by Jay | Jun 21, 2012 | New England, Thunder Road, Vermont
South Burlington, VT’s Trampas Demers made a return to victory lane in the Late Model Stock Car division on Thursday (June 21) night’s Casella Waste Management event at Barre’s Thunder Road. Demers, who was driving his father’s familiar #86 automobile after a hard wreck in last Sunday’s (June 17) event, had to hold off a hard charging Jamie Fisher and Cody Blake to pick up his first victory of 2012.
Outside pole sitter Dave Whitcomb dominated early, leading all but the final two laps in the caution-free 50-lap event. Demers slid underneath Whitcomb on lap 35, only to engage in a no-holds-barred showdown for the win. Whitcomb seemed to have the race in hand in the outside lane until he slid too high and into the dirt in turn one with less than two laps remaining. Demers took advantage, sliding underneath Whitcomb with Fisher and Blake in tow. Whitcomb recovered to finish fourth, and Mike Bailey came home fifth. Rookie Lance Allen, Eric Chase, Ricky Roberts, John Donahue, and Chip Grenier rounded out the top ten.
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by Jay | Jun 18, 2012 | New England, Thunder Road, Vermont
Jason Corliss and Justin Town Collect Feature Wins
David Pembroke bolstered his title defense with a high-flying victory on a beautiful Sunday (June 17) afternoon at Thunder Road. Pembroke nipped South Barre’s Mike Bailey at the line by just .021 seconds to claim his first feature victory of 2012.
The early stages of the race were led by Winooski driver Jerry Lesage until an early caution brought the field back to his bumper. Bailey snatched the lead on the restart and was driving away when a devastating wreck took the car of Trampas Demers. Pembroke and Bailey dueled side by side for the final 17 laps of the 50 lap race. Defending champion Pembroke pulled ahead in the final moments in the outside groove to take the checkered flag. Pembroke was ecstatic to be back in victory lane.
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by | Jun 15, 2012 | New England, Thunder Road, Vermont
Barre, VT – On Sunday, June 17, Barre’s Thunder Road will celebrate Harvest Equipment night with door to door racing from the Late Models, Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen, and Allen Lumber Street Stocks with a special twist.
The stars and cars of Thunder Road will be in attendance early to give kids free rides around the high banks starting at 1:15pm. Also, all Scouts and Little League participants in uniform, as well as participants in the Race to Read program who have shown progress on their reading lists, will get into the show for free. There will also be Kid’s Trike Races for ages 3-4 and 5-6 during intermission. It will surely be a night to remember for young race fans.
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by | Jun 15, 2012 | Thunder Road
Barre, VT – Thunder Road’s point leaders have never had it easy, but 2012 may bring more sleepless nights than ever for the three divisions’ top talent. As it sits, the largest gap between first and second in season standings across all divisions at Thunder Road is a stunning one point, leaving point leaders nerve-wracked as the season continues this Sunday (June 17) at twilight.
Barre sensation Nick Sweet holds the one point advantage over Lt. Governor Phil Scott on the wings of a remarkable drive from 19th to 4th this past Sunday in the Late Model division. With two drivers tied for third, and two more tied for fifth, Sweet cannot find much comfort atop the standings. (more…)
by Jay | Jun 11, 2012 | ACT, Thunder Road, Touring Series News, Vermont
Barre’s own Jay Laquerre took the outside lane to victory in the headline Late Model division on Sunday evening (June 10) on Sherwin-Williams night at Thunder Road. Laquerre’s victory was his first since 2001 when he scored his two career victories at the Barre high banks. Jamie “The Hurricane” Fisher made Laquerre work for the win on a late race charge, but settled for second. Cody Blake, former Thunder Road Champion Nick Sweet, and multi-time champion Phil Scott rounded out the top five.
Laquerre took the lead and ran away in the first half of the race after a lap three caution for debris before Fisher caught him using the outside lane in lapped traffic over the final 47 green flag laps. Fisher mounted multiple attacks, cruising to Laquerre’s bumper and pulling down on the inside, only to find himself back in second. Laquerre is thankful Fisher had the same handling condition as they battled for the lead.
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by Jay | Jun 7, 2012 | New England, Thunder Road, Vermont
Racing historian Cho Lee of Barre, VT will be remembered at Thunder Road this Sunday, June 10 in the racetrack’s first seasonal weekly program presented by Sherwin-Williams. It will be the first of two twilight Sunday affairs for the high-banked oval before weekly Thursday night racing begins.
Lee, who co-authored “Fifty Years of Excitement” documenting Thunder Road’s history, will be remembered by the New England Antique Racers with the Cho Lee Memorial Race. More than thirty vintage racecars are expected to join Thunder Road’s three weekly racing divisions in Sunday’s event.
St. Johnsbury VT’s John Gammell will be in attendance to present the award for the historic racing cars. Gammell, who has been fighting cancer, is nostalgic for the opportunity.
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