By Phil Whipple
Staff Writer
BARRE, Vermont — Veteran short track drivers Cris Michaud and Jason Corliss posted feature wins in their respective divisions
Thursday evening, as Fairpoint Communications presented a full card of racing at the famed Thunder Road International Speedbowl.
Michaud, of East Montpelier, VT, took the lead from Cody Blake on lap two and survived four restarts to claim the 50-lap Late
Model feature. Jamie Fisher gave Michaud a run for his money in the closing laps but settled for second, while Blake hung on for
third. Blake, son of former Thunder Road regular Greg Blake, earned his first Late Model podium finish after claiming Rookie-
of-the-Year honors in 2010. Matt White and former NASCAR champion Jamie Aube completed the top five.
“My guys have been working so hard all season, we just haven’t been able to produce the results we’re after,” Michaud said. “The
guys found several things that were wrong with the car in recent weeks, they’re bveen fixed now and the car really came around
tonight. I definately owe this win to them, I appreciate all they’ve done to get this car hooked up again.”
Fisher was really gunning to get back into Victory Lane himself but was gracious in post-race interviews.
“This car has been getting better and better eveery week,” Fisher explained. “Cody ran me clean when I was up beside him, and
Cris just had too much for us tonight. I’m happy for Cris and his team, but I hope to win one these things pretty soon.”
Four cautions slowed the pace, none for serious incident.
Corliss, of Danville, VT, took the lead from Matt Potter on lap 24 and hung on to claim the 35-lap Tiger Sportsman feature.
Potter was the event’s third different leader, following Mike MacAskill and Shannon Tomasovich on the point. Those first two
leaders battled side-by-side for several laps as the enthusiastic summer crowd roared in approval. Pete Ainsworth brought his
No. 80 machine in third, while point leader Derrick O’Donnell and Brandan Moodie completed the top five.
“The car had a ton of grip out there tonight,” Corliss said. “In that first make-up feature, I wasn’t really happy with how the
car handled. My guys made a few changes and they really brought the car around. This is a tough division week in and week out,
we’re just thrilled to win one of these things and hope to do it again before the season is over.”
In earlier feature action, Tucker Williams powered his way to victory in the Tiger Sportman feature rained out last Sunday
evening. The second-genration pilot from Hyde Park dove inside of early leader Mike Billado on lap 16 qnd hung on for top
honors. Thunder Road veteran “Double O” Joe Steffen came home second, while Bobby Therrien was third. Pete Ainsworth and Jason
Allen completed the top five.
“I saw that Mike was pushing up off turn 2, and I knew we had the power to get under him,” Williams said. “I made that move
going into turn 3, and he gave me all the room I needed. This is great to pick up a second win before mid-summer, I just hope we
can keep this kind of momentum rolling all summer long.”
Finishing sixth through 10th in the Tiger Sportsman make-up feature was Jason Corliss, Billado, Eric Badore, Chris Pelkey and
Mike Ziter. Only one caution slowed the pace, brought out when Blair Bessette spun his car on the frontstretch.
Daniel Lathrop of Hyde Parl also wheeled his machine into Victory Lane Thursday evening, holding off a wild pack to claim the
Street Stock feature.
Thunder Road returns to action this coming Monday, July 4, for the Pepsi Holiday Spectacular. Post time at the “Nations’s Site
of Excitement” is 6:30 p.m.