|
Austin Theriault may seem like a typical 18-year-old high school Senior serving as Student Council President, three years as Vice President of the class of 2012, and Fort Kent Community High School varsity wrestler. Yet, there is something unique about the Fort Kent, Maine native that goes beyond his deep voice and Acadian roots. Austin Theriault is one of the fastest rising stars in New England short track racing and his rookie performance on the American Canadian Tour (ACT) in 2010 caught the eye of many team owners, competitors, and media members. During the 2011 season Theriault cemented his role as one of the most promising stock car racers in New England and made his sophomore ACT season a breakout year.
Theriault has been involved in motorsports for most of his life from dirt bikes to snowmobiling and truck pulling, but he knew from a very early age that his passion was within stock car racing. Throughout his childhood, Theriault’s grandfather and best friend, Richard, took him to many NASCAR races and watched the races they couldn’t attend on television.
In 2007, at the young age of 13, Theriault would be able to finally get a taste of what it was like to race stock cars when Spud Speedway in Caribou, Maine reopened its doors. With a race track finally within driving distance of his hometown, Theriault’s grandfather purchased him a Pontiac Grand Am to run in the “Young Guns” class. Yet, no one could have envisioned how fitting the name of that first racing division would be for Theriault’s racing career.
Theriault would continue to race at Spud Speedway with a Dodge Neon in 2008. That winter Theriault along with his father, Steve, built a Ford Mustang from the ground up to run in the “Fast 4” division for his 2009 Spud campaign. That season he would go on to win the “Fast 4” points championship and Theriault began to think about moving up in class to run a V8-powered late model.
In August of 2009, Theriault and his father met Doug Coombs of Livermore, Maine who had a competitive late model for sale and struck a deal. Austin Theriault Racing bought its first late model with the goal of racing it one week later in the inaugural Spud 150. As a National Honors Society scholar, Theriault knows how take on complex subjects and a late model was no different than a difficult school assignment. As soon as the car was housed in the team’s race shop, Theriault began researching late model setups and reading as many books as he could about stock car racing to build his knowledge of the sport.
Yet, the real test would not be on a piece of paper it would be on the race track. When the team unloaded its new late model at Spud the following weekend, Theriault had set a modest goal of simply “finishing the race”. When the checkered flag dropped it was Theriault standing next to a trophy nearly as tall as him, victorious in his first late model start.
Theriault backed up his win with a top five finish in the Spud 100, but he wanted to push himself one step further and try his hand at racing in the ultra-competitive American-Canadian Tour season finale at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Maine. To even the most seasoned racers, running an ACT series race is grueling with the tour’s emphasis on qualifying through heat and consolation races to get in that day’s feature. Theriault’s smooth driving style and patience gained him a starting spot in the feature event and an 18th place finish. By the end of the 2009 season, the new name being passed through the New England racing scene was Austin Theriault, the kid from “The County.”
Always with a goal in mind to keep himself motivated, Theriault entered the winter of 2009 with the goal of placing at the State championships in wrestling. At the same time preparations had begun for his next goal of running on the ACT series. Austin’s dad, Steve contracted with Mitch Green, owner of Crazy Horse Racing and Race Basics Chassis, to build his son a new late model for the 2010 season. As a Ford family, the team chose to purchase the new S347JR engine from Ford Racing as the power plant for the new car.
Theriault’s strong late model performances at the Spud 150 that August and at the end of 2009 caught the attention of Mainely Motorsports team owner, Steve Perry. During the off season Perry approached the Theriault family about allowing Austin to run select races in his Pro All Stars Series super late model. Perry and Theriault agreed to a three race deal. As the 2010 racing season approached Theriault was amazed and appreciative of the reception he had received from the Maine racing community. When asked about what it was like to be preparing to compete in the ACT series Theriault would remark of how lucky he was to have met such great people that had helped him get his racing career started. Though he had tasted success in the previous season, Theriault kept his ACT goals very modest with simply wanting to earn the respect of his competitors and finish races within the top 10 or 15 cars.
While he waited for his late model to be finished, Theriault raced his three races with Team Mainely Motorsports finishing 16th at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, 21st at White Mountain Motorsports Park, and 18th at the tricky high-banked Speedway 660 in Fredericton, New Brunswick. If there had been any doubt in Theriault’s driving skills these finishes in his very first super late model starts erased the questions.
Once his late model was complete, Theriault along with new crew chief, Mickey Green, would take on Green’s home track Oxford Plains Speedway (OPS) in Oxford, Maine in The Big Jab 150. Starting where he left off in 2009, Theriault qualified sixth, the highest of any rookie in the field, and drove to the front of the pack beating out OPS regulars and NASCAR K&N Pro East Series driver, Eddie MacDonald, to lead 19 laps and bringing home a 16th place finish.
The season had started out on a positive note that would continue in the next race at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH when Theriault scored his first top-ten finish, setting him up nicely to return to OPS the following week to continue his top ten runs.
On race weekends you can always find Theriault with a smile whether you are on his team, his competitor, or just a fan hoping to meet a driver. His positive outlook makes Theriault a great team leader and his ability to read the atmosphere around him allows him to really tap into the feeling of a crew, helping to keep his crew calm and focused during the grueling race weekends.
Theriault’s strong personality never wavered when in June 2010 he took on the Northeast’s most intimidating track, Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, VT the mecca of the ACT series. Thunder Road with its infamous “widow maker” wall coming out of turn four can shake even the most experienced racers confidence. Yet, Theriault was able to battle his competitors and the track to finish in 7th place. The driver and team were on a roll.
A few weeks later Theriault would return to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway for the second time in 2010. He ran a very strong race against the top late model racers in New England to capture his first podium finish of 2nd place behind, fellow Ford racer, Joey Polewarczyk. This finish would set Theriault up for two very important invitations.
The first invitation was to compete in the ACT Showdown at Autodrome Chaudière in Vallée-Jonction, Quebec. The showdown is the ACT series’ All-Star race pitting the top 12 teams from the United States against the top 12 teams from Canada. Theriault showed the crowd how an American drives a short track while taking home a 5h place finish and helping the U.S. win the showdown.
Theriault’s second invitation would be to race in the Second Annual ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) during the September NASCAR weekend. Each competitor is handpicked for the race by ACT President Tom Curley based on their season performance and how they ran at the NHMS test session in mid-August. Theriault with his strong runs during the summer and leader of the Rookie of the Year points championship was considered by many a strong contender for the premiere race. The starting lineup was set by drivers picking a poker chip from a bag; Theriault chose position 34 at the back of the 43 car field. The mile long track and long green flag runs made it difficult to pass competitors, but Theriault was able to salvage a respectable finish.
Growing up in the small town of Fort Kent, Maine has instilled in Theriault a strong sense of community. He appreciates everyone in his community that has helped him reach his goals on and off the track. To show that appreciation Theriault and his team returned to Spud Speedway in 2010 during the last off weekend of the ACT season to defend his 2009 Spud 150 title. Theriault led the majority of the race and was set up to retain his title but a flat tire would place Theriault at the back of field after a pit stop. Yet, Theriault never gave up on the race and came back to finish in 7th place.
With the 2010 season winding down Theriault time trialed tenth and raced his way into the prestigious 48’th Annual People’s United Milk Bowl at Thunder Road. Even after missing two early 2010 races, Theriault still had a slim lead for rookie of the year and the battle would come down to the final race at Waterford Speedbowl. In the end, Theriault came up short for the Rookie title by only three points. Though the loss may have been disappointing for some drivers Theriault only looked back at what he learned from his highly successful first season and 7th place finish in the ACT points championship. Theriault and his team put the 2010 season behind them and looked forward to 2011.
During the 2010 off-season Rick Paya, owner of RPM Motorsports, recruited Theriault to pilot a second car on his team with teammate, 8 time-ACT Points Champion, Brian Hoar. Theriault and his team looked forward to the opportunity to work with one of the most respected drivers and owners in the ACT series.
The 2011 season began early in February with the non-points Goodyear Speedweeks Cup at New Smyrna Speedway, a fast half-mile track, in New Smyrna, Florida. With a new car and new team members, Theriault began to settle into his new role finishing 13th in the overall cup challenge after two nights of racing.
Theriault would have a solid start to the season with a top-ten finish in the first race at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH. It looked as though the season was going to pick up where the last one left off. The next few races would present Theriault with many challenges from car handling to being in the wrong place at the wrong time resulting in damage to Theriault's car.
As the mid-point of the season approached with the non-points TD Bank 250 just two weeks away, Theriault and the AT Racing team dusted off the car from the 2010 season and ran a regular Saturday night event at Oxford Plains Speedway. That night Theriault would capture his first podium of the 2011 season with a 2nd place finish.
Since the TD Bank 250 was not an ACT race Theriault and his team opted to run their own car, nicknamed Ophelia, for the weekend. The choice turned out to be the right one when the 57ME qualified in the 11th starting spot and Theriault's first appearance in “the 250”. Theriault raced within the top-ten for over half of the race when the team chose to use pit strategy allowing them to enter the top-five. With NASCAR star, Kyle Busch, leading the race the battle at the front was very tight. When the checkered flag flew, Theriault would find himself somewhere he did not expect, the podium stand with the 3rd place trophy next to him. In a race that hundreds of racers have tried and failed to even qualify for Theriault became the youngest podium finisher in the race's 38 year history.
The following week at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Theriault returned behind the wheel of the 57VT for RPM Motorsports. In a hard fought race, Theriault was able to start and finish in the 5th position. The season was turning a corner for Theriault and his team. Little did anyone know just how good that corner would be.
With two top-five finishes Theriault began looking forward to his next race, an ACT points event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway the inaugural ACT All-Star Late Model Challenge. With the strong performance of his 2010 late model at the TD Bank 250 and top-five performance in his RPM Motorsports car Theriault had to decide which late model he would race at New England's only speedway. In the end, Theriault and Paya decided upon an amicable separation. AT Racing would be finishing out the 2011 season as a stand alone team once again and its first official race would be at one of the highest profile races of the season.
AT Racing and its driver would not disappoint qualifying for the race's 25-lap first segment and finishing 5th. For the second 75-lap segment the field was inverted placing Theriault in the 32nd position. Theriault would drive his way through traffic and finish in the 2nd position also giving him the overall 2nd place finish between the two segments. Once again, Theriault was on the podium at a track that he had only dreamed about racing at two short years ago.
The following week Theriault captured his second ACT career pole at Oxford Plains Speedway and battled a hard race with 9-time Oxford Plains Track Champion, Jeff Taylor. In the end, Theriault would have to settle for 2nd.
The following week Theriault would return to Thunder Road International Speedbowl for the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic. Theriault had to battle his way into the feature through the consolation race placing him in the 25th starting position. On a track known for tight maneuvering and a tricky fourth turn, Theriault was able to pick his way to the 5th position by the end of the race.
With races earlier in the season having been rained out the last few weekends of the ACT season presented Theriault and his team with two grueling double weekends. The first doubleheader weekend was in Quebec, Canada with 22 select ACT and ACT Castol Serie teams competing for bragging rights at Autrodrome Chaudiere in Vallee-Jonction, QC for the Budweiser Showdown at Chaudiere a non-points race.
With only one car and the following day's race a points event Theriault chose to race hard but with patience and caution, which served as a good combination allowing him to drive from the 19th position to 8th and help the United States based ACT teams grab the challenge win. Less than 24 hours later Theriault would continue his top-five finishes by taking 4th place in the Can-Am 200 at Circuit Riverside in Ste-Croix, QC after starting 10th.
Riding the momentum from the previous weeks Theriault returned to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for his second appearance in the ACT Invitational. Theriault finished the morning practice session near the top of the speed charts, but the race's handicapping system would force fast cars to start toward the back of the field. Theriault pulled starting position 24 and knew he had his work cut out for him with only 50-laps to get to the front. The track did not change as much as the team had hoped and the handling on Theriault's late model suffered as a result. Though he had to battle his own car along with his fellow competitors, Theriault never gave up and finished 11th, a marked improvement from his previous year's performance in the ACT Invitational.
The Austin Theriault 2011 ACT campaign was on fire, never finishing outside of the top-five in any of the last six ACT points races of the 2011 season.
After the struggles of the first half of the season Theriault sat in the lower levels of the top ten in points, but his strong second half consistency pushed him to 3rd place in the final American-Canadian Tour 2011 season point standings.
Though a very impressive season, Theriault and his team are now preparing for the 2012 season and all of the opportunities and challenges that it may present. In the meantime, Theriault is busy finishing up his Senior year of high school and logging hours behind a different set of controls, those of an airplane, as he prepares to get his pilot's license. He hopes that the 2012 season will bring him to new heights much like his current flight training.
- Written by Allison Coombs, Pit Road Press Box |
