When the green flag waves on Saturday’s second annual American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, no less than 10 Maine natives will be in the 43-car field.

Late Model teams from around the northeast are anxiously awaiting their turn on New England’s only superspeedway. It’s an opportunity many will never enjoy.

Among them are five weekly regulars at Oxford Plains Speedway. On the list of invitees for 2010 are newly-crowned champion Tim Brackett of Buckfield; former champions Shawn Martin of Turner and Strong’s Scott Luce; 2003 track champion Ricky Rolfe of Albany Township, and two-time champion Dennis Spencer Jr of Oxford. 

Completing the list of Maine natives participating are Brad Babb (Windham); Austin Theriault (Fort Kent); T.J. Watson (Cundy’s Harbor); Glen Luce (Turner); and five-time Oxford champion Travis Adams (Canton).

Saturday’s ACT Invitational is part of a whirlwind tripleheader, which includes races for NASCAR’s Camping World Truck (175 laps) and Whelen Modified (100 laps) series. The day will also include practice for the NASCAR Spint Cup Series. 

After a successful debut by the ACT Late Models on the “Magic Mile,” speedway officials happily booked the tour back as part of their big Chase-opening weekend. Last September, Eddie MacDonald captured the inaugural ACT Invitational after starting 19th on the 36-car grid. 

Just one week after earning his second championship at Oxford, Brackett will load up and head for Loudon, N.H., with excitement yet realistic expectations.

“I’m pretty excited about going, but I really think TJ’s car (his son) was faster in testing,” Brackett said. “He’s putting his setup under my car, and I think we’ll be in decent shape. Some guys have special cars for this race, but I don’t have that luxury. I think it is realistic to expect that we can score a top 15 finish.”

ACT president Tom Curley faced the difficult challenge of trimming a list of 71 teams down to the 43 drivers who will start Saturday’s race. Some were guaranteed a spot in the race when they won an ACT points race or special event, while the rest got in through proving their skills on one of two “Test & Tune” days last month. 

This has been a very difficult process,”Curley said after announcing the final eight drivers earlier this week. “I think we have assembled a very good field to represent us this coming Saturday. Fans will expect to see some of the best short track racers in this region put on a great race, and I think this group will do just that.”