Dragon Wins While Corliss Breaks Open Title Chase on Jet Service-Accura Night
Pelkey, Weston, and Jaques Earn Victories
Barre, VT — Both Milton’s Scott Dragon and Barre’s Jason Corliss emerged as big winners on a wild Jet Service Envelope/Accura Printing Night at Thunder Road on Thursday, August 27. Dragon drove away from the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model field following a multi-car midrace tangle for his third victory of the year while Corliss took control of the “King of the Road” battle with his runner-up finish.
Both drivers were mired in traffic early in the 50-lap feature as Wolcott’s Brendan Moodie set the pace off the outside pole. After the first yellow on lap six when Marcel J. Gravel and Boomer Morris smacked the turn-two wall, Graniteville’s Christopher Pelkey went to work on Moodie’s outside.
Pelkey put a bumper up for the first time on lap nine before finally clearing Moodie seven circuits later following a breathtaking battle. When the second caution came out on lap 21 for Nick Sweet’s spin, Dragon had only managed to advance three spots from his ninth starting position while Corliss was running eighth after taking the green in 14th. Meanwhile, championship runner-up Bobby Therrien was forced to pit during the yellow to try and correct an overheating issue.
Thunder Road Reaches Thursday Night Finale at Jet Service/Accura Night
Run-What-U-Brung Also Returns for Annual Thrills
Barre, VT — The final Thursday night event of the year at Barre’s Thunder Road is coming this Thursday, August 27 with Jet Service Envelope/Accura Printing Night. The conclusion of the annual summer racing tradition is just the beginning for some drivers as they enter the homestretch of the championship shootouts.
Just three point-counting events remain for the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, and Allen Lumber Stocks as they duke it out for track championships. They’ll be joined on Thursday by the Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors and “Run-What-U-Brung” spectator races for a full program to send off the Central Vermont summer in style.
For the third straight year, it looks like the “King of the Road” fight will come down to the final laps of the season. Four drivers are separated by 21 points at the top of the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model standings. With the potential to earn up to 85 points in one night, and fields growing as racers prepare for big end-of-season events, things could change in a flash.
Tad Kingsbury gets his first win for 2020 in the DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes
Ryan Christian scores the win in the C.A. Miller Limited Late Models
Bear Ridge Speedway
Feature winners for the Dead River night at the Ridge: Jason Gray in the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds, Tad Kingsbury in the DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes, Seth Carlson in the USAC DMA Midgets, Ryan Christian in the C.A. Miller Limited Late Models, Lucas Wheeler in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stockers, Jason Porter in the Peanuts Auto Four Cylinders, Tom Chaffee in the Granite State 500cc’s and Anthony MarVuglio the Granite State 600cc’s.
Jason Gray extends his point lead with his sixth win of the season in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modifieds It apparently doesn’t matter what track conditions are as he once again was the car to watch coming from deep in the field. Gray captures his sixth win with Jordan Fornwalt coming home in second trying to figure out what he has to do to beat him. DJ Robinson crossed the line in third with his best finish of the season. Mike Dunn and Matt Lashua completed the top five.
Gray Sweeps Competition Away in Bolduc Enduro and Street Stock Special
Barre, VT — East Thetford, VT’s Brandon Gray pulled a historic double by sweeping the Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro 200 and Street Stock Special at Barre’s Thunder Road on Sunday, August 23. Gray started the night by snatching the Allen Lumber Street Stock victory in the final corner before putting on a masterful performance to triumph in the 36th annual Enduro 200 and take the $3,00 top prize.
The veteran didn’t need long to find his way to the front of a 114-car Enduro starting field. Gray was already on the point when the first scoring check-in came at the 50-lap mark. Father-son duo Paul and Cody Hodge were his closest competitors for much of the event, but Gray steadily pulled away, putting his Street Stock experience to use on the high banks.
He did so while navigating through a race that was rough-and-tumble even by Enduro standards. At least 10 red flags stopped the event with three rollovers — including one where the driver flopped back on all four wheels and just kept on going. Gray did sustain some minor nose damage at one point but showed remarkable patience steering through the worst of the carnage while continuing to extend his advantage.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway Suffers First Rainout of 2020
Tickets, wristbands honored August 29 or September 12
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Devil’s Bowl Speedway suffered its first weather-related postponement of the 2020 season on Sunday, August 23. Brief but torrential rains moved over the speedway around 5:00 p.m., and totally saturated the facility. Though the sun returned, the track surface was not in a raceable condition, forcing officials to pull the plug.
There were 35 Pepsi Sportsman Modifieds in the pit area for the Charlie LaDuc Memorial 54-lap special, which will have a makeup date to be announced soon.
Maresca, Begor Team Up for Vermont 200 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway
Fonda champion, Airborne star bringing two-car team for $7,500-to-win event
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – A two-car team has just become an instant contender in the Interstate All Battery Center Vermont 200 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. Begor Racing has entered a pair of cars into the country’s biggest Sportsman Modified dirt track race on Sunday, September 6, with top drivers Michael Maresca and Jamy Begor at the controls.
Maresca, of Potsdam, N.Y., recently clinched his first Modified track championship at the historic Fonda Speedway, and he also won $20,000 in the prestigious Outlaw 200 at Fulton Speedway last October. Begor, of Mooers Forks, N.Y., is one of Airborne Speedway’s all-time winningest drivers, and he took three big victories in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified class at that track a year ago.
