Record Purse Posted for International 500
Posted By Tj Ingerson On March 6, 2013
Categories: Airborne | American-Canadian Tour
PHOTO: Jean-Francois Dery (#21) and Brian Hoar (#37) are two drivers that will contend for a record purse at the International 500 at Airborne Speedway. (Alan Ward photo)
Late Model purse set at more than $140,000; Modifieds to race for $21,000-plus
--by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- American-Canadian Tour officials have announced that the International 500 purse will exceed $140,000, with the race winner taking home a minimum guarantee of $25,000, making it the richest event in the American-Canadian Tour’s 28-year history.
The two-day event is scheduled to take place at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, N.Y. The 500-lap event will consist of the $25,000-to-win Late Model 300, which will be broken up into three 100-lap segments, a $3,000-to-win 100-lap Late Model reserve feature, and a $3,000-to-win 100-lap DIRTcar Modified feature. Additional support divisions are expected to compete as well.
“I’m extremely excited to have a race of this magnitude (at Airborne),” Airborne Speedway promoter Mike Perrotte stated in an ACT press release. “It will be without a doubt the biggest event ever at Airborne Speedway.
“It’s going to be a huge event.”
The inaugural International 500 will feature drivers throughout the northeastern part of the United States and eastern Canada. Series champions Brian Hoar, Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Patrick Laperle, Jean-Paul Cyr, and Donald Theetge are expected to vie for the winner’s purse.
“We will definitely be going for it,” Hoar stated in the ACT press release. “I’ve had a lot of success at Airborne over the years; I really love it there. Hopefully we can tune it right, lead a lot of laps, and lead the most important one too.”
Jean-Francois Dery, Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Brent Dragon, Ray Parent, Dany Trepanier, Alex Labbe, and other front running drivers are also expected to contend in the Late Model 300.
“Without hesitation, the International 500 is the race of the year!” Dery stated in the ACT press release.
The $21,000-plus purse for the Airborne Modified division is expected to bring top Modified drivers from around the region to Airborne. The 100-lap event is expected to feature Airborne champions Todd Stone and Patrick Dupree, as well as front runners Patrice McGrail, George Foley, Aaron Bartemy, and others.
The ACT International 500 is set for Saturday and Sunday, July 20 and 21.