PHOTO: Ontario’s Jonathan Urlin (#4) is one of the drivers committed to ACT’s first trek to Florida Speedweeks next February. (Leif Tillotson photo)
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — The American-Canadian Tour made it official on Wednesday: The Late Models are headed to Florida.
The Waterbury-based series will hold 100-lap events on consecutive nights at the 45th annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing during Florida Speedweeks. The ACT races will be on Sunday, February 13, and Monday, February 14, during the annual nine-night series.
Vermont Motorsports Magazine first reported the possibility of a mid-winter series for ACT in Florida last month.
“We mentioned to our teams at the end of this past season about the possibilities of a winter trip to Florida, and we have received great response from both sides of the border,” said ACT president Tom Curley in an official release. “This is really the ultimate ‘vacation racing’ for the northern teams.”
ACT said that Hudson, N.H., driver Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., was the first to commit to the trip. Polewarczyk won five ACT-sanctioned events in 2010 including the ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and the Milk Bowl at Thunder Road in Barre.
“Early interest for the event has been very diverse,” said ACT media director Nick Bigelow. “[Over 25] teams have indicated they plan to attend the first-time ACT southern swing.”
Among the entrants are 2010 ACT Castrol Edge Series champion Karl Allard of St-Felicien, Que.; 2010 Lee USA Speedway and ACT Ford Blue Oval Challenge champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr., of Dover, N.H.; two-time defending Oxford 250 winner and NASCAR K&N Pro Series competitor Eddie MacDonald of Rowley, Mass.; former ACT Castrol champion Donald Theetge of Boischatel, Que.; and former IRL Indy Lights standout and ACT competitor Jonathan Urlin of London, Ontario.
Former ACT Late Model Tour and ACT Castrol Edge Series champion Patrick Laperle of St-Denis, Que., has finished second in World Series points in each of the last two years in the Crate Late Model division, a class using cars similar to ACT-type Late Models, but with larger tires and more powerful “crate” engines.
Polewarczyk and ACT competitor Eric Chase of Milton have also competed in the Crate Late Model division at the World Series; Laperle has four career wins at the track, and Chase won a World Series event in 2008.
“Our team is really happy about this opportunity,” Polewarczyk said. “We really enjoyed our trip to [New Smyrna] in the past, and now with our own ACT cars and procedures, racing on that big half-mile should be a great way to jump start the season.”
“For many decades [New Smyrna promoter] Robert Hart has created a great atmosphere for short track fans throughout the country with his World Series event,” said Curley. “ACT is excited to be the latest addition.”