BARRE, VT – Late Model stock car driver Cris Michaud of Northfield won a thrilling two-lap shootout over Hyde Park’s Eric Williams in the Sanel Parts Plus 50 at Barre’s Thunder Road on Thursday night. Michaud, a three-time Thunder Road Track Champion, had a full straightaway lead lap 48, as the race had run caution-free until rookie Matt White hit the wall to bring out the yellow flag and bunch the field for the restart. From there, Williams raced inches away from Michaud for the win but fell three feet shy
at the finish line.
Robbie Crouch of Tampa, FL posted his first Thunder Road podium finish in nearly two decades with a third-place effort. Phil Scott of Montpelier held off Middlesex driver Dave Pembroke for fifth. Jamie Fisher, Dennis Demers, Mike Bailey, Trampas Demers, and Shawn Fleury rounded out the unofficial top ten in order.
Sean McCarthy of Williamstown scored a major upset first-career win in the NAPA Tiger Sportsman division. McCarthy won in only his third career feature start, holding off rookie Dan Eastman of Thetford Center in the 30-lap event. Barre drivers Scott Coburn and rookie Cody Blake turned in a fierce side-by-side performance with Coburn edging Blake for the third spot. Groton’s Tony Rossi finished a career-best fifth.
Bolton’s Vern Woodard captured his first career Allen Lumber Street Stock victory in a 25-lap event. David Greenslit of Waitsfield was a season-best second over West Topsham’s Tim Campbell, Dave LaFleche of Graniteville, and Montpelier rookie Brett Pierce.
Jamie Davis of Wolcott earned his second Power Shift Online Junkyard Warrior victory of the season over Waterbury’s Neal Foster. Scott Weston of Berlin, Cabot’s Ken Christman, and South Burlington’s Mike Gay rounded out the unofficial top five. Speed51.com Editor Mike Twist of Lyman, ME posted his second-straight win in the annual “Media Madness” race. Twist
drover Jamie Davis’ Junkyard Warrior to the win over Stowe (VT) Reporter writer Jesse Roman and WCAX-TV (CBS) Sports anchor Mike McGill.
Thunder Road’s 49th season of stock car racing is back in action with the CARQUEST VT Governor’s Cup 100 next Thursday, June 26, with a special start time of 6:00pm. General admission is $15 for adults, with kids 12 and under free. Adults can save $3 off general admission with a ticket stub from the Sanel Parts Plus event. For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Sanel Parts Plus Night
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl – Barre, VT – Thu., June 19, 2008
Pos.-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
ACT Late Models (50 laps)
1. Cris Michaud, Northfield
2. Eric Williams, Hyde Park
3. Robbie Crouch, Tampa, FL
4. Phil Scott, Montpelier
5. Dave Pembroke, Middlesex
6. Jamie Fisher, Shelburne
7. Dennis Demers, Shelburne
8. Mike Bailey, South Barre
9. Trampas Demers, South Burlington
10. Shawn Fleury, Middlesex
NAPA Tiger Sportsmen (30 laps)
1. Sean McCarthy, Williamstown
2. #Dan Eastman, Thetford Ctr.
3. Scott Coburn, Barre
4. #Cody Blake, Barre
5. Tony Rossi, Groton
6. Ricky Roberts, Websterville
7. Eric Badore, Milton
8. Rick Garand, Middlesex
9. Matt Potter, Plainfield
10. Craig Bushey, Cambridge
Allen Lumber Street Stocks (25 laps)
1. Vern Woodard, Bolton
2. David Greenslit, Waitsfield
3. Tim Campbell, West Topsham
4. Dave LaFleche, Graniteville
5. #Brett Pierce, Montpelier
Power Shift Online Junkyard Warriors (15 laps)
1. Jamie Davis, Wolcott
2. Neal Foster, Waterbury
3. Scott Weston, Berlin
4. Ken Christman, Cabot
5. Mike Gay, South Burlington
“Media Madness” race (8 laps)
1. Mike Twist, Lyman, ME (Speed51.com)
2. Jesse Roman, Stowe (Stowe Reporter)
3. Mike McGill, West Bolton (WCAX-TV Ch. 3)