RPM_6361

photo by RPM

EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. – In her third trip to the American Canadian Tour Bond Auto Parts Invitational  it was the 17 year old Vermont native, Emily Packard, that was leading them to the line as she started from on the outside pole in her 9x Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels car at the “Magic Mile”.

 

After only one early morning practice, Packard was 37th fastest, but during the draw for starting position, she pulled the second starting position for the start of the race.  As the green flag waved, Packard dropped back a few spots initially, setting her pace and hitting her marks, running in the top 10 for the first 12 laps of the race.  “We had a really good day,” Packard said “and we were getting comfortable with the car, running in the top-10 to top-15 through most of the race.” By lap 30 Packard found herself in the 20th position, where she settled in and found her rhythm staying out of trouble as her fellow competitors drove three and four wide.

The final caution came out on lap 44, and as the field took the green flag on what would end up being the final restart, it didn’t take long for them to start wrecking.  She was able to slow the car down, but was hit hard from behind, and then was pushed into a car in front of her, and soon the red flag was displayed.  Packard’s car suffered major damage, but once the yellow flag was shown, she limped the car around to pit road to the attention of her crew.  “Unfortunately that last restart drivers got really aggressive and started wrecking in front of me. I got on the breaks but we were hit from behind and then pushed into the wreck,” said Packard.  The race was eventually called on lap 44 due to darkness, and Packard ended up finishing in 20th position.  “Running at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a lot different than anything else we do in the series, running as fast as we do here and being able to run three wide, things just happen real quick as was evident tonight,” Packard said, “but I enjoy running here.”

 

“A big thank you to my crew, Neal, Sammy, Randy, Frankie, and my mom and dad for all their help this weekend,” Packard said, “It was a long day, but the guys worked hard to give me a good car for the race.  I also want to thank all my sponsors for their continued support this season, Northstar Fireworks, Packard Fuels, Be the Match, R.G. Paving, Rutland Regional Medical Center, Fecteau Homes, Yipes! of Barre, Berlin Optical Expressions, Vermont Shifter Karts and GossCars.com.”

Packard heads to Airborne Speedway on Saturday September 27th for the final American Canadian Tour race of the season, the Fall Foliage 200.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Emily Packard on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EmilyPackardMotorsports
Emily Packard on Twitter: @EmilyPackard9