Laperle, Dragon, Williams Honored at ACT/Thunder Road Banquet of Champions

Laperle, Dragon, Williams Honored at ACT/Thunder Road Banquet of Champions

South Burlington, VT – American Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model
driver Patrick Laperle from Montreal was
honored as a first time winner of the United States ACT Championship
at the annual Banquet of Champions on
Saturday night at the Sheraton-Burlington Hotel & Conference Center in
South Burlington, VT. Over 500 teams and
fans celebrated with Laperle, as he became the first Canadian driver
to win the ACT title since Jr. Hanley took
the honors in 1995. Laperle is the first Quebec driver to ever win the
US championship. Laperle won the ACT
Canadian Serie Castrol championship in 2007. Laperle beat Milton,
Vermont driver Scott Payea for the 2008 US title
by a single point in the final race of the year. He had to win his
third Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl at Thunder Road
last fall to win the ACT title.
The 40th winner of the prestigious MacTavish Award was given to
Milton, Vermont's Brent Dragon. The award
named for legendary New England racer Don MacTavish, who lost his life
racing at the Daytona Int'l Speedway in
1969, made Dragon the third member of the first family of racing in
Vermont to be honored with receiving the
MacTavish, following wins by his father Harmon "Beaver' Dragon in
1979, and uncle Bobby Dragon in 1983.
Thunder Road International Speedbowl crowned Hyde Park, VT's
Eric Williams the 2008 'King of the Road'.
Williams had previously won titles in the ACT NAPA Sportsman division
at both Airborne Speedway and Thunder Road.
Williams captured the 2008 Late Model crown on the final race of the
year by only 3 points over multi time track
champion from Montpelier VT, Phil Scott.
The top teams from all divisions were awarded trophies and
year-end bonus checks totaling over $60,000.00
for their 2008 racing contributions. The NAPA Sportsman championship
went to Cambridge, VT's Craig Bushey who
announced he would be moving to the ACT Late Models in 2009. The Allen
Lumber Street Stock winner had to use the
last day of the season to capture his crown. Plainfield, VT's Jason
Corliss won by a single point. Travis Hull of
Graniteville, VT won the Power Shift Warrior title.
The first annual ACT Crew Chief of the Year award was presented
to Pete Knights, crew chief for Groveton,
New Hampshire's veteran driver Randy Potter. The award recognized
Knights dedication, professionalism and support
of ACT Late Model racing in the Northeast region.
John Walker from Plattsburgh, NY was awarded the Ken Squier
Award for his many contributions to ACT and
Thunder Road as a working official for over a decade.
The Gordon R. Nielsen Rookie Achievement award went to Rookie
of the year Late Model racer Nick Sweet of
Barre, VT. Sweet also won the award as a Street Stock driver in 2003.
Thunder Road rookies who qualified for the
award were Late Models, Matt White from Northfield; Sportsman,
Hinesburg's Bobby Therrien; Street Stocks, Mike
MacAskill from Barre, VT
Racers and officials in all divisions voted for sportsmanship and most
improved driver awards. ACT Late Model
winners included sportsmanship award, Milton's Eric Chase; most
improved, Graniteville's Pete Potvin III. Thunder
Road sportsmanship winner was Barre's Mike 'Beetle' Bailey, while
Waitsfield, VT's Brooks Clark won the most
improved driver award. The Thunder Road Sportsman division awards went
to 40-year veteran racer Joey Laquerre for
sportsmanship, and the most improved award overwhelmingly went to
Williamstown sophomore driver Jimmy Hebert.
The annual Eddie Carroll Memorial award is given to a deserving Street
Stock driver for his sportsmanship. The
2008 honors went to Morrisville's, Super Joe Fecteau.
The 2009 season for the American Canadian Tour kicks off at the Lee
USA Speedway in Lee New Hampshire on Sunday
April 19, 2009. Thunder Road celebrates its 50th season with the 11th
annual Merchants Bank 150 over the weekend
of May 03, 2009. For information call 802.244.6963 or visit
www.acttour.com or www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com