(Press Release from American-Canadian Tour)
In an exciting announcement the American-Canadian Tour will return to the Home of the SK Modified, Connecticut’s Stafford Speedway on Saturday, April 29th as part of the 51st NAPA Spring Sizzler weekend. For the first time since 1985, the American-Canadian Tour will turn on the iconic half-mile oval during the weekend dubbed ‘The Greatest Race in the History of Spring!’
The American-Canadian Tour once called Stafford Speedway’s annual Fall Final home from the inaugural year of the original North Tour back in 1979 through the 1982 season before returning for the last time in 1985. Vermonter Hector Leclair took the inaugural win in 1979 over ‘The Irish Angel’ Dick McCabe before fellow Green Mountain Boy Mike Berry took the Nutmeg State by storm in 1980. Canada’s most successful short tracker Jean-Paul Cabana took back-to-back wins in 1981 and 1982 before the Tampa Tornado, Robbie Crouch, took the 1985 win over Chuck Bown and Randy LaJoie.
2022 will mark the first event for the Vermont-based touring series at Stafford in 38 years, something many teams have been clamoring for. “I’m thrilled to bring the American-Canadian Tour back to Stafford Speedway, especially for the iconic Spring Sizzler,” said ACT Managing Partner Cris Michaud. “Stafford has been on my radar since Pat and I took over the Tour and we know the track has been on the bucket list of many ACT teams for years. We’re excited to bring this opportunity together and expect it to be one of the best events of 2023.”
After this exciting addition to the 2023 schedule, more information will be released in the coming weeks and months as Officials continue to finalize the 45th season of American-Canadian Tour racing. The entire 2023 schedule is expected to be released just after Thanksgiving with license registrations and all pre-season paperwork to be distributed in the near future.
For more information about the American-Canadian Tour, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, [email protected], or visit www.acttour.com. You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ACTTour.
excellent! Can’t wait for the season to come around again!
The ACT style late model at Stafford speedway. I didn’t think it would ever happen with Stafford running their track specific late model rules package. I like it, hopefully it’s a successful show.
Perhaps over a few years, Stafford can consider aligning their rules with the more popular ACT LM rules which would allow more drivers to race at Stafford. The Stafford late model car count has been up and down over the years opening up the rules to more participants may be helpful.
It’s tough to see the PASS go off the schedule but there are more ACT late models around the area than PASS SLM. So its probably the right decision to go with ACT over PASS. Now we just have to get through the long winter.
I think it will be a great addition to both Stafford and the ACT! I miss a Fearn at Stafford in the #12. I saw him once there racing. A good driver and one to watch.
Cool
Excellent organization !! ACT Tour and PASS Tour are run like a Swiss Clock.. They don’t play with the guys who like to draw yellow flags …they
reward Drivers who pass cars in the heat races… the more cars you pass in the heat the better your starting spot in the Feature…This will be a great show … Hopefully Stafford Late Models use the same rules as most tracks
have adopted the ACT rules package for Late Models…
The ACT history\lineage can get a bit murky at times. Technically it’s the same company that ran races at Stafford in the 70’s and 80’s, but not the exact same tour. The original NASCAR North Tour owned by Tom Curley was a Late Model Sportsman\Busch Series type of car which they still ran for a year after losing their NASCAR sanction and becoming ACT. Then ACT switched to Super Late Model\Pro Stock style cars in 1987.(which was done as part of a short lived attempt with ASA and All Pro to have a series of national races) The current ACT Late Model Tour started in the early 90’s and existed for several seasons along with the ACT SLM\PS cars. (with each series having their own champions) The original ACT SLM\PS Tour folded for various reasons after the 1995 season. But sometimes it seems the title histories and races for both tours often get lumped together.
Some people do pay attention here, this Kayman knows his stuff. We have been working in the shop already and we are excited to get back into the business of winning some races next year
This group travels well and will draw cars from Seekonk,Waterford and even Thompson.First class series.
In 2021 Granite State had 24 cars in the Sizzler feature. PASS had 20 for last springs Sizzler Saturday. Act typically gets 28 plus on a consistent basis for their events.
Looks like only 4 teams raced all thirteen events. Only 10 raced in 8 or more events. Over 150 different teams competing in at least one event but slews only competing in one or two events. Do they travel well or do they have an enormous population that picks and choses ending up with terrific fields of cars where ever they go? More traveling open races with locals easily assimilated that use ACT rules. Excepting Stafford of course.
Any change at Stafford’s Late Model rules for 2023 lets check. Nope not as far as ACT rules go. Stafford uses the word spec to control costs but really it’s a spec parts list with 10 approved shops listed only one outside of Ct. ACT mostly 604 based available at 9 shops all over the Northeast with some do-dads like roller rockers but mostly spec no messin around.
Boy you have to admire Stafford for a lot of things but in this case the rules. They’ve got those unicorn LLM, Street and LM rules and they stick to them come hell or high water. ACT Late Models on Saturday, so as not to confuse the fans Stafford LM’s on Sunday.