WATERBURY, Vt. -- American Canadian Tour officials have announced that the Inaugural ACT International 500 to be held at Airborne Speedway on the weekend of July 20/21 will exceed a total purse of $140,000, making it the richest event in ACT’s 28-year history.

Airborne Speedway Promoter Mike Perrotte can’t wait to get the weekend started.

“I’m extremely excited to have a race of this magnitude here. It will be without a doubt the biggest event ever held at Airborne Speedway,” said Perrotte. “It’s a big boost to our community. Fans from all over will get to watch more than 500 laps of exciting short track racing from teams all over New England, New York, Rhode Island, Quebec and Ontario. It’s going to be a huge event.”

American Canadian Tour teams on both sides of the border are fired up for a chance at the enormous payday. 8-time American Canadian Tour Champion Brian Hoar and his team see it as a shot at history.

“I love the long distance races, they really suit my style,” said Hoar. “I don’t change my goals week to week whether it’s point racing or not. We will definitely be going for it. I’ve had a lot of success at Airborne over the years; I really love it there. Hopefully we can tune it right, lead a lot of laps, and lead the most important one too,” he finished.

Runner-up on the Série ACT Castrol Jean-Francois Déry expects to fly the Canadian flag high at the summer’s marquee event.

“I am most excited about the International 500 this season,” said Dery. “Without hesitation, the International 500 is the race of the year!”

The Inaugural ACT International 500 will roll off on the weekend of July 20/21.

For additional information head to www.acttour.com, call the ACT Office at (802) 244-6963, or email us at media@acttour.com