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Strong Start

Starting a new season on a high note can set the tone for the rest of the year. Ray Parent and the Amtrol Racing Team did just that at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH this past weekend; as Parent raced his way a top five finish in the opening round of the American Canadian Tour.

The Tiverton, RI driver rebounded from a spin in his heat to secure a front row starting position for the 150 lap event that saw 38 drivers from around New England and Canada attempt to qualify.

Scheduled to start 6th in his heat, a first lap tangle had the 17RI facing the wrong way and sent to the rear. Restarting 9th Parent wasted little time as he took to the outside groove to work his way to the front. Grabbing the 3rd position by inches at the line. Carrying a all important +3 in passing points to the main event.

"To rebound like that in the heat and finish 3rd showed our Team is for real. A couple more laps and i think i could have won that thing, said Parent.

The feature event put Parent in the number two starting spot outside a young first time starter Travis Fadden. A side by side battle for the lead would see Parent get the advantage and power into the lead on lap three. A lead he would keep for the next 70 laps.

As the field paced clicking off laps caution free, Fadden would mount a challenge in lapped traffic to take his turn at the point. A back and forth battle for the top spot would see the 16NH edge ahead on lap 82. Fighting an ill handling car Parent would battle his way throughout the top 5 for the next 35 laps.

Following as far back as 7th with 20 laps to go. Parent clawed his way to a career best 5th place finish at the New Hampshire oval. "That was a great start to the season. The car was really tight in the center the longer we went. The stagger closed up and it was handful at the end, said Parent."

The biggest accomplishment of the weekend coming by way of teamwork, said Parent. "We are crew chief by committee here and everyone did a great job. I'm so proud of how hard and well everyone worked together all weekend. Everyone was on the same page and it paid off."

After leading the most laps and taking a top 5 to start the year the Team is ready to keep the momentum going. Round #2 takes place at the famed high-banks of Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, VT for the Merchants Bank 150 in two weeks.

Rayline Racing would like to thank our proud partners.: Amtrol • HydroLevel • Distinctive Auto Body • Phoenix Builders • Bayside Auto Center • Bobs Sea And Ski • Dan Davies Sales • Five Star Bodies • Longacre Racing Products • Hedman Hedders • Ford Racing

Follow Ray:
https://www.facebook.com/Raylineracing

https://twitter.com/Ray_Parent

http://www.rayparent.com/

Lief Tillotson Photo - http://leiftillotsonphotography.smugmug.com/

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