Dave Pembroke kisses the cow; Oxford Plains Speedway under new ownership; Mystic Missile not going anywhere.
Donny Lia will the Mystic Missile again in 2013, regardless of what the rumor-mongers think.The third attempt to run the annual Milk Bowl proved to be more than a charm for Dave Pembroke.
The veteran racer from Middlesex, Vt., qualified on the pole for the 50th running of the American Canadian Tour's signature event - before it was twice postponed due to rain. A month after the originally scheduled date, Pembroke recovered from handling issues to prevail in the three-segment event at Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, Vt.
Pembroke finished second, seventh and seventh in the three segments. His score of 16 points was good enough to top Brian Hoar, one of the ACT's best drivers.
BIG CHALLENGE: The ACT has fired quite the return volley in the wake of learning it was losing one of its other premiere events.
On Oct. 14, Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine was bought by Tom Mayberry, who runs the ACT's rival PASS North Series. Mayberry's first act was to declare that the prestigious Oxford 250 would now be a PASS-sanctioned race.
Faced with losing its spot in one of New England's most iconic races, ACT president Tom Curley could have waved the white flag. Instead, he is taking the fight right to PASS by announcing an event on that same day.
On July 20-21, the ACT will run the International 500 at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, N.Y. - right up against the Oxford 250. This is short-track racing's answer to when CART ran the U.S. 500 against the Indianapolis 500 after the creation of the IRL.
The U.S. 500 didn't last long. Curley had better hope the International 500 has a much longer shelf life.
CHANGES AFOOT? Social media has been abuzz with rumors that at least three top-10 teams in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will not be returning in 2013.
Shawn Courchense of RaceDayCT.com attempted to make sense of those rumors Thursday. He received denials from Bob Garbarino (owner of the No. 4 Mystic Missile driven by Donny Lia) and Todd Szegedy (driver of the No. 2 owned by Mike Smeriglio) that their teams were folding up shop. Courchesne was unable to reach the other team rumored to be leaving - the No. 45 driven by Eric Beers.