Lee USA Speedway Driver Keith Larmie Speaks Out About ACT Qualifying System : Raceway Media

Lee, NH – Keith Larmie is not a big fan of the qualifying system that has been announced for the Seacoast Late Model Challenge 100. The Top 10 Lee USA Speedway Late Model driver has expressed interest in going after the top prize at his home track on Sat./Sun., April 23/24, the opening stock car event of the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) season, but feels the new format may create some bad blood. “I don’t like this us-against-them scenario, it causes unnecessary bad feelings,” lamented the veteran racer. “I know it’s all about selling tickets, but I think it’ll just further the gap between us instead of bringing us closer.”

Under the format specially designed for the upcoming race, officials will split ACT Late Model Tour drivers and Lee USA regulars into separate groups for preliminary qualifying rounds, while mixing them together for the 100-lap main event. “Everybody who can afford a Late Model deserves a fair chance at making any race they enter,” Larmie said, “but segregating is never fair. Lee cars are not exactly Tour cars, and if we are at such a disadvantage, maybe we need our own race!"

While running on unfamiliar tires in his first ACT event last September, Larmie’s Brock’s Building Materials Pontiac was one of only a handful of Lee USA Late Models strong enough to compete with the ACT Late Model Tour contingent, rebounding to finish a respectable 18th after a late spin. The Rochester, NH driver believes that the new Goodyear tire used by Lee USA Speedway and the ACT Late Model Tour will help ease the pain and level the playing field in 2005. “We didn’t fare well as a group last year,” Larmie admitted, “and the tires played a huge role in how the Lee guys looked last year. I believe the situation will be extremely different this year and I like our chances for improving our finishing positions.”

Despite the radical qualifying system, the touring concept used by ACT appeals to Larmie, and he plans to use races like the Seacoast Late Model Challenge 100 as training for the future. “I believe that one day my team will race the Tour full-time and be competitive, but now is not the time as we still have very much to learn. Running these races gives us so much information and experience that it’s almost a no-brainer for us to try to qualify.”

Larmie will join fellow Lee USA stars Scott Bonney, Mike Collins, and defending Late Model Champion Ricky Wolf as they attempt to take the checkered flag from ACT Late Model Tour standouts Brent Dragon, Jamie Fisher, and four-time Champion Jean-Paul Cyr. Practice for the Seacoast Late Model Challenge 100 will be held from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Saturday, April 23. Post time is at 12:00 pm on Sunday, April 24. For more information, call ACT at (802) 244-6963 or visit www.acttour.com.

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