10/7/2014
Ray Parent
Third, a win & a new series...
One week after recording a career high third place finish in American Canadian Tour Championship points, Ray Parent worked his way from outside the second row to score a win in the Annual DAV Memorial event at Seekonk Speedway.
The Tiverton, RI driver made it two-for-two with his second start of the season at the track known as the concrete palace; after a spirited battle for the lead mid-way through the 50-lap race, Parent would go on to claim the victory by a half-straightaway.
“I’m so proud of our Team,” stated Parent. “ It's great to get a win like this with my whole family here. Most of them don't get to see me race because we are so far away all the time, it's great to have them all here. Plus we had a new sponsor Route 6 Auto Mall Kia on board. I can't thank all the sponsors, the Team, my family enough for all the support. To finish the [ACT] tour like we did, then come here and get win. Everyone has worked so hard and been so supportive..."
Parent, who reflects heavily on the struggles to be competitive with the ACT Tour, says that running the Vermont based series the last few years has groomed them into another level of preparation that shows up on the track outside of series races.
“To back up our points finish with a win like this at home shows how far we've come,” stated Parent. “I feel we can pull in anywhere and compete for a win, where just a few years ago we struggled to make [series] races… The [ACT] Tour is so tough; there are 15 cars or more than can win each race… To be able to complete a full season and finish 3rd in point’s makes the hard work worth it. That really shows when we are able to come home and run like this."
Along with his two Seekonk Speedway victories, Parent earned his first ACT series points win back in May this season; the Amtrol Ford Fusion pilot knows that the next step is consistency week-in-week-out.
“From where we started this deal, not even making shows to winning races… We just keep getting better as a Team. But we know the next step is a big one, “stated Parent. “Joey [Polewarczyk] never finished worse than 4th all year to win the [ACT] title. That’s where we need to get too… We are working as hard as ever to be there.”
Parent will look to keep the wins alive when they venture off into a new series in two-weeks. Parent will convert their current ACT late model into a Granite State Pro Stock Series car; to compete at Thompson Speedway’s World Series of Racing.
A division Parent competed in full time before switching to the American Canadian Tour style of car a few years back. This will mark the first series start with the GSPSS and one that the Team feels comfortable making.
“I think we will be good there,” stated Parent. “We've run these cars a lot, we're a much better more prepared Team than back then. It will be a lot fun… We have an open motor to bring the horsepower up… and will make the needed chassis changes to try and run more of these [open] type races next year. Thompson has been a good track for us in the past and i think we will be competitive with the series regulars there.”
Look for the Amtrol Ford Fusion Team at Thompson International Speedway on October 18-19.
Next Event
What: GSPSS 50
Where: Thompson International Speedway – Thompson, CT
When: October 18-19, 2014
Ray and the Amtrol Racing Team would like to thank their proud partners in 2014: Amtrol • Carlin Combustion Technology • HydroLevel • Distinctive Auto Body • Phoenix Builders • Bayside Auto Center • Bobs Sea and Ski • Dan Davies Sales • Dominator Diesel • Five Star Bodies • Longacre Racing Products • Hedman Hedders • Ford Racing • Welded Media
Submitted By: Jason Lubin
