Epping, NH – Hudson, NH’s Joey Polewarczyk Jr. put on a clinic in the second half of the Dream Ride 150 to capture his 20th ACT Late Model Tour win at Epping, NH’s Star Speedway on Saturday, June 29. “Joey Pole” took the lead from Plainfield, NH’s Rich Dubeau on lap 91 and smoked the field down the stretch to take the $5,000 top prize in the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Summer Kickoff Series finale.

The win was notable on several levels beyond the prize money. Polewarzcyk broke a tie with Jean-Paul Cyr and Patrick Laperle to move into sole possession of second on the all-time ACT Late Model Tour winner’s list. He also became the sixth different winner in six point-counting events this year.

Polewarczyk started on the outside pole alongside Dover, NH’s Wayne Helliwell Jr., but soon surrendered that spot to E. Bridgewater, MA’s Ryan Kuhn as Helliwell set the pace. A lap-7 incident where Christopher Pelkey and Jonathan Bouvrette got together battling for the fourth spot – and Claude Leclerc paid the price – scrambled the running order early and allowed Plainfield, NH’s Rich Dubeau to quickly move up from the 10th starting spot.

Dubeau was up to third when the third caution flew on lap 19 for Bouvrette’s second incident and took the runner-up spot on the restart. He was starting to put the pressure on for the lead when Helliwell’s rear end failed on the 31st circuit, handing the lead to Dubeau and the number-two spot back to Polewarczyk.

The fourth and ultimately final caution came out two laps later for Reilly Lanphear’s spin. Dubeau pulled away initially following the restart. But the longer the green-flag run went, the stronger Polewarczyk got. The 2014 champion began stalking Dubeau in earnest as the duo worked lapped traffic near the halfway mark. After 20 laps of testing the waters, Polewarczyk swung to the high line and took the lead from Dubeau as they completed the 91st lap.

It was game-on for Polewarczyk from there. As the rest of the field began to slip and slide on worn tires, Polewarczyk stayed true, eventually drawing out to nearly a half-track lead. Despite needing to ease up some in slower traffic over the final circuits, Polewarczyk cruised to the win. He became the first repeat ACT winner at Star Speedway after also winning at the Tour’s last visit in 2013.

Dubeau finished second to unofficially retake the American-Canadian Tour points lead. Kuhn, a Tour rookie, was strong all night and earned his first ACT podium finish with a third-place result. Blainville, QC’s Bouvrette charged through the field after his early incidents to take fourth. Newmarket, NH’s Bryan Kruczek rounded out the top-5.

Another rookie, Carver, MA’s Trent Goodrow, had by far his best career ACT effort and finished sixth. Two-time defending ACT Champion Scott Payea of Colchester, VT was the last driver on the lead lap in seventh. Hampstead, NH’s Erick Sands was the highest-finishing local in eighth. Williamstown, VT’s Jimmy Hebert and Blainville, QC’s Mathieu Kingsbury completed the top-10.

The ACT Late Model Tour now heads into its summer break. The cars and stars of the Northeast will heat up once again for the $10,000-to-win Midsummer 250 at N. Woodstock, NH’s White Mountain Motorsports Park on Saturday, August 3. Post time is 6:00pm.

ACT LATE MODEL TOUR

DREAM RIDE 150

STAR SPEEDWAY

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

Pos., Start Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown, Laps

1. ( 2 ) Joey Polewarczyk ( 97NH ) , Hudson, NH , 150 Laps

2. ( 10 ) Rich Dubeau ( 30NH ) , Plainfield, NH , 150 Laps

3. ( 3 ) #Ryan Kuhn ( 72MA ) , E. Bridgewater, MA , 150 Laps

4. ( 5 ) Jonathan Bouvrette ( 41QC ) , Blainville, QC , 150 Laps

5. ( 13 ) Bryan Kruczek ( 19NH ) , Newmarket, NH , 150 Laps

6. ( 8 ) #Trent Goodrow ( 31MA ) , Carver, MA , 150 Laps

7. ( 12 ) Scott Payea ( 37VT ) , Colchester, VT , 150 Laps