ACT, Thunder Road Bolster Staff for 2013
Posted By Tj Ingerson On March 27, 2013
Categories: American-Canadian Tour | Thunder Road
PHOTO: Derek Lynch is one of many hires made by the American-Canadian Tour this offseason to bolster its staff across its three entities. Lynch will be the Chief Steward for the ACT Castrol Series in 2013. (Eric LaFleche/VLFPhotos.com photo)
--by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor
WATERBURY, Vt. -- American-Canadian Tour officials announced on Wednesday the hiring of several new officials for the ACT United States Late Model Tour, Quebec-based ACT Castrol Series, and Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl in Barre, Vt.
“The time has come to bring in the best quality people to succeed over our foreseeable future,” ACT President Tom Curley stated in an ACT press release. “The addition of the Castrol officials and Dean’s (Gallison) appointees will certainly send the message to competitors that we are bringing in knowledgeable people to assist them in their racing and competitive needs.”
Former Kawartha Speedway manager Derek Lynch has joined the ACT Castrol Series as Chief Steward. Lynch, of Warkworth, Ont., is Curley’s son-in-law and helped bring ACT to Kawartha Speedway in the mid-2000s. Lynch won the 1994 Oxford 250.
“I think the Castrol Series is much like Kawartha,” Lynch stated in an ACT press release. “These teams are professional operations, and it’s going to be fun to work with guys doing this at such a high level.
“There are a lot of guys leading the charge that I’ve had the pleasure of racing with over the last few years, but what really stands out for me is the young talent on this tour. There is a great veteran presence, but there is also a talented group of young guys starting to make a name for themselves. I think that’s critical. I can’t wait to get started.”
Dave Brown will follow Lynch from Kawartha to the ACT Castrol Series, where he will preside as Chief Technical Inspector. Brown, also from Ontario, was previously the Head Technical Inspector at Kawartha. Also joining Brown and Lynch will be long-time chassis builder Tom Kenyon. Kenyon, according to the release, will service as an official on the ACT Castrol Series.
John Hulburd and Randy Varney have joined the ACT US Late Model Tour as officials for the 2013 season. Hulburd previously flagged at Catamount Stadium and has continued to do so for the American-Canadian Tour on a part-time basis over the past few seasons. Hulburd will be an occasional race director for the ACT US Late Models.
Varney, the previous Director of Competition at Oxford Plains Speedway, will join the ACT full-time staff. Varney has assisted ACT part-time for many years at and away from Oxford, including the ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Thunder Road has strengthened its technical inspection staff with the appointment of Chuck Beede and Jamie MacAskill.
Beede is a mulit-time Thunder Road champion and will become the Steward and Chief Technical Inspector for the Tiger Sportsman division. MacAskill, a championship winning crew chief in the Street Stock division, will join long-time Street Stock head man Sonny Barney as a technical inspector for the Street Stocks.
Jamie Parker and Mike Renaud will rejoin the Thunder Road staff in 2013. Parker, of Barre, will oversee the tires for various divisions. Renaud has previously flagged at Thunder Road and on the American-Canadian Tour.
The American-Canadian Tour season will start on Sunday, April 14 at Lee USA Speedway with the running of the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150. Thunder Road’s 54th season will kick off on Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29 with the 15th running of the Merchants Bank 150 American-Canadian Tour event. The ACT Castrol Series will begin its 11-race championship season on Saturday, May 25 at Autodrome Montmagny.