Sports

Spring Green sets up battle for ACT stars

Eagle Times Staff
BARRE, Vt. — Following their most recent trip across the international border between Canada and the United States, the American-Canadian Tour is set to enter the gates of Seekonk Speedway for a doubly exciting event on Saturday, June 8. Not only will June 8 serve as the start of the popular Brookside Equipment Southern New England Triple Crown for 2024, it’s also the 49th running of the famed Spring Green that was first conceived by famed announcer Ken Squier back in 1974.

Created as the early-season opener for the old Northern NASCAR, five-nights-a-week Late Model Sportsman circuit in 1974, and tormented by late winter snowstorms more than a few times in the last several decades, the Spring Green holds a special place as a cornerstone event for the ACT-sanctioning body. Since then, such acclaimed Northeast legends as the Dragon Brothers, Dave Dion, Robbie Crouch, Canadians Junior Hanley and Jean-Paul Cabana, sitting Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, “The Outlaw” Eddie MacDonald and, most recently, Joey Polewarczyk Jr. have taken the Spring Green victory.

Four races in and Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP) finalist Derek Gluchacki is in charge of the ACT point standings. Gluchacki is 29 points ahead of closest rival Gabe Brown and certainly has a leg up on the competition. While still looking for his first American-Canadian Tour win at Seekonk, Gluchacki cut his teeth at the Cement Palace piloting Legend cars, a popular Friday Night division at the Massachusetts speedplant, and looks to overcome his second-place finish in last year’s edition of the Spring Green.

It’s going to be hard to count out first-time ACT winner Alexendre “Fireball” Tardif, coming off a dominant victory at his Autodrome Chaudiere hometrack on May 18. Recent campaigner Cam Huntress has had some great runs at Seekonk in the past and would love to capitalize, as would rookie title chasers Kasey Beattie, Jeremy Sorel, Kaiden Fisher and Cole Littlewood. Along with Tardif, fellow Canadians Jonathan Bouvrette, Remi Perreault and Claude Leclerc are set to make the trip, Leclerc looking for his second Spring Green victory to complement his first career American-Canadian Tour win in this very event all the way back in 1983.

Seekonk Speedway is prepared to send some of their best to defend the home turf, led by defending track champion Vinnie Arrenegado. Joining the champion in an attempt to become the first Seekonk hometrack star to best the ACT Touring drivers at their own game is current point leader Richie Murray along with Jacob ‘Rowdy’ Burns, multi-time Pro Stock champion David Darling, Chase Belcher and Bobby Pelland III among the top candidates.

The American-Canadian Tour is back in action on Saturday, June 8 at The Action Track of the East, Seekonk Speedway in Massachusetts. The American-Canadian Tour takes over the Concrete Palace for the first of two visits in 2024 with the 49th Spring Green 124, one of the sanctioning body’s marquee cornerstone events first taking place back in 1974. Post Time is set for 6 p.m., ticketing information is available online at seekonkspeedway.com.

For more information about the American-Canadian Tour, contact the ACT offices at 802-244-6963, [email protected] or visit acttour.com.

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