@ACTTour • @AmericanRacerIn • @OPSpeedway • WATERBURY, VT – The American Racer Three Star program will continue in 2016. The program is designed to recognize three teams in no particular order of performance that had outstanding races at ACT US tour events.
There are no specific criteria for deciding who might receive the award of a free American Racer Tire (value $125.00), but a special effort by a team, exceptional race, just plain old hard luck, or other accepted reason to give the award is used to decide the recipients.
The three stars are chosen by officials and they will receive certificates for use of a free American Racer tire at a future Tour race of their choosing during 2016.
The awarding of the stars does not allow for anybody in the top three to receive the recognition. That being said, both eventual winner Bobby Therrien, and second place competitor Roland Robinson, JR certainly deserve credit for their outstanding and sometimes dominant runs at OPS. There efforts at Oxford certainly made for some speculation from the “rail-birds” at what kind of exciting season the 2016 year will be. Big congratulations to both teams for what was first class efforts.
OXFORD PLAINS SPEEDWAY
ACT 100
Scott Dragon, Milton, VT- 16VT— Scott Dragon brought the Richard Green Trucking Chevrolet to life about mid-way through the 100 lap event at Oxford and started an impressive charge toward the front of the field. From his 17th starting position, Scott brought the Joey Becker prepared machine to the outside and ran to a solid 5th place finish. He did the same thing at the Thunder Road opener a year ago, and it looks like the team is ready for the 2016 season either at select touring events, or weekly at his home track, Thunder Road. Becker is known for being a remarkable fabricator and craftsman, as well as a winning driver in the past. With his partnership now with Richard Green and Scott Dragon, the “good time team” looks ready to make some stops in victory lane. For the great opening day effort, the 16VT team with Scott Dragon aboard are deserving of an American Racer Star award at Oxford.
Raymond Christian, Norwich, CT – 93CT, — It is always fun to watch opening day to see who will show up for the first event of the year. There are generally some surprises. There was no greater surprise than the winner of the second American Racer Star pick at Oxford last Sunday. Driving out of Norwich, CT, Raymond Christian and his team came to uncharted waters! Never had been to an ACT event; never had driven the car recently acquired; never been to Oxford Plains Speedway, which is arguably one of the more difficult tracks to set up for with its unique flat and round configuration, and reverse camber front stretch. The team did not have much success with practice sessions. They did not qualify in the heats. They started the feature in the 24th position. There were only three cautions that gathered the field during the event, and yet, Christian brought his ride home to an impressive top ten finish (8th) in front of some early season favorites like Brad Babb, Nick Sweet, Dillon Moltz and Emily Packard. The crew had much to celebrate following their first ever ACT event. Certainly a first time ride from 24th to 8th at Oxford is deserving of a Star of the Race award. Congratulations to the Norwich, CT based team.
Robert Pelland, Cranston, RI – 12RI— For a number of the past few years, Robert Pelland has brought his team to LEE USA for the season opening ACT New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150. The Seekonk Speedway race team has always displayed the attitude and passion that makes short track racing successful. Following practice things did not look good for the Rhode Island team. They missed the call because of a broken clutch master. However, the team kept a positive attitude, went to work trying to fix things to get ready for a qualifying effort, and got into the consolation race in time to get a qualified spot in the 100 lap feature. They were the final car to qualify through the consolation race. They started in the 26th position on the grid. Some might not think a 17th place finish was much of an achievement, but with the adversity facing the Pelland team just to get into the 100 lapper, and completing the full 100 laps after the day they started out with, the third Star is being awarded to a team that would not quit, kept a positive attitude, and finished the day with a respectable complete race at Oxford. Congratulations to the 12RI team for their effort and attitude. A well-deserved American Racer Star of the Race award.
For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963, or visit media@acttour.com, acttour.com, or thunderroadspeedbowl.com.
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