Waterbury, VT – The Merchants Bank 150 at Barre’s Thunder Road cranked up the heat on the American Canadian Tour, shaking up the point standings before a key showdown takes place at the Spring Green 113 this Sunday, May 5 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT.
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BARRE, Vt. – Emily Packard of East Montpelier, Vt., turned in a career day at Thunder Road International Speedbowl by finishing 18th in the ACT Late Model Tour Merchants Bank 150 on Sunday, April 28. The finish marked the 16-year-old driver’s best career ACT finish in two career starts, and it came just hours after she won the second of four first-round qualifying races to earn a career-high 21st starting position in the 31-car field. Packard tried desperately to gain track position on the tight, quarter-mile bullring at Thunder Road and after a mid-race pit stop for chassis adjustments was able to finish in the Top-20.
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Bear Ridge Speedway’s 46th consecutive season
Season kicks off Saturday, May 4th
BRADFORD, VT –The track is prepped, the facility spruced up and the competitors revved up to get the green Saturday, May 4th after the annual Home Depot car show in West Lebanon, NH created a major buzz with over 100 vehicles in attendance.
Opening night for the 99Rock Weekly Racing Series could set the tone for the season for a few lucky competitors as double points will be on the line for all six divisions, making the action doubly exciting.
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BARRE, Vt. – Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., played the waiting game on Sunday afternoon and turned it into his record 38th career ACT Late Model Tour victory, leading the final 24 laps en route to winning the Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt.
The win was Hoar’s second straight victory in the event in the RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge Charger for owner and crew chief Rick Paya.
“We just had to save the rear tires, and with 40 laps to go, we just turned it on,” Hoar said. “This is just awesome.”
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Barre, VT – The sun shone on eight-time American Canadian Tour Champion Brian Hoar, as his trademark patience brought him his second Merchants Bank 150 in as many years on a beautiful afternoon on Sunday, April 28. Middlesex, VT’s Dave Pembroke came home a stout second, and 7-time ACT Champion Jean-Paul Cyr brought home a third place finish.
The race began with pole sitter Jay Laquerre running to a large lead in the early going, but it wasn’t long before Pembroke and Hoar muscled their way to the front in the outside lane, with Pembroke snatching the lead on lap 36. From there Pembroke surged, making short work of lap traffic and building his lead during a long 82-lap green flag run. ACT Rookie of the Year competitor Bobby Therrien impressed early, working his way towards the front of the pack as high as third in his third career ACT event before the caution.
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Pit Notes for Saturday, April 27 Practice
The stars of the American Canadian Tour and Thunder Road’s local divisions lit up Barre, VT for the annual Car Show on Saturday, April 27 before heading to The Nation’s Site of Excitement for a practice in preparation for the 15th Annual Merchants Bank 150 on Sunday, April 28.
Over 80 stock cars were displayed on Main Street in Barre, VT for Thunder Road’s Annual Car Show. A large gathering of fans were treated to blue skies, driver autographs and pictures, remote-controlled cars, Troy Kingsbury’s Race to Read program, and WDEV Radio. The annual Pit Stop contest featured last year’s champions battling to see who could complete the fastest two-tire change. 2012 Bond Auto Tiger Sportsman Champion Bobby Therrien stole the show with a fast time of 32.93.
When the festivities concluded, the Catamount Pipe Band led the Champions of Thunder Road and ACT down the street to prepare for the historic parade up Quarry Hill. When noon struck, the streets lined with fans and the field came to life to begin their one-mile march towards the Nation’s Site of Excitement.
Over 40 ACT Late Model Championship Cars were on hand for the optional practice day. Northfield, VT’s Matt White led the initial practice, while Shelburne, VT’s Trampas Demers paced the second. 2011 Bond Auto Tiger Sportsman Champion Derrick O’Donnell showed the way in the third practice, but it was Milton, VT’s Eric Chase who set the fastest time of the day in the fourth practice with a blistering time of 13.042. Demers was also the fastest car in the fifth session. Other fast cars included Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Jean-Paul Cyr, Travis Stearns, and Nick Sweet.
Shawn Fleury, Mike Ziter, Tucker Williams, and Eric Badore led the Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen in practice, while Greg Adams, Bunker Hodgdon, and Alan Maynard ran the fastest times in the Allen Lumber Street Stocks. No accidents occurred during the 5 hour practice session.
The 15th Annual Merchants Bank 150 will begin with the opening Class Day activities. The Champions will be honored in front of their peers with the raising of their flags, and the top three Car Show winners from each division will be announced. Post time is set for 1pm, front gates will open at 10am. Tickets are $20 for Adults, children 12 and under are free.