ACT Contingency Sponsor Spotlight, Part 2

KONI North America

Since 2004, KONI has been an approved shock absorber for ACT competition. In fact, nearly all of the current ACT Late Model shock rules were developed in partnership with ACT. As part of their agreement, KONI supplies three sets of 30 Series shocks (approx. value $660 per set). One set each is raffled off at the ACT, Thunder Road, and White Mountain banquets to drivers who competed in 100% of the point-counting events.

KONI is the world’s premier manufacturer of high-performance and adjustable shock absorbers. They’ve been in business for more than 150 years and started working with automobile damping systems in 1932. In addition to shocks for race cars and street cars, KONI also makes dampers for trucks, buses, RVs, railway vehicles, and defense applications. They developed the first adjustable shocks and electronic drag racing shocks. KONI North America is based in Hebron, KY. Learn more about them at www.koni-na.com.

KRC Power Steering

KRC is back for a fifth season as an ACT contingency sponsor and decal. At all scheduled ACT Tour point-counting events, the winner receives a $50 merchandise certificate for use on any KRC Power Steering products. The champion earns an additional $100 KRC certificate.

Since its founding in 1997 by Ken Roper, KRC Power Steering has become a leader in power steering and serpentine pulley systems. They design every aspect of their products at the Kennesaw, GA headquarters based on customer feedback. Features of KRC systems include small lightweight housings, maximum flow, and cutting-edge cooling technology. Testing is then done on a Pump Dyno built by a company that makes U.S. fighter jet testing equipment. View all their products at www.krcpower.com.

Longacre Racing Products

From the shop to the track, ACT racers count on Longacre Racing Products to provide the vital information they need. The company has been an official ACT partner since 1989 — making 2021 the 33rd year. This season, the winner of each ACT point-counting event receives a $50 Longacre product certificate. Longacre also does repairs on official ACT series equipment.

Longacre was founded in California by Jack Jaynes in 1978 and moved to Washington in 1987. They specialize in products that deliver information to drivers, whether that’s chassis setup tools or durometers that measure the hardness of a tire. The best-known Longacre product is the Computerscales® system for accurately weighing race cars. Longacre has developed dozens of items that are now considered standard racing equipment, including electronic wheel scales, camber and caster gauges, tire pyrometers, and switch panels. Bookmark www.longacreracing.com and stay up-to-date on the latest equipment.

New England Racing Fuel/Sunoco Race Fuels

For many years, New England Racing Fuel and Sunoco Race Fuels has been the official supplier of White Mountain Motorsports Park. In 2020, they joined the ACT and Thunder Road families, too. Each week, racers can purchase Sunoco 110 spec fuel directly at each track at a great price.

NERF and Sunoco also sponsor multiple contingency awards — most notably the “Sunoco Hard Charger” program. At all ACT Tour point-counting events, a five-gallon pail of Sunoco 110 fuel (est. value $65) is awarded to the driver who A) gains the most spots from their scheduled starting position, and B) has not won an ACT Tour feature during the calendar year. The Thunder Road and White Mountain Flying Tigers also have a 5-gallon Sunoco Hard Charger award at each feature, but with no limits based on wins. At season’s end, the ACT champion will receive certificates for three 54-gallon drums of Sunoco spec fuel, with an additional drum raffled off by blind draw. The track Flying Tiger champions each get a certificate for one drum of Sunoco fuel. Certificates can be redeemed at any authorized Sunoco distributor or dealer.

New England Racing Fuel is an official distributor of Sunoco Race Fuels. They ship industrial drums of fuel to tracks throughout the region and also offer consumer-level quantities for purchase at their Burlington, CT headquarters. Product information is available at www.nerfinc.com along with company apparel, flags, and other swag.

Sunoco Race Fuels is the official fuel of numerous North American motorsports series and sanctioning bodies, including NASCAR, Grand-Am, AMA Pro Road Racing, ARCA, IZOD Indy Car, the Indy Light Series, NHRA, and Trans-Am. They opened their first gas station in 1920 in Ardmore, PA and are now an international refiner of petroleum products. Sunoco developed its first high-octane blends (260 and 280) in 1956 and entered motorsports in 1966 with Roger Penske Racing’s Trans-Am team. Since then, they have become the world’s largest manufacturer of racing gasoline. Learn more at www.sunocoracefuels.com.

QA1 Precision Products, Inc.

In 2019, ACT Late Model competitors were given another option when purchasing shocks. That year, the QA1 63 Series non-rebuildable 9-inch shock was approved for ACT Tour and weekly Late Model competition. Since then, QA1 has provided three sets of 63 series shocks (approx. value $800 per set) — one each for the ACT, Thunder Road, and White Mountain banquets. One set each is awarded via blind draw to a competitor who competed in 100% of the point-counting events for their division or series.

QA1 has operated since 1993 following a simple principle: vehicles are meant to be driven. This Lakeville, MN–based company specializes in suspension components, drive shafts, and rod ends for an assortment of vehicles. QA1 products can be found everywhere from high-level circle track and drag racing cars to restored muscle cars. The parts look just as impressive to make your ride a real showstopper. Visit www.qa1.net to learn about the latest shocks, carbon fiber driveshafts, ball joints, springs, and other components.

Quarter Master Products

Quarter Master is another long-standing ACT partner — their products have been approved for ACT competition since 2005. As part of their official product status, Quarter Master makes a contribution to the ACT point fund. Drivers must run the approved products and the Quartermaster decals throughout the season to receive point fund money.

Quarter Master was founded in 1958 and takes the name from its origins as a company that manufactured drag racing chassis. Founder Ed Stoffels, a professional racer and machinist, soon moved into other motorsports fields. Quarter Masters was one of the first U.S. companies to produce European-style multi-plate clutches in the early 1970. Their product line has expanded to include bell housings, driveshafts, flywheels, gears, and starters for circle track applications. Quarter Master also manufactures clutches for sprint racing, karts, and motorcycles through the Tomar Racing Clutches brand. They’re involved at all levels of NASCAR and sponsor many other regional auto racing series. Shop for your next performance parts at www.quartermasterusa.com.

Racing Communications

Racing Communications enters its second year as the official radios of ACT. As part of its partnership, Racing Communications awards up to $100 in merchandise cards at each ACT point-counting event. A $50 card goes to the winner, $25 to the 7th-place finisher, $15 to highest finisher who hasn’t won an ACT feature in the current season, and $10 to the first non-qualifier — i.e. the highest finisher in the B-feature (if held) that doesn’t transfer to the main event. Drivers are limited to three Racing Communications awards per season. The company also awards $25 merchandise cards to the winners of the Vermont Governor’s Cup (Thunder Road) and the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup (White Mountain Motorsports Park).

Racing Communications supplies two-way radios, headsets, intercom systems, scanners, helmets, and many other products for race teams and tracks. They also service existing radios either at the track or via shipping. The company was founded in 2009 by Bill Callen, a longtime employee and official of tracks throughout the region. Bill attends dozens of events throughout the year to connect directly with those who trust his services. Get up to speed with Racing Communications at www.racingcommunications.com.

Tilton Racing

Tilton is one of the newest members of the ACT racing family. Their decals first adorned ACT Late Model Tour cars in 2019; now, the Tilton program extends to the Thunder Road and White Mountain weekly Late Model classes. The 3rd-place finisher in all point-counting Late Model features — nearly 50 in total between the three divisions — receives a $25 Tilton merchandise certificate. The 3rd-place points finishers will each be awarded a $100 product certificate.

As part of Tilton Engineering, the Tilton Racing division produces a wide range of performance driveline and brake parts, in-cockpit controls and starter motors. Tilton Racing was founded in 1972 in El Segundo, CA by McLane “Mac” and Adelle Tilton. Prior to launching his company, Mac was the crew chief for Brock Racing Enterprises when they won the 1971 and 1972 Trans-Am championships. Their selection of products includes clutches, flywheels, bell housings, master brake cylinders, and pedals. Tilton developed the first carbon/carbon clutch used in Formula 1 and is responsible for many other innovations that are now considered commonplace among racers. View their full line of racing components at www.tiltonracing.com.

VDL Fuel Systems

VDL is another relatively new member of ACT. They joined in 2019 as the official fuel systems of ACT. VDL makes a contribution to the season-ending point fund, and drivers must display their decals throughout the season to be eligible for point fund awards.

VDL Fuel Systems believes in making race cars faster one carburetor at a time. Founder Dan VanderLey has spent most of his life working as an engine builder for ventures such as VanderLey Racing Engines, Pontiac, Champion Motorsports, and Gibbs Racing. He also collaborated with the late Smokey Yunick as a tech writer for Circle Track Magazine. VDL recently moved to Mooresville, NC after 22 years in  of Theodore, AL, where it continues to build carburetors that meet unique customer needs and specifications. They’re also an authorized modifier of Holley Performance carburetors. Learn more about the VDL story at www.vdlfuelsystems.com.