RMR Snocross News: Mount Snow Event Recap

Poirier sweeps Pro finals at Mount Snow for Rock Maple Racing,
Presented by the New England Dodge Dealers

WEST DOVER, VT (April 7, 2008) - Canadian snocross sensation
Danny Poirier capped a successful season on Sunday afternoon, sweeping
the Pro finals as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) concluded its 2007-08
Central series snocross campaign at the world-famous Mount Snow ski
resort.
Poirier (Cycle Worx Polaris), of St. Theodore, Quebec, held
off multi-time champion Jason Boron (Outdoor Performance/D&Z Racing
Ski-doo) and C.W. Sirjane (XP-S/WSI/ Harrison Motorsports Ski-doo) to
claim Pro Open, while 2006 champion Matt Boron made a surprise yet
impressive return to racing with a second place finish in Pro Stock.
Darrin Mees, the young man who had everyone talking with an incredible
rookie season, finished third in Pro Stock and fourth in Pro Open.
Unofficially, Sirjane is our 2008 RMR Pro champion. Official final
point standings for all divisions and classes will be released by
mid-week.
Joe Lemieux ended his title-defending season with another
victory in Pro Vet action. The second generation racer and truck
driver from St. Johnsbury out-gunned Rene Desrochers of Newport for
top honors, while Maine's Lyle Turtlott filled out the podium. Paige
Calderwood completes our list of Pro division winners Sunday, as she
out-dueled Khalshia White Rutland-based Cindy Regimbald to claim the
Pro Women final.
In Semi-Pro action Sunday, Jason Stone unofficially locked up
the 2008 titles with wins in Stock 600 and Open. Stone, of Central
Square, NY, held off Brad Davis and Corin Todd to claim the Stock 600
final, while talented veterans Jake Melville and Derek Graham finished
second and third respectively in the Open class. Matt Herrman kept the
Green Mountain State natives atop the podium with his victory in
Semi-Pro Stock 440 over Jordan Hicks and Michael George. Herrman also
notched a win in the Sport 600 Performance class.
Lucas Brunelle capped a stellar 2008 campaign with three wins
in Sport division action over the weekend. The talented young athlete
from Boucherville, Quebec, held off season-long rivals Corin Todd and
Chris Ackerman to claim the Super Stock finals both Saturday and
Sunday, then led the same pair across the line Sunday in Sport Stock
600. Cody Flach completes our list of Sport division winners with his
victory over Hicks and Ackerman in the Stock 500 final. A few of these
teenage sensations are going to step up and make Rock Maple's Semi-Pro
division even more competitive in 2009.
In Junior division action, Lincoln Lemieux sealed an
impressive season with two more wins. The third generation racer from
Vermont's Northeast Kingdom held off Chris Ingles to claim the Jr.
16-17 Stock 500 final, then out-powered season-long rival Joey Stock
to win the Stock 600 Fan class. Stock bounced back to win the Jr.
14-15 Stock 500 class, while Matt Cameron, Jake Scott and Montana Jess
(300 Freestyle Sat. & Sun.) also recorded final round wins on another
great weekend of racing for the Junior division.
Other winners over the weekend at Mount Snow include Scott
Smith (Sport Stock 600 Fan); Rene Desrochers (Plus 35 Masters); Jesse
Belleard (Non Traction); Christian Ellsworth (Plus 25 Stock); Sarah
Acker (Jr. Girls 10-13 Stock 600 Fan); KC Anderson (Women Stock 500 &
600); Michelle Lemieux (Women Stock 600 Sat.); Amanda Patenude (Women
Stock Novice); Jared White (Trail 600 Saturday); and Josh Gessinger
(Trail 600 Sunday).
Rock Maple Racing would like to thank everyone at Mount Snow
for providing such a perfect site for our season finale. With ample
snow and good weather, we enjoyed a great finish to what has been an
excellent season of snocross. Congratulations to all final round
winners last weekend, and to our 2008 class champions - we know the
hard work and effort you all put forth each and every week. We as a
sanctioning body are truly blessed to have so many dedicated teams
from all over the region in our pit areas. Thanks to all of you who
made the 2007-08 campaign one to remember, including our good friends
at the New England Dodge Dealers. Let us all hope for more deep snow
and great racing in 2008-09.
Rock Maple Racing is the eastern affiliate of the World
Powersports Association (WPSA), the national sanctioning body for
snocross racing. For complete results in all classes or to learn more,
visit our Web site at www.rockmaple.com.

Civali Quick on Qualifying Day for the Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson

Opening Day Icebreaker Wins to Marvin and Zuidema

Thompson, CT (April 5, 2008): New England racing season is officially
underway as the traditional Icebreaker commenced at Thompson
International Speedway on Saturday afternoon. The main attractions are
slated for tomorrow, Sunday, April 6, 2008 beginning at 12 Noon with
the Northeastern Midget Association, six divisions of NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series Racing, and the headlining Whelen Modified Tour.

On Saturday, James Civali of Meriden, CT, stole the show when he
turned a lap of 18.585 seconds and an average speed of 120.097 to earn
the Coors Light Pole. Bobby Grigas of Marshfield, MA, was second on
the clock with a time of 18.613 seconds. The top five in qualifying
included Todd Szegedy, Ronnie Silk and Jimmy Blewett. After the redraw
it will be Grigas leading the field to green as the Whelen Modified
tour embarks on NASCAR's 60th year of Modified racing. Silk, Blewett,
Szegedy, and Civali will make up the top five for Sunday's 150 lapper
that is scheduled to go green at approximately 3:15PM.

Bert Marvin of New London, CT, bested a strong field of Sunoco
Modifieds to earn the first checker of the 2008 season for the Whelen
All-American Series at Thompson. A strong field of Sunoco Modifieds
totaling 34 took the green flag for the first of two feature events
scheduled for Icebreaker weekend. Bert Marvin led the field to green
after his heat race victory but quickly gave up the front spot to
Keith Rocco. Woody Pitkat followed through into second before the
first caution flew for a spin by Danny LaJeunesse.

On the restart, Bert Marvin got out of shape exiting turn two. A
number of top running cars were collected as the scramble ensued.
Kerry Malone, Josh Steeves, and Bobby Grigas, who was making his first
Sunoco Modified start, and others sustained damage.

Contact between the leaders, Rocco and Pitkat, on the second attempt
at the lap four restart resulted in both cars making heavy contact
with the outside wall. Several other cars were collected as well
including Shelly Perry, Ken Bouchard. Pitkat was complaining of
shoulder pain and was transported to the local hospital as a
precaution.

Marvin inherited the lead when racing finally resumed with Doug Coby,
Danny Cates, and Josh Sylvester in two. After a handful of cautions
for minor spins racing finally got underway with Marvin and Coby
waging a short battle for the lead while Jimmy Blewett, who came from
deep in the pack, raced hard with front running rookie Josh Sylvester.
Blewett moved into the fourth position by lap 10. During the longest
green flag run of the event, Marvin began to distance himself from
Coby.

By the halfway marker, Cates had company in the form of Blewett while
the best battle on the field was for the fifth position between
Sylvester, Eric Goodale, and Tommy Cravenho. Up front it was all
Marvin. A caution on lap 20 for a spin by Anthony Burr brought out the
caution and bunched up the field once again.

On the restart, Blewett appeared to be on a mission. He first took the
third spot from Cates. Less than a lap later he took the second spot
from Coby. A caution stopped all progress but lined Blewett up on the
rear bumper of Marvin for the single-file start.

Marvin held his position on three successive attempts to complete the
final two laps.
The final lap was quiet up front with Marvin cruising to victory over
Blewett and Coby. Two up-and-coming drivers Danny Cates and Josh
Sylvester rounded out the top-five.

"We won the Icebreaker," said an excited Marvin in victory lane. "It
is an awesome accomplishment to beat Jimmy Blewett."

Marvin will look to return the feat tomorrow for the second half of
the twin bill for the Sunoco Modifieds.

Jeff Zuidema of N. Brookfield, MA, looked flawless en route to victory
in the first of the twin 25s for the Late Models on Icebreaker
weekend. Marc Palmisano took the lead from pole sitter Jay Stuart to
start the first Late Model feature event of the 2008 season. Stuart
was not giving up without a fight. Sparks were flying as the two duked
it out for the top spot. An intense battle for the third spot heated
up between Rick Gentes, Corey Hutchings and Jeff Zuidema.

Gentes had made his way to third with Zuidema quickly gaining ground
before the caution flew on lap 11 for a spin by Al Mandarino. When the
racing resumed Zuidema bolted from fourth to second in a single lap.
He quickly went to work on leader Palmisano.

Zuidema led by a nose at the stripe to start lap 15. Palmisano ran the
entire lap fender-to-fender with Zuidema but had nothing for the new
leader. Zuidema stretched his lead over the final laps. Palmisano
settled for the second spot over Stuart, Gentes, and Hutchings.

The Whelen All-American Series divisions participated in qualifying on
Saturday with Danny Fields and Mike Romano claiming Mini Stocks heat
race victories. Jesse Gleason and Scott Cook were tops in the Limited
Sportsman division. Norm Wrenn and Mike O'Sullivan split Pro Stock
qualifying honors. In the Northeastern Midget Association it was Erica
Santos and Adam Cantor taking home heat race victories.

Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (Top-Ten): 1. Bert Marvin, New London,
CT; 2. Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ; 3. Doug Coby, Milford, CT; 4. Danny
Cates, Chaplin, CT; 5. Josh Sylvester, Lebanon, CT; 6. Todd Ceravolo,
Gales Ferry, CT; 7. Kenny Horton, Guilford, CT; 8. Glenn Griswold,
Vernon, CT; 9. Brad Vanhouten, Wading River, NY; 10. Ricky Shawn,
Bradford, RI.

Late Model Feature Finish (Top-Ten): 1. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield,
MA; 2. Marc Palmisano, Hadley, MA; 3. Jay Stuart, Preston, CT; 4. Rick
Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 5. Corey Hutchings, Salem, CT; 6. Tommy
O'Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 7. Conrad Cote, Lisbon, CT; 8. Mark
Oliveira, Blackstone, MA; 9. R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA; 10. Mark
Jenison, Danielson, CT.

Race Recap: Busch storms to Nationwide win

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 5, 2008) -- In his seventh NASCAR Nationwide Series start of the season, Kyle Busch finally got a result befitting his performance.

Entering Saturday's O'Reilly 300 at Texas Motor Speedway, Busch had led a series-best 345 laps without a win. After finishing second to Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Tony Stewart in the first two races of the season, a series of mishaps had blocked the Toyota driver's path to victory lane.

That changed at Texas, where Busch ran away from the competition to post his first Nationwide win of the season and the 12th of his career. Though he had to survive a restart on Lap 194 of 200, Busch pulled away over the final seven laps and crossed the finish line 1.041 seconds ahead of runner-up Jeff Burton.

Series points leader Clint Bowyer finished third, followed by Bobby Labonte and Jamie McMurray. Brian Vickers, Dale Earnhardt Jr., David Ragan, Jason Leffler and Tony Stewart completed the top 10.

Busch, who had posted second-place finishes at Texas in 2004 and 2007, led four times for 126 laps, including the final 43. His winning average speed of 151.707 mph was a track record, eclipsing the 145.710 mph posted by Kevin Harvick in the 2006 fall race.

"This feels so good," Busch said after he climbed from the winning No. 18 Camry. "It's great to give (sponsor) DLP their first NASCAR win, and it's great to bring Toyota to victory lane here. It's so hard to win at this place. I want to thank my fans for sticking with me. We've been through some tough times in the Nationwide Series."

Busch had opened a lead of almost four seconds when Kyle Krisiloff's spin on Lap 190 brought out the fourth and final caution of the race. Busch and Burton remained on the track during the caution, while the 11 lead-lap cars behind them came to the pits for tires.

Busch said it was a difficult choice to stay out.

"It was tough," he admitted. "I know four tires would be fast, but I didn't know if I'd be able to get back through traffic."

Burton initially second-guessed crew chief Pat Smith's decision to not to bring him to the pits, but changed his mind after hanging on to the runner-up spot.

"Kyle's car was really fast," Burton said. "He was really fast on old tires. That said, holding the (second) spot was probably good enough. I don't think we could have gotten past him."

Notes: Harvick, who started on the pole after Thursday's qualifying session was rained out, broke an axle on his first pit stop and lost 21 laps while his crew replaced it. He finished 34th. . . Stewart lost a lap with an unscheduled pit stop on Lap 71, after cutting his right rear tire. He had run over a lug nut on pit road during a green-flag pit stop on Lap 56. . . Fourteen cars finished on the lead lap.

Handful of Past Icebreaker Winners Hungry for More

The starting lineup for Sunday's Icebreaker at Thompson International Speedway is projected to include at least five former champions of the event.
 
Ted Christopher (2004, 2005), James Civali (2007), Rick Fuller (1991, 1997, 2001), Chuck Hossfeld (2003) and Mike Stefanik (1998, 2006) are all expected to be in the field when the green flag drops on Sunday.
 
Even though each of those five have reached victory lane in the season-opener before, don't expect them to be any less hungry for a return trip.
 
"The first race of the year is very important," Fuller said.  "We put a lot of emphasis on it [the Icebreaker] because it sets the tempo."
 
History has shown that winning the opener is not essential to earning a championship, however.  Of the 22 all-time winners of the Icebreaker since 1985, only four have gone on to capture the season title.
 
While the first race of the year rarely makes or breaks the season, success in the event undoubtedly gets a team headed in the right direction.
 
"If you have a problem, and don't finish, you feel like you're digging yourself out of a hole for probably about halfway through the season," Fuller said.
 
Regardless of whether Icebreaker success is a predictor of how the season will progress or not, one thing is for sure, a good finish will make the three-week layoff before the second race of the year less stressful.
 
"It's always nice to have a good showing at the first event," Fuller said.  "I've won it a few times and, boy, that really feels great."

Latest News From Kurt Busch & Miller Lite Dodge Team Follows & Attached

but first, these notes of interest:

 

--Miller Lite Dodge driver Kurt Busch and his Pat Tryson-led Penske Racing Team will be racing their brand new PSC-557 Dodge Charger in the Samsung 500 this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.  "It's another one of the latest design of our COT Dodge Chargers," Pat explained.  "It's pretty much a carbon-copy of the car we debuted at Atlanta.  "We think we can get out to Texas and be really respectable."

 

--Kurt, Pat and crew hitting the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway tri-oval on Wednesday (April 2) in preparation for this weekend's return to Texas.  "It's (the Wednesday test at the north-central Kentucky track) timely because we're coming off the disappointing day we had last Sunday at Martinsville and important because we need all the track time that we can get in our effort to get a handle on this new Dodge Charger," said Pat.  "The time at the track will give us an opportunity to regroup and get everything clicking again before we head out to Texas.

Rather than chance anything happening, we're actually testing the Atlanta car (PSC-554) at Kentucky and saving the new piece (PSC-557) for this weekend."

 

--After all the controversy concerning tires in the most-recent intermediate-sized track race, the March 9 Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta, the tire situation will definitely be a big topic this weekend at Texas.  "Texas will certainly be interesting, especially since we are scheduled to be racing the same tire that Goodyear had at the track last fall," Kurt said.  "The only problems we saw with tires in that race were caused by guys running over debris.  The tire wear was great and it was pretty smooth sailing for everyone.  This new car puts a different demand on tires.  We saw what happened at Atlanta when the tires were really rock-hard.  I guess that the big question to be answered this weekend is how these cars will race on the softer Goodyears.  Hopefully it'll play out well and we have no problems there on Sunday."  Pat summed the situation up like this.  "We have faith in Goodyear to do what's best," he said.  "Regardless of how the situation turns out, we'll maintain the attitude of it's all the same deal for everybody."

 

--Kurt's "Quick-Stats" entering Texas (courtesy of NASCAR PR):

·       One top five, seven top 10s

·       Average finish of 12.0

·       Average Running Position of 13.1, eighth-best

·       Driver Rating of 98.0, fifth-best

·       87 Fastest Laps Run, tied for eighth-most

·       343 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

·       1,464 (72.9%) Laps in the Top 15, fourth-most

·       222 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fourth-most

 

--Kurt successful in picking the Final Four in the NCAA basketball action:  "NASCAR's PR guys asked us for our predictions just before March Madness began and I told them then that I thought I'd have to go with North Carolina, Kansas, UCLA and Memphis making up the Final Four," Kurt said on Monday night.   "I'm proud that I predicted that and it came true, but I really hated to see Davidson lose to Kansas, or to anybody for that matter.  That was such a great story and the Curry kid helped really put them on the map.  I'm a big Pac-10 fan because of growing up in Vegas and going to Tucson (University of Arizona) for a year.  I said a couple of weeks ago that I thought I'd be pulling for my Pac-10 UCLA Bruins, but that Memphis would win it all and I'm sticking by that prediction.  North Carolina has looked like they are unbeatable so far in the tournament.  My thinking is that they sooner or later have to have one off game.  I think it'll be when they meet Memphis in the finals and Memphis will take advantage of the situation."

 

--After six races during the 2007 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, Kurt was 17^th in the point standings.  He trailed then-leader Jeff Gordon by 342 points, but was only 26 points behind 12^th-place Jamie McMurray.  He had non wins, no top-fives and one top-10 finish.  His average start was 17.2 and average finish was 21.0.  Currently, Kurt is 16^th in points.  He trails leader Kyle Busch by 246 points and is 71 points behind 12^th-place Clint Bowyer.  He has a 28.8 average start and a 18.2 average finish.

--Kurt scheduled to meet the fans and sign autographs this Thursday afternoon at the Wal-Mart location in Roanoke, Texas.  The store is located just 3.5 miles east of Texas Motor Speedway on the north side of the intersection of Texas Rt. 114 and U.S. Highway 377.  Kurt is scheduled to be signing autographs at the gigantic Miller Lite display in the store from 3:30 p.m. till 4:45 p.m.  Wal-Mart store No. 5247's address is 1228 North Highway 377,Roanoke, TX  76262.  The phone number for additional details is (682) 831-9338.

 

--Kurt's visit to his souvenir trailer at Texas Motor Speedway this Sunday will mark the 252nd time in the last 255 races that he has been out on race day mornings to meet the fans and sign autographs.  His continuing tradition began during his first full year on the Cup circuit back in 2001.  Kurt is tentatively scheduled to be at his souvenir trailer from 9:30 a.m. till 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.  Please verify that time by visiting the trailer in advance and picking up the free tickets for the autograph line.

 

--No. 9 car again gets the odds nod from Vegas…Following a very trying race last week at Martinsville, the #2 Miller Lite Dodge heads to Fort Worth this weekend looking to continue its recent run of success at this fast 1.5 mile oval.  The #9 Budweiser Dodge also had its share of struggles last Sunday, but now has a 5-1 lead head to head in "The Battle of the Beers" based upon the weekly line established by The Palms Casino Resort.  If the race at the similarly configured Atlanta Motor Speedway is any indication however, this weekend's beer war should be quite a spirited battle.  Sports book representative for The Palms Casino Resort, Fred Crespi, had this to say about setting the line for this race:  "Both the Miller Lite Dodge and the Budweiser Dodge have always been known for loving to just go fast...put the pedal on the floor and hope it sticks.  What better venue than Texas Motor Speedway to showcase that? The Blue Deuce came home 11th at Atlanta, while the #9 car finished 28th. Kurt Busch also has an impressive average finish of 12th at Texas, but based on current form and overall results, we had to make the 9 car the favorite for this race by 3.5 positions.  We shouldn't be surprised if each car ends up finishing right between that number on Sunday."

 

--"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." –Will Rogers

 

 

 

BUSCH HOPING NEW CAR & KENTUCKY TEST SPELL SUCCESS AT TEXAS

-Miller Lite Dodge Team Hoping To Bounce Back In Sunday's Samsung 500 At Texas Motor Speedway-

 

JUSTIN, Tex. (April 1, 2008) – Miller Lite Dodge driver Kurt Busch and his Pat Tryson-led team are hoping that a new car coupled with a mid-week test at Kentucky Speedway will spell success in Sunday's Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

 

            "A single test at Kentucky is certainly not going to totally get us up to speed working with this new breed of car we're racing this year, but hopefully we can learn some things that make us more competitive this weekend at Texas," said Busch, who fell to 16^th in the Sprint Cup standings after last Sunday's 33^rd-place finish at Martinsville, Va.  "We finished 11^th at Atlanta and that gives us a big boost in thinking we can be even more competitive at Texas.

 

            "The additional track time at Kentucky with this new car may help to get us up to the next level as far as the competition goes," said Busch, who started 17^th and finished 11^th in last year's spring race at T.M.S.  "I'll be the first to admit that our team as a whole appears to be behind several of the other teams so far this season, so we're all hustling just as hard as we can to catch up. 

 

            "Texas will certainly be interesting, especially since we are scheduled to be racing the same tire that Goodyear had at the track last fall," said Busch.  "The only problems we saw with tires in that race were caused by guys running over debris.  The tire wear was great and it was pretty smooth sailing for everyone. 

 

            "This new car puts a different demand on tires," continued Busch.   "We saw what happened at Atlanta when the tires were really rock-hard.  I guess that the big question to be answered this weekend is how these cars will race on the softer Goodyears.  Hopefully it'll play out well and we have no problems there on Sunday."

 

            Crew chief Tryson is quick to label the Kentucky test as "timely and important."

 

            "It's timely because we're coming off the disappointing day we had last Sunday at Martinsville and important because we need all the track time that we can get in our effort to get a handle on this new Dodge Charger," said Tryson.  "The time at the track will give us an opportunity to regroup and get everything clicking again before we head out to Texas.

 

            "The new car we're rolling out at Texas is pretty much a carbon-copy of the car we debuted at Atlanta," Tryson explained.  "Rather than chance anything happening, we're actually testing the Atlanta car at Kentucky and saving the new piece for this weekend.

 

            "We think we can get out to Texas and be really respectable," said Tryson.  "I'm sure there'll be a lot of talk about tires this weekend, especially in light of what happened at Atlanta.  We have faith in Goodyear to do what's best.  Regardless of how the situation turns out, we'll maintain the attitude of it's all the same deal for everybody."

 

            In 10 career starts on the 1.5-mile Texas track, Busch has recorded one top-five finish and seven top-10s.  He has a 14.9 average start and a 12.0 average finish.

 

            Friday's practice from 12:00 Noon till 1:30 p.m. kicks off this weekend's action at Texas Motor Speedway.  Qualifying to establish the starting grid for Sunday's battle is set for Friday at 3:40 p.m. local (live on SPEED-TV and PRN Radio).  Saturday's morning practice is scheduled from 11:00 a.m. till 11:45 a.m. and the final "happy hour" practice session is scheduled from 12:20 p.m. till 1:20 p.m. Sunday's Samsung 500 (334 laps, 501 miles) has a scheduled 1:00 p.m. CDT starting time here on this 1.5-mile Dallas/Fort Worth Area speed plant.  FOX-TV and PRN Radio will provide live coverage of all the action.

 

ACTion News – Wednesday, April 2, 2008

ACTion News – Wednesday, April 2, 2008
-by Justin St. Louis

A look back through the record books will show that the American-Canadian Tour has seen some pretty important
races – and some pretty important winners – pass through the gates at New Hampshire's Lee USA Speedway.  Beginning
in 1987, an amazing string of championship-caliber stock car drivers has swept through the 3/8-mile oval under the
ACT banner, starting with the legendary Harmon "Beaver" Dragon.  The two-time ACT Pro Stock Tour champion drove a
Pepsi-sponsored Chevrolet Camaro to the opening day victory that year (never mind the snow banks around the
speedway that day, thank you), followed the next April by a sensational finish between former Canadian national
champion Jean-Paul Cabana and six-time ACT king Robbie Crouch – Cabana won by less than a foot at the line.

Open-wheel Supermodified kingpin and local hero Paul Richardson was the opening day ACT winner in 1989, with
recently-crowned ACT champ Russ Urlin holding court in 1990.  Crouch would avenge his '88 loss by winning in 1991,
with Dave Dion and Kevin Lepage each driving Ford Thunderbirds to the winner's circle in '92 and '93,
respectively.  "Racin'" Ralph Nason, a tough old bird from Unity, ME, won the final event of the era in 1995 after
a year's hiatus.

During that first stretch, Lee USA Speedway also hosted ACT at the New Hampshire Governor's Cup event in 1987-89
(back then a mid-summer race), and a special 300-lap event in July 1988 as part of the former Stock Car
Connection.  Crouch ('87 and '88) and Urlin ('89) took the Governor's Cup victories, while future Craftsman Truck
Series champion Ted Musgrave won the SCC race.

When ACT returned to Lee USA Speedway in 2003, the impressive list of winners continued: Série ACT Castrol
champion Patrick Laperle won the first event in 2003, followed in succession by current Nationwide Series driver
and former CASCAR star D.J. Kennington, three-time Thunder Road "King of the Road" Cris Michaud, seven-time ACT
Late Model Tour champion Jean-Paul Cyr, and multi-time Pro Stock champion Ben Rowe.

If we had an accurate count of total race wins and championships scored by the drivers that have won ACT events at
Lee USA, we'd tell you.  We can ballpark it, though, and our best guesses are, without exaggeration, somewhere
around 1,250 feature wins and at least 60 track or series championships.  Simply put: Only the very best win at
Lee USA Speedway.

***

Ten days from the printing date of this column, Lee USA is scheduled to hold its first "Test And Tune" session of
the year.  For many, that means laps and laps of practice, lots of tweaking, and maybe a couple busted knuckles
trying to hammer out that extra half-tenth per lap.  But for a group of ACT Late Model drivers on Saturday, April
12, it means a few hours of giving time for a great cause and having some fun.

Fourteen competitors, plus ACT President and Thunder Road promoter Tom Curley, have volunteered to assist the
Autism Puzzle Foundation on Saturday, April 12 with its annual "Casino Night" fundraiser at the Barre (VT)
Auditorium.  Dealing at the blackjack, craps, and roulette tables with be ACT Late Model Tour Champion Jean-Paul
Cyr, 2007 "King of the Road" Dave Pembroke, and past champions Robbie Crouch, Brian Hoar, Phil Scott, Cris
Michaud, Joey Laquerre, Nick Sweet, Brent Dragon, and John Donahue.  Also on hand will be top winners Eric Chase,
Scott Dragon, Kip Stockwell, and the defending Thunder Road Rookie of the Year, Chip Grenier.

Tickets for the "Casino Night" fundraiser are $125 and include two dinners, $150 in poker chips, and a chance to
win one of four grand prizes.  The prizes will be drawn at the event, and include a $1,500 cash prize, a trip to
Las Vegas with flight and hotel expenses paid, a 50" flat-screen television, and a trip for two to the NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series event Daytona Int'l Speedway in July, which includes race tickets, hospitality, flight, rental
car, and hotel expenses paid.  There will also be a silent auction with many items available.  Tickets are limited
and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Proceeds from the event will benefit both the Autism Speaks and the Autism Puzzle Foundation charities, as all
money raised will go directly to national scientific research and local education and assistance.

To purchase tickets, make donations, or learn more about the Autism Puzzle Foundation and the 3rd Annual Benefit
Dinner and Silent Auction on Sat., April 12, visit www.vtautismpuzzle.org, or click the logo on the front page of
the ACT (www.acttour.com) or Thunder Road (www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com) websites.

***

Did you know…?

-In the ACT Pro Stock Tour era, Lee USA Speedway saw not only a lot high-quality winners, it saw just about every
brand of race car pass through victory lane.  Dragon, Musgrave, and Urlin each won in Chevy Camaros, joined by
Crouch's Buick LeSabre (once) and Regal (twice), Cabana's Olds Delta 88 (yeah, a Delta 88… how's THAT for
trivia?), Richardson's Pontiac Grand Prix, Urlin's Chevy Lumina, Dion and Lepage's Thunderbirds (Dion had the old-
school early '80s body, while Lepage had the sleek '93 Super Coupe), and Nason's Dodge Intrepid.

-Even in the modern ACT Late Model Tour era, parity has been key at Lee USA; Laperle, Kennington, and Cyr have
each won with Chevrolet Monte Carlos, but Michaud drove a Ford Taurus to his 2005 victory while Rowe took the
honors in a Dodge Charger.

-Racin' Ralph Nason was generally regarded as a Mopar guy in his ACT tenure, but he did have a tendency to jump
around from car to car.  Nason owns ACT wins behind the wheel of a Chevrolet, a Ford, a Dodge, and a Chrysler.  In
fact, in 1988, he drove all four at one point or another!

KYLE BUSCH ‘18’ Isn’t Just a Number

KYLE BUSCH

       '18' Isn't Just a Number

 

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (April 1, 2008) – Despite being just 22 years old, Kyle Busch has quickly gained an appreciation for the winning history of his current team.

 

Busch, driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), became part of that winning history last month at Atlanta Motor Speedway when he piloted the No. 18 to its first victory in four years. The win was also the first for Toyota in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition.

 

The nostalgia surrounding the moment certainly wasn't lost on the Las Vegas native.

 

"The 18! The 18! The 18 is back at Atlanta," Busch screamed on the radio after scoring the first win for JGR's original team since former JGR driver Bobby Labonte brought the No. 18 Interstate Batteries home a winner in the 2003 season-ending race at Homestead (Fla.) Miami Speedway.

Busch's triumph ended a 147-race drought for the team and nobody was more emotional about seeing the No. 18 car in victory lane than current JGR Vice President of Competition Jimmy Makar, who was one of the original employees at JGR and the first crew chief of the Interstate Batteries machine.

 

Over a nine-year span, Labonte and Interstate racked up 21 Sprint Cup Series wins, along with a magical 2000 season that saw the Makar-led team bring home the championship in NASCAR's top series.

 

"Kyle Busch," Makar said on the radio as Busch crossed the finish line at Atlanta, "thank you for bringing the 18 back."

 

Makar and the rest of the Huntersville, N.C.-based organization were thrilled to watch Busch and crew chief Steve Addington carry the No. 18 car back to prominence, but many of the crew who have been there from the very beginning still feel like they have some unfinished business leading into Sunday's Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

 

What might their next mission be? To bring the familiar green and black colors of JGR founding sponsor Interstate Batteries back to victory lane in the backyard of the company's Dallas headquarters.

 

Interstate Batteries Chairman Norm Miller would love nothing more. Miller helped jumpstart JGR by committing to sponsor Joe Gibbs' first NASCAR endeavor with a handshake in his Dallas office in 1991. One year later, Gibbs and Miller's dream became a reality as the team hit the circuit with Dale Jarrett behind the wheel of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries machine. 

 

While Busch understands what bringing the No. 18 car back to victory lane meant to JGR's founding sponsor, he's also aware that he has a tremendous opportunity in front of him to become a major part of the team's history. And with his wide-open style, patience isn't something the talented Busch normally exercises, and he expects to add to Interstate Batteries' history sooner rather than later.

 

The same race-winning chassis from Atlanta will make the rounds this weekend at Texas, but Busch doesn't want to wait to rewrite history. He'd rather add to the legacy of the No. 18 starting this weekend in the shadows of where it all began.