. Lanphear held the brakes on the high side and the field was able to snake past without further incident as Carey sealed the deal.
Hopkins fended off Welch for the second spot. Marshall, the White Mountain point leader, took fourth followed by five-time PASS Champion D.J. Shaw. Rookie Shawn Swallow, Bryan Mason, ACT point leader Ben Rowe, Jimmy Renfrew Jr., and Derek Gluchacki rounded out the top-10.
Waterbury Center, VT’s Jason Woodard nabbed his second Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tiger win of the year and third overall at White Mountain. Woodard finished second in the first of two 25-lap segments as three-time defending champion Shane Sicard of Barton, VT ran away with a caution-free victory.
After the field was inverted for the second segment, Woodard slashed his way from the back the field like he has so many times before. Even without a caution flag to help him catch up, Woodard ran down Hinesburg, VT’s Eric Messier the take the lead on lap 17. Sicard could only get up to third, giving Woodard the overall victory with a score of three points.
Sicard finished second overall with four total points. Littleton, NH’s Ryan Ward used fourth- and second-place segment finishes to get the third overall position. Matthew Potter and Messier completed the top-five.
Groveton, NH’s Luke Shannon captured the third victory of his rookie season in the Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s. Shannon steadily worked his way from the eighth starting position in the 25-lap feature to take the lead from Littleton, NH’s Todd Derrington on lap 15. The teenager was on cruise control from there as he continued to another impressive victory in a caution-free event.
North Woodstock, NH’s Jillian Baumgardner also slid around Derrington in the final laps for a career-best second-place finish. Her dad Donnie Baumgardner, point leader Tyler Thompson, Keri Driscoll, Mike Smith, Brett Jackson, Scott Senecal, and Gavin McGinnis were fourth through 10th.
Waterford, VT’s McKenna Merchant took her second career victory in the Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Trucks. Logan Farnsworth led the first two circuits of the 15-lap feature from the pole before Merchant powered past on the outside. She then rolled to an uncontested victory.
Gilmanton, NH’s Tommy Smithers VI, who’d won three of the first four events, eventually got to the second spot but could not chase Merchant down. Farnsworth, Damion Sicard, and Owen Rogers rounded out the top-five.
The ACT Late Model Tour heads to New Hampshire’s Hudson Speedway on Sunday, June 20. Both ACT and the Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models will have a pair of 150-lap features with the PASS Modifieds rounding out the card. Post time is 2:00pm. Admission is $30 for adults and $10 for kids ages 12 and under.
White Mountain Motorsports Park welcomes the North East Mini Stock Tour next Saturday, June 19 at 6:00pm. Their 50-lap feature will be joined by the Foley Oil & Propane Late Models, Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers, Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s, and Arnolds Wayside Diner Dwarf Cars. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12, and $30 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids).
For more information about ACT, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com. You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ACTTour.
For more information about White Mountain Motorsports Park, contact the track office at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.whitemountainmotorsports.com. You can also follow us on Facebook @whitemtnmotorsports.com.
WHITE MOUNTAIN MOTORSPORTS PARK — N. Woodstock, NH
CARON FABRICATION SPRING GREEN
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2021
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
ACT LATE MODEL TOUR
Pos., Start Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown, Laps
1. ( 2 ) Tom Carey III ( 5MA ) , New Salem, MA , 121 Laps
2. ( 3 ) Mike Hopkins ( 15ME ) , Herman, ME , 121 Laps
3. ( 1 ) Quinten Welch ( 78NH ) , Groveton, NH , 121 Laps
4. ( 4 ) Jeff Marshall ( 32NH ) , Gilman, VT , 121 Laps
5. ( 10 ) D.J. Shaw ( 04VT ) , Center Conway, NH , 121 Laps
6. ( 9 ) #Shawn Swallow ( 04NH ) , Lancaster, NH , 121 Laps
7. ( 7 ) Bryan Mason ( 10NH ) , Milan, NH , 121 Laps
8. ( 12 ) Ben Rowe ( 4ME ) , Turner, ME , 121 Laps
9. ( 8 ) Jimmy Renfrew Jr. ( 00NH ) , Candia, NH , 121 Laps
10. ( 16 ) Derek Gluchacki ( 03MA ) , North Dartmouth, MA , 121 Laps
11. ( 19 ) Joey Polewarcyk Jr. ( 97NH ) , Hudson, NH , 120 Laps
12. ( 22 ) Stephen Donahue ( 2VT ) , Graniteville, VT , 120 Laps
13. ( 13 ) Ryan Olsen ( 61NH ) , Bath, NH , 120 Laps
14. ( 21 ) Peyton Lanphear ( 22VT ) , Waterbury, VT , 120 Laps
15. ( 15 ) #Erick Sands ( 36NH ) , Derry, NH , 119 Laps
16. ( 23 ) Ben Belanger ( 99NH ) , Whitefield, NH , 119 Laps
17. ( 14 ) Matthew Morrill ( 9NH ) , Moultonborough, NH , 119 Laps
18. ( 24 ) Matt Anderson ( 49NH ) , Franklin, NH , 118 Laps
19. ( 25 ) Kris Matchett ( 17ME ) , Skowhegon, ME , 118 Laps
20. ( 18 ) Reilly Lanphear ( 21VT ) , Waterbury, VT , 118 Laps
21. ( 26 ) David MacDonald ( 69ME ) , New Gloucester, ME , 113 Laps
22. ( 11 ) Jimmy Hebert ( 58VT ) , Williamstown, VT , 92 Laps
23. ( 5 ) Jesse Switser ( 25NH ) , West Burke, VT , 86 Laps
24. ( 6 ) Joey Laquerre ( 15VT ) , E. Montpelier, VT , 84 Laps
25. ( 27 ) Jake Johnson ( 91CT ) , Rehoboth, MA , 17 Laps
26. ( 17 ) Dylan Payea ( 7NH ) , Milton, VT , 10 Laps
27. ( 20 ) Dillon Moltz ( 5ME ) , New Sharon, ME , 10 Laps
Lap Leaders: Quinny Welch, 1-55; Tom Carey III, 56-121. (1 lead change among 2 drivers)
Time of Race: 36 minutes, 34 seconds Margin of Victory: 0.931 seconds
Cautions: 3 (laps 10. 81, 121 [finished under yellow/checkered])
Heat Winners: Jimmy Hebert, Mike Hopkins, Jeff Marshall
Consi Winner: Jimmy Renfrew Jr.
WELLS RIVER CHEVROLET FLYING TIGERS
Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown, Seg. 1, Seg. 2, Total
1. Jason Woodard ( 68VT ) Waterbury Ctr., VT, 2, 1, 3
2. Shane Sicard ( 4NH ) Barton, VT, 1, 3, 4
3. Ryan Ware ( 32VT ) East Burke, VT, 4, 2, 6
4. Matthew Potter ( 23VT ) Marshfield, VT, 3, 6, 9
5. Eric Messier ( 88NY ) Hinesburg, VT, 8, 4, 12
6. #Tanner Woodard ( 68NH ) Waterbury Ctr., VT, 7, 5, 12
7. Michael Potter ( 23NH ) Plainfield, VT, 5, 8, 13
8. Hunter King ( 62VT ) Woodbury, VT, 6, 9, 15
9. Kaleb Rogers ( 37NH ) Glover, VT, 10, 7, 17
10. #Cooper French ( 4ME ) Northfield, VT, 9, 10, 19
11. David Ofsuryk ( 73CT ) Holland, VT, 11, 11, 22
WOODSVILLE GUARANTY SAVINGS BANK STRICTLY STOCK MINI’S
Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown
1. #Luke Shannon ( 13 ) Groveton, NH
2. Jillian Baumgardner ( 14 ) N. Woodstock, NH
3. Todd Derrington ( 57 ) Bethlehem, NH
4. #Donnie Baumgardner ( 4 ) N. Woodstock, NH
5. Tyler Thompson ( 51 ) Littleton, NH
6. Keri Driscoll ( 91 ) Gilmanton, NH
7. Michael M. Smith Jr. ( 22X ) West Burke, VT
8. Brett Jackson ( 31 ) Bethlehem, NH
9. Scott Senecal ( 1 ) Lisbon, NH
10. Gavin McGinnis ( 10 ) St. Johnsbury, VT
11. Jack Hayes ( 09 ) Littleton, NH
12. Les Washburn ( 17 ) Bethlehem, NH
13. #Chris Moulton ( 15 ) Pepperell, MA
14. #James Knights ( 02 ) Littleton, NH
15. #Riley Taylor ( 43 ) St. Johnsbury, VT
DNS Cody Smith ( 18 ) St. Johnsbury,VT
DADS 4 BY TOOL & SUPPLY KIDS TRUCKS
Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown
1. McKenna Merchant ( 99 ) Waterford, VT
2. Thomas Smithers, VI ( 24 ) Gilmanton, NH
3. Logan Farnsworth ( 22 ) St. Johnsbury, VT
4. Damion Sicard ( 23 ) Barton, VT
5. Owen Rogers ( 4 ) Glover, VT
6. Dominic Warren ( 9 ) Concord, VT
7. Austin Sicard ( 01 ) Gilmanton, NH
8. Hayley Corum ( 10 ) Gilmanton, NH