–by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor
WATERBURY — American-Canadian Tour officials announced on Tuesday a new Southern New England Tripleheader for the 2016 stock car racing season.
The three-track, three-race series will take place at the three American-Canadian Tour affiliated tracks in the region: New London-Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford, Conn., Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, Mass., and Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in Thompson, Conn.
The three events will also be point-counting events toward the ACT Late Model Tour championship.
“We had great support from local race teams for the final event at Thompson during the World Series last fall,” ACT President Tom Curley said in a press release issued by the American-Canadian Tour. “The three southern New England tracks have become an important addition to our ACT weekly business model over the past decade.
“This program of three races, tied together with an independent point fund, should be lots of fun to follow for southern New England Late Model fans and teams throughout the 2016 season.”
The three-race series will have a special $7,500 point fund for the local race teams that participate in all three events, as well.
New London-Waterford Speedbowl will host the three-race series kickoff on Saturday, May 21 with a 100-lap event. The track last hosted the American-Canadian Tour in 2010.
The 150-lap event at Seekonk Speedway will go green on Saturday, July 16. The American-Canadian Tour last held an event at the cement palace in August of 2007.
Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park will host the tripleheader finale on Saturday, October 15 during the World Series of Speedway Racing. The event will also mark the season finale for the ACT Late Model Tour.
“We are proud to showcase our Late Model competitors in ACT’s Southern Tripleheader,” Josh Vanada, General Manager of Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, said. “This is a great cooperative effort by all three tracks spearheaded by ACT.
“We are excited to see the impact that this will have on our competition level and on our ACT event at the World Series.”
A full 2016 American-Canadian Tour schedule is expected to be released soon.
(Heather Aube photo)
