ACT, PASS to kickoff 2023 season this weekend in Hickory

Story By: Matthew Wiernasz

Photo By: Erik Tavares

HICKORY, NC-  The ACT (American Canadian Tour) along with the PASS (Pro All Star Series) Super Late Models will kick off their 2023 season this weekend at the legendary Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, NC as both series will race back to back nights this Friday and Saturday.

Both races for the American Canadian Tour this weekend will be a non-points event while both races for the Pro All Star Series will be counted towards National Points

The Pro All Star Series returns to the 3/8 mile oval for the Easter Bunny Twin 150’s.  Ryan Moore won the first twin 150 race last year while NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron took down the win in the second 150 lap race.

Moore has entered both races this weekend along with Wayne, Helliwell, Jr, D.J. Shaw, 2022 PASS Champion Ryan Kuhn, Ben Rowe, Mike Hopkins, Joey Dorion, and more.

For the American Canadian Tour Late Model teams, the road begins for them at Hickory Motor Speedway for a chance to punch their ticket in for All-Star Showdown Late Model race that will take place at Thunder Road Speedbowl when the SRX Series comes to the Green Mountain State for the very first time on Thursday, July 20. The All-Star Late Model race will be 64 laps in honor of Thunder Road Speedbowl’s 64th season.

Some of the drivers that have entered the ACT Tour race this weekend at Hickory include D.J. Shaw, Tom Carey, III, Nick and Jake Johnson along with Derek Gluchacki and ACT veteran drivers Patrick Laperle, and Joey Polewarczyk, Jr.

The winner from the St. Patricks Day 125 and the Easter Bunny 125 this weekend will earn a spot for the All-Star Showdown at Thunder Road this summer.

Their first points event of the season will be at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the third annual Northeast Classic coming up next month.

This weekend will also see the debut of the ACT Tour Mighty Mini Series as they will race 40 laps on Friday and Saturday.

There will be an optional practice this Thursday where the Pit Gates will open at 1:00 p.m. and the rotating practice sessions will begin at 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

On Friday, the pit gates will open at noon, with practice beginning at 2:30 p.m. and going until 5:30 p.m. Racing will begin at 6:00 p.m. with qualifying heat races and then features to follow as it will be the St. Patrick’s Day 150 for the PASS Super Late Models, along with the 40 lap Mighty Mini Stock Feature and to close out the Friday night portion of the program will be the St. Patrick’s Day 125 for the ACT Tour Late Models.

On Saturday, the pit gates will open at 10:30 a.m. with practice beginning at 12:30 p.m. and going until 2:30 p.m. Racing will begin at 3:00 p.m. with qualifying as features will begin at 4:00 p.m. with the PASS Super Late Models Easter Bunny 150, along with the ACT Tour Late Models Easter Bunny 125, and the Mighty Mini Stock Feature that will be 40 laps