Sep 2, 2020 | Thunder Road, Vermont
Locals Ready to Go the Distance Against Labor Day Classic Invaders
Barre, VT — Barre’s Thunder Road is ready to celebrate Labor Day the only way it knows how — by going racing. The 42nd Optical Expressions Labor Day Classic this Sunday, September 6 is the track’s longest race of the year and will feature the region’s biggest Late Model stars for 200 laps of heart-pounding action.
Sunday’s event counts toward the championship for both the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) and the weekly Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models. That means local heroes like Jason Corliss, Scott Dragon, Bobby Therrien, and Trampas Demers will take on the likes of Jimmy Hebert, D.J. Shaw, Ryan Kuhn, Bryan Kruczek, and other traveling ACT invaders.
The history of the Labor Day Classic goes back to Thunder Road’s inaugural 1960 season. Following a period where the Vermont Milk Bowl was held Labor Day weekend, the Classic was restored in 1997 and has been a staple of the schedule in various forms ever since.
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Aug 28, 2020 | Thunder Road, Vermont
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.
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Aug 27, 2020 | Thunder Road, Vermont
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.
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Aug 24, 2020 | Thunder Road, Vermont
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.
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Aug 21, 2020 | Thunder Road, Vermont
Therrien Tightens Championship Battle with Win on VT Tire & Service Night
Martin, Dopp, Campbell, & Putney Also Earn Wins
Barre, VT — Hinesburg’s Bobby Therrien put a supercharge into his bid to become the 2020 “King of the Road” by capturing the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model main event at Vermont Tire & Service Night on Thursday, August 20. The 2017 Thunder Road track champion took the lead from Shelburne’s Trampas Demers with 13 laps remaining and then drove away to considerably tighten this year’s title battle.
Therrien started eighth for the 50-lap trophy dash and followed fellow title contender Marcel J. Gravel through the field as outside polesitter Matt White set the pace. As Gravel and Therrien hounded second-place runner Demers at the halfway point, Eric Chase came to a stop on the front stretch, drawing the race’s only caution.
Demers had been losing ground to White at the time of the yellow, but he came to life on the restart, sailing around White to take the lead. Therrien followed Demers around on the high side a few laps later and then began putting the pressure on for the top spot.
With 14 laps to get, Therrien found a hole underneath Demers and went for it, completing the pass a lap later and taking off like a rocket from there for the win. His first victory of the year unofficially pulled him within 12 points of overall leader Jason Corliss with just three point-counting events remaining.
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Aug 20, 2020 | Thunder Road, Vermont
Thunder Road Doubling Up with VT Tire & Service Night and Bolduc Enduro
Barre, VT — Barre’s Thunder Road is ready for a double dose of Vermont stock car thrills this Thursday, August 20 and Sunday, August 23. Vermont Tire & Service Night and the 36th Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro 200 gives fans two chances to see great racing either at the track or worldwide on the Northeast Sports Network.
The doubleheader starts with Vermont Tire & Service Night on Thursday, August 20 at 7:00pm. All four of Thunder Road’s weekly divisions are on the card with the stars of the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, Allen Lumber Street Stocks, and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors ready to do battle. The evening also includes the Marvin Johnson Memorial First-Time Winners Race where a Street Stock driver becomes a first-time winner on the high banks.
Then on Sunday, August 23 at 6:00pm is the annual “People’s Race”. The Bolduc Enduro 200 has been an annual Thunder Road tradition since 1985. Pre-entries are on par with previous seasons, meaning 100 or more cars are once again expected to vie for the $3,000 top prize.
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