Jason Gray wins 3rd DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modifieds
Seth Calson wins the USAC DMA Midgets
Bear Ridge Speedway
Twin State Ford of St Johnsbury VT feature winners were: Jason Gray in the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds, Jason Horniac in the DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes, Seth Carlson USAC DMA Midgets, John Neddo in the C.A. Miller Limited Late Models, Tyler Terry in the LaValley’s Building Supply Dirt Stockers, and Buddy Welch in the Peanuts Auto Four Cylinders.
In the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modifieds Jason Gray once again comes from the final qualifying position capitalizing on some early lap cautions to use the restarts to make his way to the front and claim his third win of the season. Richie Simmons made his way to the pole position holding on until Gray knocked on his door on lap twenty-nine. Richie watched his chance at a win slip away as Gray cruised on to claim the checkers. Matt Lashua was the final one to complete the victory lane trio. Todd Buckwold and Jordan Fornwalt completed the top five.
Corliss Beats Field, Weather for Electrifying VT Governor’s Cup Win
Barre, VT — Hometown racer Jason Corliss notched yet another crown jewel at Barre, VT’s Thunder Road by fending off the best of the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models as well as the threat of Mother Nature in the 41st Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 on Thursday, July 16. The defending champion got the best of multiple on-track battles in the race of the year for the Late Models to grab his second straight win and the 17th of his storied career.
Corliss earned the pole in qualifying under the “plus-minus” system to lead a 23-car starting field to the green flag. After the veteran set the pace early, Wolcott’s Marcel J. Gravel showed why he was the Late Model point leader entering the night, swinging around the outside of Corliss to take the lead on lap 24. Corliss stayed to the inside of Gravel for more than a dozen circuits, but Gravel was able to use a lapped car as a pick on lap 38 to finally finish the pass.
Thunder Road Replaces Seekonk on Late-July ACT Schedule
American Canadian Tour
Waterbury, VT — American-Canadian Tour (ACT) officials have announced the series will head to Barre, VT’s Thunder Road on Sunday, July 26 for the 22nd Community Bank N.A. 150. The event replaces the Bay State Classic at Massachusetts’ Seekonk Speedway on the late-July ACT Late Model Tour schedule.
Earlier Monday, Seekonk officials announced the postponement of the Bay State Classic that was scheduled for Wednesday, July 29. With the track still working through the reopening process, and significant restrictions still in place for attendance and out-of-state visitors, it was determined the event could not happen at this time in a way that would be successful for the teams, fans, and sanctioning bodies. Officials are hoping to hold the event later in 2020 or in 2021.
Lanphear Holds Off All Challengers for Myers Triple Crown Win
Barre, VT — Morrisville’s Brandon Lanphear kicked his Thunder Road season into high gear with an electrifying victory in the Myers Container Service Triple Crown Series opener for the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers on Thursday, July 9. Lanphear staved off a flurry of challenges from point leader Jaden Perry of Hardwick and rookie Kasey Beattie of St. Johnsbury for his first win of the year in the 75-lap main event on the Barre high banks.
While Lanphear started on the outside pole and grabbed the lead from Hinesburg’s Eric Messier right at the start, the triumph was anything but easy for the former Rookie of the Year. For much of the event, Lanphear led a four-car breakaway with Perry, Beattie, and Logan Powers in some order.
Barre, VT — Thunder Road officials have postponed the 36th Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro 200 and Street Stock Special to Sunday, August 23 at 6:00pm. The decision was made to avoid a conflict with the NASCAR Cup Series event at Loudon’s New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which was recently moved to August 2 as part of a schedule shuffle due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The 200-lap, $3,000-to-win “People’s Race” will remain largely unchanged apart from the new date, from the three-wide start to the no-yellow-flags format. The track’s Allen Lumber Street Stocks will once again join the card with a 50-lap main event in their biggest show of the year. The rules and entry forms for the Enduro are now available at www.thunderroadvt.com/rules.
Hackel Stays Hot in Firecracker 50 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway
Pierson dominates SCoNE opener
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Bobby Hackel put on a holiday clinic at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Thursday, July 2, with a dominant back-to-front performance in the Independence Day “Firecracker 50” that brought him his second win of the season. Likewise, Adam Pierson put on a convincing display of power, as did Johnny Bruno, Jim McKiernan, Michael Daniels, and Austin Chaves. Fans were also treated to a massive holiday fireworks show.
Hackel’s victory came in the 50-lap Pepsi Sportsman Modified feature. After starting 16th on the 24-car grid, the former track champion took to the outside lane with a vengeance and marched toward the front. While Hackel began his ascent, rookie Marty Hutchins chased what would have been an upset of historic proportions; Hutchins had failed to qualify for the first three races of his freshman season, but led the first 18 laps by a wide margin from the pole position in his first career Sportsman-level start.
