PHOTO: Brad Leighton (#55) makes a four wide move on Brad Babb, Jacob McGrath (#72), and Karl Allard down the backstretch at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which provides great racing for ACT Late Models (Eric LaFleche/VLFPhotos.com photo)

— by T.J. Ingerson
VMM Editor

So, let me get this straight. The ACT Late Models are lame at New Hampshire Motor Speedway because they don’t have enough power due to the crate engine they run. They’re underpowered, boring down the straights, and slow.

But, since when has more power always attribute to better racing? I understand people like seeing 400hp race cars flying down the straightaways, but it doesn’t always make better racing. If that was the case then most support divisions would be unwatchable. It’s an entire package.

ACT Late Models put on two of the best races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2011. It’s the way they have to race. Don’t think they have much acceleration up off the corner? Go to the other end and watch them drive deeper into the corner than any NASCAR Sprint Cup car ever thought of. I don’t care what kind of racing fan you are, that takes skill and will. And that adds to the excitement when a guy can drive it three car lengths deeper than someone, and make it stick.

Ask yourself a question: if power is the key to better racing, then why, in a lot of people’s eyes, is one lap in the ACT Late Model race more exciting than an entire Sprint Cup Series race? See, power isn’t everything and it isn’t the problem.

I get that people like the power and watching the cars accelerate up off the corners. But if I wanted to see who won the race down the straightaway every lap, I’d go watch drag racing. Fans don’t go to watch the Late Models go down the straightaways. Sorry, they just don’t. Fans know that, drivers know that, ACT knows that, New Hampshire Motor Speedway knows that. The corners at New Hampshire are what make the racing so good, and who can carry the speed through the corner. And the speed they carry though the corner sets up some great three and four wide racing down the straights.

But the ACT Late Models are out of their league at New Hampshire Motor Speedway? PUH-LEEZE! That is an absolute childish thing to say, and quite frankly, wrong.

There is nothing wrong with late models at New Hampshire. They put on some of the best shows at New Hampshire. And there is nothing wrong with them going to Sanair Super Speedway. They’ve been there and they’ve done well there. And the crate motor program that, in some eyes, don’t produce enough horsepower, help the close quarters racing.

Yes, Sanair needs some work to the infrastructure and amenities to be adequate to host a race that fans will be able to enjoy if they attend. But those changes have nothing to do with the on track product. The on-track product is good. And they don’t, and won’t, look foolish.

We all have our likes and dislikes in racing. We all have our preferences on what we want to watch and don’t want to watch. Trust me, I have mine too. But to produce a statement that is wrong because you “don’t like it” is also wrong. It’s quite okay that you don’t like it, and that’s why there are other racing choices for you to go to.

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Racing season is not over folks. Wayne Helliwell will be racing the Turkey Derby at Wall Stadium Speedway in Wall, N.J. the day after Thanksgiving during their two-day event. Les Hinckley, Valenti Modified Series runner-up, has also entered the 150-lap Tour-Type Modified feature.

Further down south at Concord Motorsports Park, the PASS Super Late Models host their season finale for their Southern and National Championships. John Donahue will race the Sallie Bolduc-owned Super Late Model. Ben Rowe will look to secure the PASS National Championship.