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VLFRacing's
 
2008
Late Model pre-season
predictions


1-   44VT Dave Pembroke
It’s hard to beat consistency.  Dave quietly took the championship last
year, and it seems hard to believe he doesn't have the tools to do so
again.  Pembroke's crew seems on top of their game right now.



2-   
16 Joe Becker
It’s great to see another star that came from the entry-level divisions at
Thunder Road.  Joey has matured as a driver and has become a force to
be reckoned with.  They are another consistent team that has
themselves in the hunt at the end of the season.  Has the best chance of
dethroning Pembroke for “King of the Road”.



3-  
 18 Jamie Fisher
The Hurricane had lost a step or two in the last few years, but stepped it
back up a notch in '07.  If he can return to form, the SD Ireland car will
threaten to become King of the Road again, but may fall just short in '08.



4-   
9VT Chip Grenier
A great rookie season for this driver in '07 puts a lot of pressure to
perform in '08.  Chip has the tools and resources to contend for the title,
but may be a year or two short from winning the overall crown.  Chip will
find himself in victory lane again in '08.



5-   
6 Cris Michaud
The former champ seems to have lost his dominance at Thunder Road,
not necessarily his own doing.  It seems as if the rest of the field has
caught up to this great driver.  Michaud got caught up in some wrecks
early in '07, but fought his way back up the standings to a good finish.  
This team needs to eliminate a bit of bad luck to find themselves back up
top.


6-   
7VT Eric Williams
If Eric runs a full year, he could be a contender for the championship, but
family events have taken him out a race or two for the past couple of
years.  Always puts together some amazing runs at the road, but seems
to find trouble every once in a while.  A very exciting driver to watch, but
without knowing if he will run the full schedule puts him down a couple of
notches.


7-   
14VT Phil Scott
The Senator seems to have lost something as of late.  Not as dominate
as he used to be, Scott did seem to pick it up in the second half of '07.  
Scott needs to locate the problem and fix it to be back on top in '08.



8-   
26 John Donahue
Irish John has improved almost every year in Late Models.  Picking up a
nice win in September last year at the road put him on a different playing
field, but needs a more consistent year all together.  If he can put a
couple of those runs together in '08, move him up your ladder.



9-   
42VT# Matt White
The Enduro-turned-Tiger-turned-Late Model driver impressed many with
his Milk Bowl performance last year, and looks to take Rookie of the Year
in '08.  Matt is a promising driver who just may need a bit more
experience in a Late Model, but should be at the top in '09.



10-
25 Dave Whitcomb
The ol’ vet still has a little bit left in the tank.  Dave seems to put an
exciting run together at least once a year, and once he is out front, he is
very hard to pass.  Seems to fall a bit short in the championship
standings, Dave is still a good racer to watch for the fans.

VLFRacing's  
2008
Late Model Tour
predictions


1-   89 Scott Payea
The kid's time is finally here.  He will dethrone King Cyr in '08.  
Scott puts together strong, consistent runs at almost every track.  
His talent and patience will finally pay off with championship honors.



2-   
32 Jean-Paul Cyr
J.P. is one of the most exciting drivers to watch.  Cyr's crew is
always on top of their game, whether it is to clip a car at the track
or making the car turn in the corners, Cyr and his crew are legends
on the tour.  It just doesn't seem fair to think he will ever be less
than first, but with the talent and the competition on the tour,
anything is possible.



3-   
02NH Randy Potter
Riverside and WMMP native Potter put on an impressive run in '07,
and will do the same in '08.  Plenty of talent and good equipment
follow this driver around the tracks in the region, and with more
exposure, will put on better runs at some of the tracks he may have
been unfamiliar with in the past.



4-   
97 Joey Polewarczyk Jr.
A great run down at NSS Speedweeks this year has put this kid
back on the map.  Joey Pole has the tools to be something great
but Pole just may need another year to gather everything together
to be a consistent force on the tour.


5-   
55VT Brent Dragon
Here’s another great pool of talent with the Dragon team.  The only
thing that worries me for the Dragon Wagon in '08 is the learning of
a new car.  Dragon has gone with Kenyon chassis of Canada and it
may take a race or two to dial the new car in.  With his talent, he
will get the car figured out shortly and win a race or two on the tour.


6-   
10 Ben Rowe
Hard to know if Rowe will compete on the tour full time, but puts
down amazing finishes when he does run.  Benji is a great talent to
come on the tour, and if he does make all of the races, will
definitely contend for the title.



7-   
80 Donald Theetge
The Canadian put some strong runs together south of the border
in '07.  Theetge has talent, but can he put it all together for a full
year?  Top notch team and driver needs to hit his marks at all of
the tracks he can to raise in the standings.



8-   
88# Nicholas Sweet
Last year's Tiger Sportsman champion has got a top notch car and
a great team.  Put that with a kid with a ton of talent, and you will
win some races.  Father Shayne and team members know how to
work on their cars, but the only thing that may hold back this
Phenom is lack of experience on some of the other tracks.  It will
not take long for Nick to learn the ropes of the tour.



9-   
18 Jamie Fisher
The Hurricane is one of few drivers to run both the Tour and
Thunder Road.  Seems to miss the mark on the tour, but does put
together a good run at some tracks.  If Jamie is focused on the
Tour or Thunder Road alone he may put bigger marks on the
standings.



10-  
9ON# Jonathan Urlin
Jonathan could be the next great thing to come from the North.  
Son of former ACT champ Russ Urlin, Jonathan has the tools to
make waves on the Tour.  Not sure of his exact plans for '08, but if
he does run the full schedule, will do well on more than one
occasion.  Look for Urlin to do well in '08.
141 River Street
Montpelier, VT 05602

(802) 229-6745

Fax (802) 229-6677
info@ VTprintshop.com
Website Sponsor
#97 Joey Pole cruises to his first victory of 2008
VLFRacing.com at Lee Speedway 4202008

Teenager Joey "Pole" Polewarczyk Jr. captured his 2nd career ACT Late Model victory Sunday afternoon with a convincing victory over the likes of #17
Eddie MacDonald and #6 Cris Michaud.  Not only did he claim the victory but he left people wondering what would of happened,  if the race was not marred
by early cautions.  Pole was the class of the field during the 100 lap event on New Hampshire's fast 3/8th mile.  Veteran #37 Larry Gelinas started on the
pole with ACT Rookie #88 Nick Sweet in the number two position.  Pole started 3rd.   After Sweet spun early, Pole got into a dogfight with Gelinas for
about 5 laps and then Pole gained the lead and was never really challenged until he met the #70 Scott Dragon.  Dragon looked like he might something for
Pole but he could not hold on the lead and Joey Pole closed the deal.  It appeared that Pole's car was very good in lap traffic.  The ACT Late Models will be
at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, ME Saturday April 26th.  Please see
www.acttour.com for additional highlights and the finishing order.  Ride with
Joey for about 70 laps of in-car action, with this exclusive
www.victorylaneforum.com in-car video.  Please click on the arrow to start the video.
Ride along with the 7-Time ACT Champion Jean-Paul Cyr
for the 1st 50 laps of the 2008 New England Dodge
Dealers ACT 150 at Oxford Plains Speedway on
4-26-2008.  Sit back and crank up the volume!
www.acttour.com

For Immediate release 04262008

Home track stock car favorite Ricky Rolfe of Albany Twp., ME
held off a fast-  closing Jean-Paul Cyr to win the American-
Canadian Tour (ACT) New England Dodge Dealers 150 at
Oxford Plains Speedway on Saturday.  Cyr’s late charge was
enough to bring him alongside Rolfe’s Race Basics/Swasey
Excavation #51 Ford with less than ten laps remaining, but the
former track champion won by about two car lengths.

“We lapped a lot of cars early, but when the field started to catch
up, I had to try some new lines around the track,” said Rolfe.  
“We found that the upper groove was the place to be, and it
worked.”

Cyr recovered from a lap 49 spin with John Donahue to earn his
podium finish.  Both drivers spun in oil dropped on the track by
another car, and were given their running positions back by race
control during the caution period.

Rolfe earned a “+5” handicap to earn the pole starting position.  
Seven-time and defending ACT Late Model Tour Champion Cyr,
of Milton, VT, started fifteenth in the field of 33 cars.  Brent
Dragon, also of Milton, VT, drove from 24th place to finish third.  
Rowley, MA driver Eddie MacDonald and Donahue, of
Graniteville, VT, rounded out the top five.

Unofficially, the top ten was completed in order by Turner, ME’s
Shawn Martin, Montreal driver Patrick Laperle, Quebec City’s
Donald Theetge, Cris Michaud of Northfield, VT, and Ben Rowe
of Turner, ME.

The ACT Late Model Tour victory was the second of Rolfe’s
career, his first since 2002.  Only two caution periods slowed the
New England Dodge Dealers 150, which was completed in just
over 54 minutes.  Fifty Late Model cars from four U.S. states and
two Canadian provinces attempted to qualify.

The ACT Late Model Tour travels to Barre, VT’s Thunder Road
Int’l Speedbowl for the 10th Annual Merchants Bank 150 on Sat.
/Sun., May 3/4.  For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or
visit
www.acttour.com.
#51 Ricky Rolfe captures his 2nd career ACT Victory at Oxford
JYWarrior's pre-season
predictions

VLFRacing's
 
2008
1.        #19 Neal Foster, Neal had a huge turnaround in 2007, expect him to be all business this year going for the title.  He is a great driver
with a beat up  car.  You can  expect good things from him this year

2.        #43 Jamie Davis, always a title contender should be another close one this year.

3.        #1 Chad Brown, proved at practice that he will be a force to be reckoned with as long as he can keep his mind in it.

4.        #59 Dale Bickford, while he was running in 2007 he was always in front, look for that to continue into 2008 with his new car

5.        #04 Scott Weston, had a good end to 2007 if he can continue that into 2008 expect him to win a couple races and to be in the top 10
most of the season

6.        #30 Mike Gay, I don’t know where he keeps finding these Mazda’s but he has yet another and he knows how to set them up, very fast
and learned a few things         in 2007 look for ‘biffer’ in the front a lot in 2008.

7.        #54 Dan Garrett, had a stint in the streets last season, but when he was in the JYW he was always toward the front look for that
again in ‘08

8.        #05 Donny Yates, posted a win toward the end of last season with very few starts under his belt, if that’s any sign of what’s to come
then Donny should have a great season.

9.        #22 Mike Ducey, Missed 5 races last season and finished outside of the top 10, however if his car holds up and he makes all the
races he should be right up there this season.

10.        #57 Mark LaFleche,  again another driver that missed 5 races in 2007, rumor has it he wont be running a full schedule but if he
does he is always a contender.

11.        #52 Lance Donald, rookie season, has some Enduro experience, he worked on the 52 last season and knows Ford Escorts.   I expect
him to be a threat mid to late season.

12.        #88 Jeff Pemberton, his 07 season had a lot of ups and downs but if he can stay out of trouble he will be a contender.

13.        #90 Mark Rossi, another rookie but I don’t care who you are, with that car you are always a contender.

14.        #24 Justin Gay, Justin learned a lot last year rumor has it there might be a new car.   I expect a good year from Justin not a title
year but a good year.

15.        #32 Jared Henry, he kind of disappeared at the end of 2007 but at the start he was always at the front expect that again in ‘08
#89 Scott Payea wins the 10th Annual Merchants Bank 150!
Official Race results:


1. Scott Payea, Milton, VT
2. Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, QC
3. Dave Pembroke, Montpelier, VT
4. Phil Scott, Montpelier, VT
5. Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT
6. Randy Potter, Groveton, NH
7. Eric Williams, Hyde Park, VT
8. Scott Dragon, Milton, VT
9. John Donahue, Graniteville, VT
10.Pete Potvin, III, Graniteville, VT
11.#Tyler Cahoon, St. Johnsbury, VT
12.Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, VT
13.Brent Dragon, Milton, VT
14.Joe Becker, Jeffersonville, VT
15.Glen Luce, Turner, ME
16.Dave Whitcomb, Essex Jct., VT
17.Ryan Nolin, Georgia, VT
18.Robbie Crouch, Tampa, FL
19.Claude Leclerc, Lanoraie, QC
20.Joey Laquerre, East Montpelier, VT
21.Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Hudson, NH
22.Chip Grenier, Graniteville, VT
23.#Jonathan Urlin, London, ON
24.Ron Henry, New Gloucester, ME
25.Cris Michaud, Northfield, VT
26.Trampas Demers, South Burlington, VT
27.Bobby Dragon, Milton, VT
28.Kip Stockwell, Braintree, VT
29.Dennis Demers, Shelburne, VT
30.#Nick Sweet, Barre, VT
                                                                                                     
#89 Scott Payea captured his second consecutive  Merchants Bank 150 held at the "Nations site of Excitement"
Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, Vermont on Sunday May 4th, 2008

In front of a crowd estimated to be around 4,000; Payea held off Thunder Road "King of the Road" Dave
Pembroke and 2007 Milk Bowl winner Patrick Laperle to bring home the victory.  It was the 3rd race in a season
scheduled for 12, what makes this win more important than in recent years is the new Championship
determining point structure.  For 2008 teams will be able to choose 2 races to "drop"  This makes every win
that much more important.

26 year old Scott Payea who finished as the runner-up for the 2007 ACT Late Model Championship to 7-time
Champ Jean-Paul Cyr found himself in control for much of the race.  There were some great exchanges for
quite a few laps with #44 Dave Pembroke then it seemed later on in the race Pembroke's tires went away and
then Payea had to contend with Patrick Laperle, Laperle was charging hard, however Payea drove a smoother
line and Laperle could not catch him.  As a result of this victory Scott is currently the 2008 ACT Late Model
point leader after 3 of 12 events.
"The Team"
Cyr Wins!
Airborne Speedway  Plattsburgh,  NY      May 17th 2008

                                               Jean-Paul Cyr captures the 34th Annual Furniture World of Vermont 100


The rains came and went and came again.  The 1/2 mile Airborne Speedway was the site for the 4th race on the 2008 ACT Late Model schedule.  
After a slow start to the day because of the weather, the action started to heat up as the rains went away.  Nightfall was approaching when they
finally had a long enough clearing to start the 100 lapper.  #80 Donald Theetge was on the pole with #22 Gary Caron starting outside pole.  At the
drop of the green flag; Theetge jumped out to an early lead, the action was hot and heavy with close racing throughout the first half of the race.  
Cyr was charging toward the front relentlessly, he started in the 8th position and right behind him was the #9 Rookie Jonathan Urlin.  After a series
of cautions, Cyr found his way to the front and proved to be the car in charge as Urlin had suspension problems which caused a brake failure and
he was done for the night.  The #02 Randy Potter took advantage and moved into the number 2 spot.  After a caution and with 3 laps to go; Cyr
proved too much for Potter.  Laperle was in a dog fight with Maine's #7 Glen Luce, who really was impressive and held on for a career high 4th
place finish.  The 2008 Point leader thus far, #89 Scott Payea managed a great 5th place finish after starting 25th.  Other notables finishing in the
top 10 were #71 Bobby Dragon and the #88 Nick Sweet, for Sweet this is a major step forward in what has been a rocky start for the 2007 NAPA
Tiger Sportsman Champion.  Action resumes May 24th and 25th at the "Nations site of excitement" Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, VT
Cyr Wins!
"Irish" John Donahue wins at
Thunder Road...again!
#43 Kirk Alexander wins the first
Modified race at Thunder Road in 43
years!

ACT Late Model #26 John Donahue even surprised himself with 2 consecitive
victories at Thunder Road Speedbowl.  This time the victory is slightly more    
important than the May 11th Mother's Day win as the May 25th victory was an
ACT   event.  Donahue said to win anytime at his home track is sweet and he
thanked his  sponsors and his crew for making this possible.
The True Value Modifieds stormed the high-banks of Thunder Road
on May 24th and 25th.  This marks the first time in a lot of our
lifetimes that Modified's have raced competitively at Thunder Road,
in fact it was 43 years ago when they had last raced.  The True
Value Modified's are lightweight, high powered open wheel machines
with well over 100 more Horsepower and hundreds of pounds less
than the ACT Late Models coupled with the fact of the Mod's running
a much wider tire equaled high speeds and lot's of action.  With the
addition of a "Jersey Barrier" wall throughout turn 1 and 2, Thunder
Road was ready for anything.  Surprisingly the Modified's raced a
fairly clean race with only a small handful of cautions.  #43 Kirk
Alexander added prestigious Thunder Road to his all ready
impressive track resume.
#89 Scott Payea continues his 2008 dream season at Waterford

Official Race results:
Waterford Speedbowl

1. Scott Payea
2. Bruce Thomas, Jr.
3. Brad Leighton
4. Ron Yuhas, Jr.
5. #Nick Sweet
6. Randy Potter
7. Ron Henry
8. #Jonathan Urlin
9. Jean-Paul Cyr
10. Brent Dragon
11. Scott Dragon
12. Patrick Laperle
13. Jamie Fisher
14. Glen Luce
15. Pete Potvin, III
16. Eric Chase
17. John Donahue
18. Rick Thompson, Jr.
19. Leon Heckbert
20. Joe Becker
21. Donald Theetge
22. Steve Fisher
23. Trampas Demers
24. Joe Curioso
25. #Tyler Cahoon
26. Richard Staskowski
27. #Ricky Wolf, Jr.
28. Allen Coates
29. Tim Jordan
30. Ed Reed, Jr.
Late Model stock car driver Scott Payea continued a dream season by winning the Nutmeg State 100 at Connecticut’s Waterford
Speedbowl on Saturday night. The 26 year-old from Milton, VT held off defending Waterford Speedbowl Track Champion Bruce
Thomas, Jr. of Groton, CT for his second American-Canadian Tour victory in six starts this year.

Thomas jumped from his outside pole starting position to lead the opening 48 laps, at time stretching his lead out to nearly a full
straightaway. Payea, who started seventh in the 30-car field, drove forward in the early laps and was brought even with Thomas for
the race’s final three restarts just before the halfway point. Following a lap 48 restart, Payea nudged ahead to take the lead from
Thomas.

The final caution flag on lap 50 drew the pair together again, beginning an intense, multi-groove, lead-swapping duel that lasted
until Payea regained control for good on lap 55. Each driver led three times in the race, each for a total of 50 laps. As the race went
caution-free to the end, Payea’s Ouellette Plumbing & Heating/Leahy Press #89 Ford Fusion held a comfortable five-car length
lead over Thomas as the checkered flag flew.

Read the full story
here
Pole turns up the heat with an Oxford win!
150
VLFRacing.com at Oxford Plains Speedway
Eric LaFleche 06212008  2310


Joey Pole went up to Oxford riding a bad luck streak.   So,  what's the best way to get back on track?  How about a Heat
win?  Some would say "okay, that's a start"  Joey did that one better Saturday night, he pulled off the Double.......his heat
AND the 2008 Dunkin Donuts 150 at Oxford Plains Speedway.

They were scrambling around in the pits during the early part of the day.  Team Owner and Father Joe said "Well, we are just
trying a few different things"  I guess saying they found the right set-up is an understatement.  After starting 7th in the
Feature event, Pole was in a dogfight with Maine's #7 Glen Luce for around 20-25 laps.  Pole eventually moved past Luce and
had his eyes set on the leader 2008 ACT point leader #89 Scott Payea; who himself was in an epic battle for the lead with
reigning ACT Champion #32 Jean-Paul Cyr.  Pole caught both of them and seemed to really hit his marks, as Cyr and Payea
both faded; Pole had to contend with the very fast #51 Ricky Rolfe.  After the second caution of the race, Pole walked away
from Rolfe, Joey stretched his lead out to around 10-12 car lengths before caution #3 came out on the restart Pole jumped
out to the lead but hard charging Rolfe and now NASCAR CWE and ACT part-time driver #17 Eddie MacDonald were closing in
and vying for the top spot.  In the end Pole led almost 100 of the 150 laps en route to his 3rd Career ACT Victory and 2nd
this season.
Harvick takes $37,300 to the bank, takes 35th annual TD Banknorth 250

OXFORD, Maine - The ringer arrived with bells on Thursday, waited out a weekend awash with rain and basked in a deluge of adulation in TD
Banknorth 250 Presented By New England Dodge Dealers victory lane.

Kevin Harvick won the 35th annual summer classic Monday night, dominating the second half of the event and becoming the first to carry the
checkered flag as an active NASCAR Sprint Cup driver.

The 32-year-old California native, a champion of both the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400, denied runner-up Glen Luce and third-place Joey
Polewarczyk Jr. the victory of a lifetime.
Just don't assume with his thick resume that Harvick puts this grass roots short track win in small print.

"This race is a big deal," said Harvick. "You look at the history of it and see names like Harry Gant, Jeff Gordon, and those true short track drivers
like Junior Hanley who have won it. Chuck Bown, too. They can keep the check if they want. I wanted that trophy."

Harvick took the lead from early dominator Eddie MacDonald on a lap 126 restart. It followed a mid-race competition caution necessitated by a wet
pit road, giving everyone in the field a chance to change tires and refuel safely.

MacDonald battled back to put a fender in front on lap 132 before Harvick dived to the inside and returned the favor, forging ahead to stay.
"Ever since we got here, people have been telling me you've got to run the outside to win the race," Harvick said. "Then all weekend the outside was
slow as hell. Finally tonight, after about 60 or 70 laps into the race, it was really good."

Luce was the comeback story of the night.

After racing into a qualified position in both his heat and consolation race, only to fall from the top four due to bizarre circumstances at the end of
each, Luce led the second of three 20-lap last chance races to make the starting grid.
He avoided falling a lap down to MacDonald's blistering early pace and then stormed through the field after the mid-race caution.
Luce crept within about three car lengths with 30 laps remaining before Harvick, seeming to sense that surge, turned up the wick.
"Finishing second to a guy like that is the same as a win for us," said Luce, 40, who has competed regularly at OPS for 20 years.

For the complete story and a great picture gallery click
HERE
08072008 for immediate release
www.VLFRacing.com exclusive


ACT Standout Joey Pole catches a ride for the September 12th race at NHMS in      
 the #03 NASCAR CWE car.  See
www.JoeyPole.com for more details.