NORTH WOODSTOCK, N.H. — The 47th running of the American-Canadian Tour Spring Green heralded just as much acclaim as the previous forty-six editions.
While a stout battle between champions and championship-hopefuls ruled the front row for 122 laps, it was a newly crowned two-time winner standing in victory lane, flanked by those who valiantly fought for the same honor.
In all, 29 American-Canadian Tour pilots from the Province of Quebec and the New England states converged onto New Hampshire’s White Mountain Motorsports Park to battle.
Leading the way was ACT point leader Derek Gluchacki who came off a win in last Saturday’s local 100-lap event at White Mountain.
One of White Mountains top late model prospects Kasey Beattie led the early pace, much to the excitement of the local crowd on hand. Former ACT champion Jimmy Hebert also showed his power at the Mountain, getting around Beattie on a lap-18 restart to take charge over the sophomore driver.
Behind him, current Rookie of the Year contender Jamie Swallow, Jr. battled hard with Jimmy Renfrew, Jr.
The Junior’s fought until a lap-31 caution with a restart allowed Renfrew to focus on Hebert.
The two drove on every inch of the White Mountain pavement while the threatening black-and-blue hood of Derek Gluchacki loomed a safe two-car lengths behind, waiting for the slightest bobble from the leaders.
Through the following cautions, it was a game of chess between Hebert, Renfrew and Gluckacki, often seeing them tight nose-to-tail, studying each other’s every move.
After the final caution on lap-99, the threesome continued their own battles up front, allowing defending Spring Green champion Tom Carey III and last year’s Milton CAT Midsummer 250 winner Jason Corliss to move in closer.
By the final five laps, it was all sewed up for Jimmy Hebert as he raced into victory lane, followed by Derek Gluchacki and Jimmy Renfrew Jr. for second and third respectively. Carey came from nearly the end of the 27-car field to finish fourth, while Corliss finished five.
Defending White Mountain track champion Jeff Marshall made steady progress to earn sixth, D.J. Shaw rebounded from an incident with Renfrew in the closing laps to take seventh and Kasey Beattie nabbed eighth. Rich Dubeau came back from his lap-31 spin to claim ninth and multi-time White Mountain champ Quinny Welch rounded out the top-ten.
The Ammonoosuc Asphalt Mini Late Models finally made their grand debut with 17 in the pits, but after mechanical problems during practice and the heat races, the lineup was whittled down to 13 starters for the late models inaugural 40-lap feature.
When it came to green, it was all outside polesitter Matt Sonnhalter who never looked back and handily grabbed the opening win for the five-race series.
Fellow North East Mini Stock Tour frontrunners Nick Anderson and Desmond Skillings rounded out the podium.
A solid night for the Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers found the master Shane Sicard schooling a pair of top prospects in their 35-lap feature. Kyle Streeter, in his first full season at White Mountain, claimed second and Rookie of the Year hopeful Chandler Potter earned third over cousin Matt Potter.
In the Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Minis, polesitter Adam Sicard earned his first win of the season, dominating the division from the drop of the green. Nick Pilotte tried his hardest but found a home in second place, following a strong run through the field.
Tyler Thompson made it three podiums in a row with his third place showing.
Lastly, the Wayne’s Market Dwarf Cars returned to White Mountain with defending champion Tommy Smithers standing in victory lane, following his crew chief duties for his son Tommy in the Flying Tiger division. Jason Wyman and Bobby Brown joined him with second and third.
47th ACT Spring Green Feature (122 Laps): 1. Jimmy Hebert (58); 2. Derek Gluchacki (03); 3. Jimmy Renfrew Jr. (00); 4. Tom Carey III (5); 5. Jason Corliss (66); 6. Jeff Marshall (22); 7. D.J. Shaw (04); 8. Kasey Beattie (45); 9. Rich Dubeau (30); 10. Quinten Welch (78); 11. Dillon Moltz (5); 12. Patrick Laperle (91); 13. Shawn Swallow (04); 14. Gabe Brown (61); 15. Alexandre Tardif (21); 16. Jeffrey Labrecque Jr. (12); 17. Robby Gordon Douglas (27); 18. Jamie Swallow Jr. (4); 19. Erick Sands (36); 20. Jared Curtis (67); 21. Cody Leblanc (7); 22. Cam Huntress (27); 23. Matt Anderson (49); 24. William Larue (55); 25. Travis Stearns (15); 26. Reilly Lanphear (21); 27. Jaden Perry (92).
Ammonoosuc Asphalt Mini Late Model Feature (40 Laps): 1. Matt Sonnhalter (33); 2. Nick Anderson (55); 3. Desmond Skillings (90); 4. Tim Paquette (93); 5. Kenny J. Marrier (1); 6. Dustin Jackson (37); 7. Brett Jackson (31); 8. Garrett Labounty (76); 9. Matt LeBlanc (7); 10. Eric Banks (5); 11. Richard Stockwell (82); 12. Nadine Coates (40); 13. Normand Raymond (66).
Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers Feature (35 Laps): 1. Shane Sicard (4); 2. Kyle Streeter (37); 3. Chandler Potter (22); 4. Matthew Potter (23); 5. Kaiden Fisher (18); 6. Jody Sicard (49); 7. Jason Woodard (68); 8. Tim Hunt (93); 9. Tanner Woodard (55); 10. Michael Clark (2); 11. Travis Patnoe (22); 12. Jeff Oeschger (93); 13. Thomas Smithers VI (60); 14. Joey Laquerre (15).
Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Minis Feature (25 Laps): 1. Adam Sicard (16); 2. Nick Pilotte (52); 3. Tyler Thompson (51); 4. Chris Moulton (15); 5. Les Washburn (17); 6. Donnie Baumgardner (4); 7. Cloey Grondin (32); 8. Jack Hayes (09); 9. Kristian Switser (16); 10. Jillian Baumgardner (14); 11. Todd Derrington (57); 12. Jason Goodboul, Jr. (92); 13. Gavin McGinnis (10); 14. John Judd (87); 15. Scott Senecal (1); 16. Dave Driscoll (19).
Wayne’s Market Dwarf Cars Feature (25 Laps): 1. Tommy Smithers (60); 2. Jason Wyman (88); 3. Bobby Brown (27); 4. Dave Gyger (93); 5. Jeff Ainsworth (41); 6. Joey Deguio (11); 7. Chad Dufour (52); 8. Ethan Tyrrell (23).