Looking Ahead: 5 ACT Events to Look Forward to in 2022

Daniel Holben photo

The calendar has turned to 2022 — and that means it’s time to start looking in earnest at the coming season. ACT has put together another schedule that will test the region’s best Late Model drivers and thrill fans watching in the grandstands or watching via live stream. We’re looking forward to all the events, of course, but these five are ones we’re particularly excited about. Enjoy this preview and let us know what ACT events you have circled on your calendar!

(NOTE: Events are listed in chronological order.)

April 16, 2022: Northeast Classic (New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH)

For the second straight year, the ACT Late Model Tour season will open at “The Magic Mile”. The first edition of the Northeast Classic was a strong debut, and along with our friends at the Pro All Stars Series (PASS), we’re making it bigger and better. As if racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway wasn’t already big enough, whomever wins this year’s edition will take home a cool $5,500 to start their season. They’ll also add their name to a list of ACT winners at NHMS that includes Eddie MacDonald, Joey Polewarczyk, Wayne Helliwell Jr., and Jimmy Hebert.

The rest of the Northeast Classic slate is strong as well with a $5,500-to-win National Championship event for the PASS Super Late Models, the Modified Racing Series, a $2,000-to-win R&R Race Parts NH Street Stock Open, the North East Mini Stock Tour, and the Granite State Legends Cars. Make sure you’re there or watching on Racing America powered by Speed51.TV!

May 22, 2022: Monadnock 150 (Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, NH)

ACT originally planned to make its long-awaited return to Monadnock Speedway in 2021. Those plans were unfortunately scuttled, but we are full speed ahead for this year’s late May visit. It will be the first ACT event on the Southern New Hampshire oval since 2003 and only the third trip ever. This means many of the Tour regulars in the field will be seeing the track for the first time, likely meaning a wide-open affair. And with several local Late Model racers running other ACT rules, a weekly racer could well steal the show! The event is a tripleheader with the PASS Super Late Models and PASS Modifieds for a great Sunday afternoon of high-banked action.

June 25, 2022: Claude Leclerc 150 (Autodrome Chaudiere, Vallée-Jct. QC)

For three years now, ACT has been hoping to make a return trip to Quebec. We’re optimistic this is the year it finally happens. The first edition of the Claude Leclerc 150 in 2019 was a highlight of the season, with a then-track record 33 Late Models showing up and Rich Dubeau beating them all for his first ACT win. A lot of the faces have changed in just a few short years, but two things that haven’t are 1) How racy the Chaudiere bullring is, and 2) How passionate the Quebec teams and drivers are about racing. Oh yes, and Claude himself is still out there getting it done at the tender age of 80. If that wasn’t enough, the winner of the Claude Leclerc 150 will bring home $5,000 USD. Will that prize stay in Quebec or go across the border to the United States? We’ll find out on June 25!

July 30, 2022: Milton CAT Midsummer Classic 250 (White Mountain Motorsports Park, North Woodstock, NH)

The ACT Late Model Tour again has three visits to White Mountain in 2022. All of them are sure to be great races just like last year, but if we had to pick just one you should attend, it’s the Midsummer Classic 250. How could you not after last year’s edition? It wasn’t a fluke, either; the 2019 edition was another all-time ACT classic, and the 2020 edition was filled with intrigue from various pit strategies and comers-and-goers throughout the 250-lap distance.

There might not be a driver winning with the hood up this year, but you’ll still get the biggest Late Model stars of the Northeast battling for a $10,000 top prize. Milton CAT has joined this year to help the take the event to even greater heights. The 250-lap main event will be supported by local action for the Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers, Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s, Ammonoosuc Asphalt Mini Late Models, and Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Division, making it a night full of “Thunder in the Mountains”.

October 22, 2022: Haunted Hundred (Seekonk Speedway, Seekonk, MA)

We don’t know about you, but we were ready for the 2022 Haunted Hundred as soon as the checkered flag dropped on the 2021 edition. You can read our Looking Back article for all the details, but suffice to say ACT’s first race at Seekonk in four years was more than any race fan could have possibly hoped for. The ACT Late Model Tour championship, and the nearly $12,000 in point fund money and contingency awards that go with it, will again be on the line. Seeing the locals race against the ACT invaders will be another big storyline; they had a great showing last time out and could well throw a monkey wrench into the proceedings. Stick around or keep watching on Racing America powered by Speed51.TV afterwards for the Tri-Track Open Modified Series as the Northeast’s best open-wheel racers chase a big check of their own.