POTTER MAKES BIG STATEMENT AT OXFORD PLAINS SPEEDWAY

NEW ENGLAND DODGE DEALERS 150 WINNER            RANDY   POTTER (center),  SECOND PLACE   JEAN-      PAUL CYR (left), and THIRD PLACE DRIVER JOEY          POLEWARCZYK (right).

Veteran stock car driver Randy Potter made a statement to the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) on Saturday: Potter is back, and he is serious.

After a long absence from the ACT Late Model Tour, the Groveton, NH racer made a triumphant return to full-time competition at Oxford Plains Speedway, earning a convincing victory in the New England Dodge Dealers 150, the first of his ACT career. 

From his outside pole starting position, Potter overtook Eric Williams on the second lap.  The multi-time Riverside Speedway (NH) champion then outdistanced any would-be challengers, including former ACT champions Brian Hoar, Phil Scott, Jean-Paul Cyr, and Mike Rowe.

The opening round of the 2007 ACT Late Model Tour season was slowed by only two caution periods, running 150 laps at a brisk pace of just over 54 minutes.  Potter’s biggest scare came on lap 89 as Glen Luce spun directly in front of him in lapped traffic.  Luce was able to continue without needing a caution flag.

"No way, I had no idea this was going to happen,” said an elated Potter in victory lane, who was celebrating his 40^th birthday.  “We had problems with the driveshaft in the qualifier, but we got it fixed and everything just turned out good.  There are so many good cars in this series, it’s great to race with everyone here.  I look up to Jean-Paul Cyr and Ben Rowe the most out there, and when I put Ben a lap down I radioed to my crew and said ‘I just passed Ben Rowe!’  This is a good day.”

Cyr, the six-time and defending ACT Late Model Tour champion made quick work of traffic in the early laps, making his way from the 19^th starting position.  The Milton, VT driver passed Phil Scott for second place on lap 103, but was unable to reel Potter in during the closing laps.

Hudson, NH teenager Joey “Pole” Polewarczyk, Jr. matched his career-best finish of third place after starting in 24^th place.   Doug Coombs of Livermore, ME was the highest-finishing Oxford Plains Speedway regular in fourth, with David Avery of Lincoln, NH in fifth place.

 Cris Michaud, Mike Rowe, defending OPS champion Travis Adams, Roger Brown, and Ryan Nolin rounded out the top ten finishers in order.

The ACT Late Model Tour’s next event will be the Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl in Barre, VT on Sat./Sun. May 5/6.  For schedules and more information, visit the official ACT website at www.acttour.com