Sicard Continues Tiger Dominance with Victory in Triple Crown Opener
N. Woodstock, NH – Barton, VT’s Shane Sicard showed once again why he’s the King of the Tigers at White Mountain Motorsports Park by winning the Jon Parks Tractor Triple Crown Series opener on Saturday, June 27. It was the second straight victory for Sicard in the Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers and kept him on top is his bid for a third straight division title.
Sicard actually crossed the line second in the 75-lap main event, hot on the heels of Graniteville, VT’s Stephen Donahue, who had gone wire-to-wire from the pole. However, Donahue was disqualified in post-race technical inspection for an illegal carburetor spacer, awarding another victory to the Barton veteran.
Barre, VT – Shelburne’s Trampas Demers continued his climb up the all-time winner’s list at Barre’s Thunder Road with his 13th career Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model victory at Community College of Vermont Night on Thursday, June 25. Demers led much of the 50-lap event before inheriting the victory following post-race technical inspection.
The veteran had crossed the finish line second after defending track champion Jason Corliss got around Demers on a restart with 10 laps to go to take the checkered flag. However, both Corliss and apparent third-place finisher Eric Chase were disqualified after their cars measured too wide, handing the victory to Demers. The results remain unofficial pending an appeal.
Thunder Road Continues Early-Summer Drive on CCV Night
Barre, VT – The cars and stars of Barre’s Thunder Road return to the high banks this Thursday, June 25 for Community College of Vermont Night. After their extra-long off-season finally ended last week, teams are looking to get into their summer groove and see who the players will be in the 2020 championship chases.
Even with only one event in the books, there is plenty to talk about for fans of local racing. From Marcel J. Gravel’s yeoman effort to gut out a win with a failing power steering system to surprising results for several expected championship contenders, storylines are forming for the season ahead.
Gravel Dominates, Then Hangs on for Opening Night Victory
Barre, VT – Wolcott’s Marcel J. Gravel overcame both a late challenge from the defending champion and a very tired pair of arms to take the opening-night Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model win at Barre’s Thunder Road on Thursday, June 18. Gravel pulled out to a big lead before holding off a late bid by Jason Corliss for his second career victory in the 50-lap feature as seen on Northeast Sports Network.
After starting on the outside pole, Gravel quickly darted to the lead over Westford’s Darrell Morin. As Morin and Christopher Pelkey engaged in a lengthy battle for second, Gravel left both in the dust, eventually pulling out to nearly a quarter-track lead.
But even as he walked away, it quickly became a challenging night of a different kind for Gravel. Around the 15-lap mark, the leader’s power steering began to malfunction, and eventually quit altogether. With the feature going caution-free, it became a race against fatigue for Gravel as much as it was a race against the field.
Barre, VT – Thunder Road teams, fans, and officials are now in overdrive getting ready for the start of the 61st season of competition this Thursday, June 18. Although the offseason has lasted far longer than anyone would like, and cast the season opener in an unusual light, racers of all stripes are ready to finally hit the high banks with full-scale, door-to-door competition.
All four Thunder Road divisions are on the card for Thursday’s opener. In many ways, it will look like a normal action-packed Thursday night of racing, with the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, Allen Lumber Street Stocks, and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors all looking forward to a season of racing.
The only thing that will be missing is fans in the stands. Due to state health and safety restrictions related to the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak, spectator attendance at Vermont racing events is not permitted for the time being.
N. Woodstock, NH – Williamstown, VT’s Jimmy Hebert showed that fortune favors the bold by capturing the 45th Spring Green 120 at White Mountain Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 13. Hebert made a three-wide move to swipe the lead following a lap-93 restart before holding off American-Canadian Tour ACT) champions Wayne Helliwell Jr. and Joey Polewarczyk Jr. down the stretch in the ACT season opener presented by C&S NAPA Auto Parts of Littleton/Whitefield and Sanel NAPA.
