LABBE TEAM DISQUALIFIED FROM CAN-AM 200 EVENT

 

The American Canadian Tour (ACT) announced today penalties imposed on the Alex Labbe ACT Castrol team for violations incurred at the CAN-AM 200 held at the Riverside Speedway in Ste. Croix, QC on September 11, 2011. Labbe was disqualified from his win when the team refused to allow their engine to be impounded after a protest was filed by another race team, which is in keeping with ACT rules and procedures.

 

The following outlines the specific penalties:

 

        1. Forfeit of the championship points and $5,000 first place purse money from the event.

 

        2. Loss of all points for the season standings in the ACT Castrol Series.

 

        3. Suspension from ACT racing for the remainder of the 2011 season.

 

          [The team had been scheduled to race this weekend (September18, 2011) at the Autodrome Ste. Eustache, Laval, QC in their annual 300 lap event; at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2011 in the $80,000 ACT Invitational; and the Fall Foliage 200 at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY on October 8, 2011.]

 

        4. A fine of $3,000, payable in full to the RPQ point fund prior to consideration for reinstatement in ACT racing.

        5. GM crate motor serial # VZ360 is banned from racing in any ACT sanctioned event until further notice.

 

        6. GM crate motor serial # VZ360 must be brought to a pre-determined location as instructed by ACT for an approved technical inspection. [This requirement, whether by the #36QC team, or if sold, by a team purchasing the engine, is a contingent factor on the possible reinstatement of the #36QC team and/or the VZ 360 engine competing in future ACT racing. All expenses regarding the inspection of the aforementioned engine will be the responsibility of the #36QC team, or must be included as a part of any sale agreement to a new owner who intends to use the VZ360 motor in ACT competition. This penalty clause will be in effect regardless of whether the engine is now legal or illegal, or whether the engine undergoes any modification prior to turning it over to ACT for inspection.]

 

7.     The #36QC team (Alex Labbe) will be on probation for a period of one full year from the date of reinstatement of the suspension if that should occur. A further violation by the #36QC team of engine, shock or tire rules in ACT competition may result in life-long suspension from ACT racing.

 

When asked why the penalties were so severe, Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour said, “For the past 12 years, the entire success of our crate/spec program has used as its basic foundation maintaining the integrity of the crate motor, sealed shocks and unaltered tires.  

 

Alex is an excellent young talent, right up there with Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Austin Theriault, and Nick Sweet in terms of talent. It is difficult to understand why, when the protest was filed, the team refused every option we offered to try and resolve the issue. This is the first violation of this kind in the 27-year history of ACT racing. I am hopeful that Alex and his team can comply with the penalties and move on to what is sure to be a promising racing career.”