Polewarczyk Scores Second Win of Season at Airborne
Posted By Tj Ingerson On May 17, 2015
Categories: Airborne | American-Canadian Tour
PHOTO: Joey Polewarczyk Jr. and his Pole's Automotive team celebrate their second American-Canadian Tour win of the season on Sunday afternoon at Airborne Park Speedway. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo)
--by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- Joey Polewarczyk Jr. waited until the final race last season to score his second win of the season, but in 2015, it only took him four races.
The Hudson, N.H., driver battled back after he surrendered the lead to Quebec favorite Patrick Laperle to reclaim the top spot and earn his second win of the 2015 season on Sunday afternoon.
Coincidentally, the wins come at the same place, Airborne Park Speedway, as he won the season finale.
“This car was awesome,” Polewarczyk said. “I knew in practice we had a really good piece. Some guys could really knock off a fast lap, but this things was consistent on old tires and I could really drive off turn four on the bottom. I was really excited with the car.
"We had this one circled on the calendar."
Polewarczyk first took the lead on lap 25 from polesitter Josh Masterson, but relinquished it to Laperle following a lap 45 restart. Over the course of the next 30 laps, however, Polewarczyk kept Laperle within striking distance and finally moved to the Quebec driver’s inside on lap 75. A near 10-lap side-by-side battle ensued before Polewarczyk took the lead for keeps on lap 82.
“Anytime Patrick (Laperle) gets by you it’s concerning,” Polewarczyk said. “You could be a lot faster than him and he’ll find a way to make his car work and keep you behind him. I knew I needed a longer run. I wasn’t good on the bottom on restart, and sure enough, Patrick got by me.
“I could really roll through the center on the bottom really well and I kept getting a little bit closer and a little bit closer. I can’t thank Patrick enough for racing me clean like that. That was hard, hard racing for a lot of laps.
“Our car didn’t change a bit. How it was on lap one was how it was on lap 100. I’m really proud that we were able to get our car pass Patrick Laperle on the inside here during a green flag run. Usually, it happens on restarts, but to do it on the bottom during a green flag run, it’s a lot harder to do than to say. I’m really proud about that.”
Laperle, of St-Denis, Que., settled for second after Polewarczyk was able to pull away from him in the late stages of the race. Laperle, who was emotional in victory lane following the loss of his uncle a few weeks ago, admitted his car got too tight prior to Polewarczyk’s race winning pass.
Travis Stearns of Auburn, Maine raced inside the top-five for the entire 115-lap distance and finished third. It was Stearn’s first ACT Late Model Tour podium since his first win in 2013 and his first top-five since the season finale last season.
Airborne opening race winner Bobby Therrien of Hinesburg, Vt., finished fourth while former Serie ACT champion Jean-Francois Dery of Quebec, Que., finished fifth.
ACT Late Model Tour point leader Wayne Helliwell Jr. finished sixth while eight-time American-Canadian Tour champion Brian Hoar finished seventh. Rowland Robinson Jr., Nick Sweet, and Jeff White completed the top-ten finishers.
The ACT Late Model Tour will resume action on Saturday, May 31 at the newly renamed Speedway 51 in Groveton, N.H., for a 151-lap feature event. Serie ACT’s Quebec slate kicks off on Saturday, May 23 at Autodrome St-Eustache.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Bill McBride Chevrolet Spring Green 115
American-Canadian Tour – Airborne Park Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# -- denotes rookie)
1. (3) Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, N.H.
2. (5) Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, Que.
3. (2) Travis Stearns, Auburn, Maine
4. (8) Bobby Therrien, Hinesburg, Vt.
5. (12) Jean-Francois Dery, Quebec, Que.
6. (13) Wayne Helliwell Jr., Dover, N.H.
7. (11) Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt.
8. (4) Rowland Robinson Jr., Steuben, Maine
9. (14) Nick Sweet, Barre, Vt.
10. (7) Jeff White, Winthrop, Maine
11. (6) Brandon Atkins, AuSable Forks, N.Y.
12. (1) Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.
13. (16) Brad Babb, Windham, Maine
14. (18) Kyle Welch, Newport, N.H.
15. (10) Emily Packard, East Montpelier, Vt.
16. (24) Patrick Cliché, St-Jean-Chrysostome, Que.
17. (15) # Rich Dubeau, Plainfield, N.H.
18. (29) Dany Trepanier, St-Edouard, Que.
19. (19) Mike Ziter, Williamstown, Vt.
20. (21) Claude Leclerc, Lanoarie, Que.
21. (9) Karl Allard, St-Felicien, Que.
22. (27) Gaetan Gaudreault, Quebec, Que.
23. (25) Matt Anderson, Franklin, N.H.
24. (20) Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
25. (22) Larry Gelinas, Buxton, Maine
26. (26) Charles Harvey, Terrebonne, Que.
27. (23) Jonathan Bouvrette, Blainville, Que.
28. (17) Jimmy Hebert, Williamstown, Vt.
29. (28) Martin Goulet Jr., Mascouche, Que.