Northeast Classic Pit Notes – ACT is BACK!

Rain Pushes Northeast Classic Back to Sunday, April 17th - Same Times, Same Schedule!

Loudon, NH — On what became a beautiful spring day, the Northeast Classic Friday practice day was full of highs and lows with many kicking out the long winter gremlins, for better or worse. The real story today, thirty-eight American-Canadian Tour Late Models took time under the sunny conditions with three top stars taking the lead of the four ACT practice sessions. Thirty-three Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models were also on hand, with three drivers pulling double-duty between the two top full-fendered divisions at the track. The Modified Racing Series pulled thirteen cars in for practice day while the Magic Mile also hosted thirteen North East Mini Stock Tour 4-cylenders, ten EXIT Reality Pro Truck Series rides and over twenty R&R Race Parts NH Open Street Stocks.

Alan Ward photo

Thirty-eight ACT Late Models from the most talented Touring stars to your local short track’s honorable mentions were in attendance, some for the first time at the 1.058-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Perhaps the best part of the day’s activities, rejoicing greetings, handshakes and hugs from Canadian friends and teams not seen since the pandemic boarder closings over the past two seasons. For the first time in so very long, it truly felt like the American-Canadian Tour.

Three top-tiered teams and drivers took the lead in all four of today’s practice sessions. Out of the box, the Mark Bracket-led team put Dillon Moltz on top quickly. Forced to use their back-up car, the Jay, Maine team had supply-chain issues that affected their ability to finish up a brand new car for the 2022 season. Not to be outdone, Center Conway, New Hampshire’s DJ Shaw took up the challenge to bring Arnie Hill’s 04VT to the front, leading both the 2nd and 4th practice sessions with a fast time of 31.339 in the final 20-minute round. Bookended by Shaw, Tom Carey III, out of New Salem, Massachusetts, took the third round in his familiar #5MA with a fast time of 31.610.

We may just have a dark horse in West Burke, Vermont’s Derek Ming. The longtime ACT Late Model driver was consistently in the top-5 during the three sessions he joined. Others were not so fortunate. After a strong first start in the Thompson SK Lite Modified class just last week, Trent Goodrow slam-banged into the outside SAFER-barrier in turns three and four, destroying his 31MA Late Model. Similarly unable to compete, Blainville, Quebec’s Jonathan Bouvrette also smashed into the retaining wall, bending the front clip hard to the left. In the teams first visit to the United States since winning the Sunoco World Series 75 at Thompson Speedway in 2019, disappointed is an understatement.

Alan Ward photo

Mechanical problems also plagued many in the field from Cody Leblanc’s engine saying goodbye just three-laps into the first practice to worn bearings on the Andrew’s Excavation machine of Stephen Donahue. The whole of the field made a multitude of adjustments with crew members rolling underneath chassis’, turning coil-overs and the nearly constant hum of cordless impact wrenches and air hoses.  

After watching the weather all day, ACT and PASS officials made the difficult decision to postpone Saturday’s events to the next day, Sunday April 17th. “We felt it best to move to Sunday knowing there was no possibility of getting all six feature races in tomorrow with rain predicted to roll in by 11:00am,” said ACT managing partner Cris Michaud. “We can take the day tomorrow and allow teams for final adjustments then get our 2nd Northeast Classic off without a hitch on Sunday. It’s a win-win.”

The schedule for Saturday will remain the same for Sunday with Pit Gates opening at 7:00am, Practice Beginning at 8:45am, Main Grandstand Opening at 9:00am and Qualifying Set to Begin at 10:30am with Opening Ceremonies and Features to follow.

General Admission is $40 each with Ages 12-7 $10 each and Ages 6 and Under are free! Live streaming pay-per-view is available around the world through Racing America powered by Speed 51.TV for those who can’t make it to the track.

For more information about the American-Canadian Tour, 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.