Welch, Hebert to Lead Eighth Bond Auto ACT Invitational to Green

–by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor

LOUDON, N.H. – Kyle Welch and Jimmy Hebert will lead the 41-car American-Canadian Tour field to green for the eighth Bond Auto Parts ACT Invitational.

Welch, of Newport, N.H., was excited to start on the front row but was quick to point out an early challenge.

“A day like today at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, it’s exciting to be the polesitter,” Welch said. We got a lot of work to do on the car and it’s not where we want to be. We’d rather be second. You’d rather be on the outside. But I got all day to think how I’m going to approach turn one.

“But, you want the outside to carry that momentum down the backstretch.”

Welch will make his fourth start in the race. His career best finish is 37th.

For Hebert, of Williamstown, Vt., it’s been a great week. He became a new father on Tuesday with fiancée Taylor.

“It definitely takes some pressure off, but it also puts some back on,” Hebert said. “You know they’re coming and you have to save your stuff. Usually it’s three and four wide and we’re bouncing off each other. We don’t have to work as much this way.

“It’s definitely been an awesome week. It’s been a life changing one and one that I’ll remember.”

Former ACT Invitational top-five finisher John Donahue of Graniteville, Vt. will start third with two-time ACT Late Model Tour race winner Bobby Therrien of Hinesburg, Vt., will start fourth. Former Speedway 51 champion Jeff Marshall of Guildhall, Vt., will complete the top-five starters.

ACT Late Model Tour rookie of the year contender Ryan Olsen will start sixth while Thunder Road Memorial Day Classic race winner Tyler Cahoon will start seventh. White Mountain Motorsports Park champion Quinny Welch, Chris Riendeau, and Devil’s Bowl Speedway Late Model champion Josh Masterson complete the top-ten starters.

Four-time ACT Invitational race winner Eddie MacDonald will start 32nd while 2010 race winner Joey Polewarczyk Jr. will start 28th. 2012 race winner Ray Parent will roll off from the 25th starting spot.

ACT Late Model Tour point leader Nick Sweet will start 29th. Serie ACT champion Patrick Laperle will start 23rd.

Jean-Francois Dery had a motor problem during practice and the team is working on changing it. He is slated to start 24th. Fellow former Serie ACT champion Donald Theetge also had a motor issue and stated his intention to withdraw, but is now attempting to change the motor and will start last on the field.

The Bond Auto Parts ACT Invitational is set to go green at 5:00pm.

STARTING LINEUP – Bond Auto Parts ACT Invitational
American-Canadian Tour
New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H.
Saturday, September 24, 2016

Pos.-Driver-Hometown

1. Kyle Welch, Newport, N.H.
2. Jimmy Hebert, Williamstown, Vt.
3. John Donahue, Graniteville, Vt.
4. Bobby Therrien, Hinesburg, Vt.
5. Jeff Marshall, Guildhall, Vt.
6. Ryan Olsen, North Haverhill, N.H.
7. Tyler Cahoon, St. Johnsbury, Vt.
8. Quinny Welch, Lancaster, N.H.
9. Chris Riendeau, Ascutney, Vt.
10. Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.
11. Ray Christian III, Norwich, Conn.
12. Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn.
13. Tom Carey III, New Salem, Mass.
14. Matt Anderson, Franklin, N.H.
15. Rowland Robinson Jr., Steuben, Maine
16. Brian Tagg, Oxford, Mass.
17. Aaron Fellows, Croydon, N.H.
18. Mike Ziter, Barre, Vt.
19. Adam Gray, Granby, Mass.
20. Bucky Demers, Cornish, N.H.
21. Dany Trepanier, St-Edouard, Que.
22. Brad Babb, Windham, Maine
23. Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, Que.
24. Jean-Francois Dery, Quebec, Que.
25. Ray Parent, Tiverton, R.I.
26. Dillon Moltz, Waterford, Conn.
27. Jonathan Bouvrette, Blainville, Que.
28. Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, N.H.
29. Nick Sweet, Barre, Vt.
30. Alex Labbe, St-Albert, Que.
31. Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass.
32. Ricky Roberts, Washington, Vt.
33. Brian Tarbell, Springfield, Vt.
34. Jean-Pierre Ouimet, Terrebonne, Que.
35. Mark Jenison, Warwick, R.I.
36. Jimmy Zullo II, Claremont, N.H.
37. Jimmy Linardy, Somerville, Mass.
38. Simon Rousisn, Quebec, Que.
39. Joel Monahan, Whatley, Mass.
40. Patrick Cliché, Levis, Que.
41. Donald Theetge, Boischatel, Que.

PHOTO: Kyle Welch pulls chip number one from the bag and will start on the pole position for the Bond Auto Parts ACT Invitational. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo)