The 2009 racing season is right around the corner, with just a little over two weeks remaining before Ricky Wolf and the WolfPack hit the track at Lee USA Speedway for the 150 lap season opening American Canadian Tour (ACT) event, The Governor's Cup 150, on April 19th. Many off-season changes have occurred with the race team, starting with Ricky and team re-joining forces with Championship Crew Chief Jerome Canney, of Barrington, NH. Jerome and the WolfPack have dozens of feature wins together under their belt, including multiple Pro Stock victories at Lee USA Speedway, as well as the 2004 NASCAR New England Regional Championship in the Late Model division. "Having Jerome on board with us this season has definitely brought a new attitude to the Team", says Ricky. "We have had so much outstanding success with Jerome at the head of the organization, we can not help but be optimistic about this season with ACT". Work has been underway the entire off-season re-vamping the chassis Jerome and Team will be testing on April 18th at Lee USA. The Team is currently focusing its efforts on the first three races to open the ACT season. Along with Lee USA on the 19th of April, the WolfPack will be traveling to the historic quarter-mile Thunder Road International Speedway on Sunday, Ricky started five ACT races last season for Willoughby Motorsports, with two top-ten finishes, a sixth at the Lee USA season opener, and a 10th place finish at the super competitive Thunder Road in Barre, Vermont on Labor Day weekend. "We are hoping for a smooth, competitive run with the ACT this season", stated Wolf. "The crew has been hard at work preparing what we hope will be a car which allows us to run with the top stars of the American Canadian Tour. The Tour is so loaded with talent - both young and veteran, that you really need to have your program completely prepared to consistently qualify and compete. Many of our long-time crew members have either returned to the Team, or are still with us for this summer's run with ACT", Ricky says. "One thing that has not changed is our long-time sponsors, Bob and Gail Knowlton, owners of BG Environmental, Inc., are behind us 100%. Bob and Gail have been the cornerstone of our efforts for many seasons now, and frankly, we would not be out there without them. In todays ultra competitive, ultra expensive world of stock cars, you really have to be backed by people like Bob and Gail who are looking to have fun, and support us in every sense of the word to be as good of a Team as we can be." The 2009 season of the American Canadian Tour is shaping up to be one of the greatest ever. One of the many highlights of the 2009 season will be the Saturday, September 19th, 50 lap Invitational only event to be held in conjunction with the Sprint Cup series weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. "The event is an Invitational, and to be invited to compete with the Tour that weekend you will have to be one of the best 36 Late Model Teams in New England. Do we want to be there? Of course, who wouldn't!", Ricky said. "However, we are approaching this season one race at a time, focusing on being totally prepared when we arrive at each event, and trying to take care of business from there. We look forward to the great challenge that is before us, and we are working hard to establish our program with the ever tough Teams of the American Canadian Tour". Also on the early season slate for Ricky will be testing a brand new chassis owned and built by Crew Chief Jerome Cannney this off-season. "We plan to practice the car for the first time on April 25th at Lee, and if all goes well Jerome has asked me to pilot the car for him in the season opening Friday night event at Lee on Friday night, May 1st. We are just trying to shake the car down and work out a few bugs before Katrina (Jerome's daughter) returns home from college to compete at some events in the car later in the season. It was an honor, really, the way I look at it", Ricky said. "Jerome's stuff has always been great, and this new car should be something special". Stay tuned to wolfpack38.com for breaking news and upcoming events on the team's schedule. |
