BEN ROWE WINS $10,000 IN ACTION SUPER SERIES AT SANAIR
Sunday, July 09 2006 @ 09:15 PM EDT
Contributed by: ACT Staff
Turner, Maine’s Ben Rowe scored big Sunday in his first trip to Quebec’s Sanair Super Speedway, St. Pie, Quebec by claiming the American-Canadian Tour’s (ACT) $10,000 to win Late Model stock car Mega Classique. The event, the first of three in the ACTion Super Series this year, was contested in a unique three-segment format where drivers earn points based on their finishes in three 50-lap races. 
(PHOTO BELOW RIGHT: An ecstatic Ben Rowe exits his race car a his crew converges on victory lane)
Drivers representing all six New England states, New York and two Canadian provinces participated in the event; the first to combine the U.S. based ACT and Quebec’s Serie Castrol. The enticement of big money, a huge caqr count and many of the regional top drivers caused brought the fans turned out in droves to witness the biggest Late Model stock car car race in the history of Quebec stock car racing.
Rowe posted the lowest cumulative score (12) for the $10,000 top prize. Ryan Nolin from Georgia, VT was second with 22 points and Montpelier, Vermont’s Dave Pembroke was third with 24. Rounding out the top five were Donald Theetge from Boischatel, Qc (30 points) and Patrick Laperle of St. Denis, Qc (31). 
Forty-three of the 64 cars that attempted to qualify started the event at the 7/8ths mile tri-oval. (PHOTO LEFT: Champagne showers were the name of the game as the top three finishers in the Mega Classique ACTion Super Series opener celebrated their efforts on the Victory Lane podium. left to right - 2nd place Ryan Nolin, winner Ben Rowe and third place David Pembroke)
Laperle handily won the first segment from his pole starting position to earn one point and lead the event heading into the second portion. Five-time and defending ACT Tour Champion, Jean-Paul Cyr from Milton, VT was second to Laperle to earn two points. Scott Dragon, Theetge and Rowe completed the top five in the first segment.
To start the second segment, the finish of the first 50-lapper was inverted which meant that Laperle had to come from the 43rd post position. Laperle began his march from the back of the pack at the drop of the green flag hoping to score his second consecutive ACTion Super Series victory. The veteran Quebec racer won last October’s New England Dodge Dealers Milk Bowl at Thunder Road Speedbowl, Barre, VT. In that event he also scored a pay day of more than $10,000. 
(PHOTO BELOW RIGHT: Patrick Laperle leads the pack down Sanair's long, wide front stretch)
A horrific crash exiting Sanair’s back stretch dogleg on the 15th circuit eliminated many top contenders including Cyr as well as fellow Vermont racers, Phil Scott, Brent Dragon, and Scott Dragon. Top Quebec competitors Mike Lavoie and Marc Cliché were also involved. No one was injured in the multi-car pileup.
Andre Beaudoin from St Augustine, Qc won the second segment with Rowe and Laperle on his bumper. Outside polesitter Allard was fourth and Nolin completed the top five. Laperle’s combined score of four points put him in the lead following two segments with Rowe in second with seven points. Nolin’s 15 points placed him in third. To start the third and final 50 lapper, Laperle, Rowe and Nolin would all have to come from the back once again.
Dennis Botticello from Suffield, CT started on the pole and led much of the race. He dueled back and forth with Theetge and Cyr, who had made repairs to his car in time for the third segment. Laperle knew that to win the $10,000 Mega Classique he had to keep Rowe within a couple of positions. Conversely, Rowe knew he had to finish a minimum of three spots ahead of Laperle to take the money back to the Pine Tree State. Rowe and Laperle sliced through the field as one with Rowe unable to gain the distance between himself and Laperle that he needed for victory. 
(PHOTO AT LEFT: Phil Scott and Jean-Paul Cyr wait for wrecker service following the devastating second segement wreck. Cyr returned to competitition for the final go while Scott retired for the race).
That was, until the 37th circuit when Laperle’s car sputtered as it crossed the start/finish line, the victim of an apparent ignition failure. He was able to pit for repairs, but lost several laps to the field. Rowe went on to finish 5th which earned him the lowest total score and the $10,000.
Eventual runner-up Nolin had one of the most impressive runs of the day. The sophomore racer spun on the second lap in the third turn of the final segment. He quickly spun his car around and set off at a breakneck pace to try and catch the field. A caution on the 17th lap for a first turn spin allowed Nolin to close ranks. He fought his way to a seventh place finish which secured the runner-up spot for him.
Rounding out the top ten positions in the Mega Classique were Claude Leclerc from Lavaltrie, Qc in sixth (34 points), Jean-Paul Cyr recovered for seventh (37), Farmingdale, Maine’s Johnny Clark (38), Robbie Thomson from Fergus, ONT (38) and Alexandre Gingras of St Lambert, Qc (40).
The ACT Tour competitors have their next race event on Tuesday, July 18 with the completion of Re/Max100 at New Hampshire’s Lee USA Speedway. Post time is 6:00 pm.
| ACT LATE MODEL TOUR |
|
| RACE #4 - LE
MEGA CLASSIQUE - ACTion Super Series Event #1 |
|
| SANAIR
SUPERSPEEDWAY - July 9, 2006 |
|
| Overall finish
based on combined finishes of (3) 50 lap segments |
|
| FIN
POS |
STR POS |
CAR # |
DRIVER |
HOMETOWN |
CAR |
| 1. |
(4) |
00 |
Ben Rowe |
Turner, ME |
Dodge |
| 2. |
(19) |
78 |
Ryan Nolin |
Georgia, VT |
Chevrolet |
| 3. |
(7) |
52 |
Dave Pembroke |
Montpelier, VT |
Chevrolet |
| 4. |
(17) |
80q |
Donald Theetge |
Boischatel, Que |
Chevrolet |
| 5. |
(1) |
72 |
Patrick Laperle |
St.Denis, Que |
Chevrolet |
| 6. |
(20) |
11q |
Claude Leclerc |
Lanoraie, Que |
Chevrolet |
| 7. |
(3) |
32 |
Jean Paul Cyr |
Milton, VT |
Chevrolet |
| 8. |
(30) |
0 |
Johnny Clark |
Farmingdale, ME |
Chevrolet |
| 9. |
(26) |
91 |
Robbie Thompson |
So. Hampton, Ont. |
Dodge |
| 10. |
(9) |
27q |
Alexandre Gingras |
St Lambert, Que |
Chevrolet |
| 11. |
(11) |
94 |
Joey Polewarczyk
Jr. |
Hudson, NH |
Chevrolet |
| 12. |
(32) |
29 |
Mark Lamberton |
Mooers Forks, NY |
Chevrolet |
| 13. |
(24) |
03 |
Dennis Botticello |
Suffield, CT |
Chevrolet |
| 14. |
(29) |
06 |
Ron Henry |
New Gloucester, ME |
Chevrolet |
| 15. |
(12) |
5q |
Andre Coursol |
St Jerome, Que |
Chevrolet |
| 16. |
(22) |
89 |
Scott Payea |
Milton, VT |
Ford |
| 17. |
(25) |
48q |
Andre Beaudoin |
St. Augustin, Que |
Dodge |
| 18. |
(15) |
3q |
Sylvain Lacombe |
Terrebonne, Que |
Chevrolet |
| 19. |
(31) |
18 |
Jamie Fisher |
Shelburne, VT |
Chevrolet |
| 20. |
(21) |
37q |
Marc Begin |
St Philibert, Que |
Chevrolet |
| 21. |
(27) |
99 |
Roger Brown II |
Lancaster, NH |
Ford |
| 22. |
(18) |
66q |
Simon Roussin |
Quebec, Que |
Chevrolet |
| 23. |
(23) |
71 |
Ryan Vanasse |
Warwick, RI |
Chevrolet |
| 24. |
(8) |
35q |
Karl Allard |
St. Felicien, Que |
Dodge |
| 25. |
(13) |
21q |
Jean-Francois Dery |
Val Belair, Que |
Pontiac |
| 26. |
(39) |
7q |
Daniel Bergeron |
St Benoit, Que |
Pontiac |
| 27. |
(16) |
86 |
Mike Rowe |
Turner, ME |
Chevrolet |
| 28. |
(42) |
97q |
Jacque Poulin |
East Broughton, Que |
Chevrolet |
| 29. |
(35) |
9q |
Yvon Bedard |
St. Nickolas |
Chevrolet |
| 30. |
(2) |
70 |
Scott Dragon |
Colchester, VT |
Pontiac |
| 31. |
(6) |
55 |
Brent Dragon |
Milton, VT |
Dodge |
| 32. |
(10) |
14 |
Phil Scott |
Middlesex, VT |
Ford |
| 33. |
(40) |
02q |
Stephan Legault |
Chateauguay, Que |
Ford |
| 34. |
(28) |
10q |
Mike Lavoie |
Chiquitimi, Que |
Ford |
| 35. |
(37) |
68 |
A.J. Begin |
Merrimac, MA |
Chevrolet |
| 36. |
(34) |
8q |
Marc Andre Cliché |
Vallee Junction, Que |
Chevrolet |
| 37. |
(5) |
26 |
John Donahue |
Graniteville, VT |
Dodge |
| 38. |
(43) |
12 |
Steve Reny |
Boothbay, ME |
Chevrolet |
| 39. |
(41) |
24 |
Steve Fisher |
Shelburne, VT |
Dodge |
| 40. |
(33) |
28q |
Danny Ouellet |
La Pocatiere, Que |
Dodge |
| 41. |
(36) |
75 |
Pete Fecteau |
Morrisville, VT |
Pontiac |
| 42. |
(38) |
74 |
Jacob McGrath |
N. Clarendon, VT |
Dodge |
| 43. |
(14) |
98 |
Rick Rump |
Ottawa, Ont |
Chevrolet |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ACT LATE MODEL TOUR - OFFICIAL POINTS |
| AFTER RACE #4 - LE MEGA CLASSIQUE |
| SANAIR SUPERSPEEDWAY -
July 9, 2006 |
| POS |
CAR # |
DRIVER |
PTS |
HOMETOWN |
TEAM |
| 1 |
32 |
Jean Paul Cyr |
398 |
Milton, VT |
Ehlers R.V./Sticks N Stuff/Four
Season Real Estate Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 2 |
52 |
Dave Pembroke |
338 |
Montpelier, VT |
TREN Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 3 |
78 |
Ryan Nolin |
325 |
Georgia, VT |
Mountain Air Systems/Subway of
Milton,VT Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 4 |
29 |
Mark Lamberton |
313 |
Mooers Forks, NY |
Jeffords Steel/Dragoon Farm
Eq/Sound Obsession Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 5 |
89 |
Scott Payea |
310 |
Milton, VT |
AC Sports/Wendell's
Furniture/Newman Assoc. Ford Fusion |
| 6 |
55 |
Brent Dragon |
295 |
Milton, VT |
Kinney Drugs/Furniture
World/Beverage Mart Dodge Charger |
| 7 |
97 |
Joey Polewarczyk Jr. |
288 |
Hudson, NH |
Pole's Automotive Chevrolet
Monte Carlo |
| 8 |
99 |
Roger Brown II |
268 |
Lancaster, NH |
Roger Brown Trucking/Central
Asphalt Paving Ford Fusion |
| 9 |
10 |
Ben Rowe |
256 |
Turner, ME |
White Mtn Mtrsprt Park/Avery's
Sweeping Dodge Charger |
| 10 |
05 |
Ron Henry |
238 |
New Gloucester, ME |
Wayne Excav Inc./RTA Agg
Inc./Ron's Small Engine Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 11 |
18 |
Jamie Fisher |
234 |
Shelburne, VT |
S.D. Ireland Brothers Chevrolet
Monte Carlo |
| 12 |
66 |
A.J. Begin |
225 |
Merrimac, MA |
HillCrest Chev/Atlantic
Customs/M.Gainey Masonry Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 13 |
14 |
Phil Scott |
219 |
Middlesex, VT |
Scott Motorsports Ford Fusion |
| 14 |
15 |
Joey Laquerre |
216 |
E. Montpelier, VT |
Laquerre Motorsports Pontiac
Grand Prix |
| 15 |
96 |
Fred LaGoy |
213 |
Morrisonville, NY |
Jeffords Steel/Adirondack
Welding/Dick's Cstmz'g Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
|
16 |
Joey Becker |
213 |
Jeffersonville, VT |
Richard Green Trucking Ford
Fusion |
| 17 |
24 |
Steve Fisher |
210 |
Shelburne, VT |
Days Inn/Vergennes Building
Supply/Old Shed Dodge Charger |
| 18 |
11 |
Ryan Vanasse |
202 |
Warwick, RI |
Team V Transport Chevrolet Monte
Carlo |
| 19 |
82 |
Bobby Baillargeon |
201 |
Nottingham, NH |
Homes For No Money Down.com
Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 20 |
12 |
Steve Reny |
199 |
Boothbay, ME |
Cusick Plumb'g/Shore Hills
Campgrd/Reny Const. Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 21 |
11q |
Claude Leclerc |
189 |
Lanoraie, Que |
NAPA Autopro/Garage Claude
Leclerc Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 22 |
27 |
Marc Curtis Jr. |
185 |
Worcester, MA |
Merriam-Graves/Curtis Snowplows
Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 23 |
03 |
Dennis Botticello |
181 |
Suffield, CT |
Northeastern Sheet Metal/Fearn
Electric, Inc. Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 24 |
40 |
Eric Chase |
176 |
Milton, VT |
G. Clay Bldrs/Chicken
Charlies/Mansfield Heliflight Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 25 |
80q |
Donald Theetge |
174 |
Boischatel, Que |
Castrol/PGO Scooters Chevrolet
Monte Carlo |
| 26 |
91 |
Patrick Laperle |
151 |
St.Denis, Que |
Laperle Motorsports Chevrolet
Monte Carlo |
| 27 |
08 |
Mike Collins |
140 |
Strafford, NH |
Advanced Car Crushing/Northwood
Power Equip. Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| 28 |
1 |
Mark Anzalone Jr. |
122 |
Malden, MA |
Nickole Autobody Chevrolet Monte
Carlo |
| 29 |
3q |
Sylvain Lacombe |
119 |
Terrebonne, Que |
Demolition R. Lacombe Chevrolet
Monte Carlo |
| 30 |
75 |
Pete Fecteau |
115 |
Morrisville, VT |
Riverview Garage/Fecteau Homes
Pontiac Grand Prix |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACT
http://www.acttour.com/article.php/20060709211501789