BARRE, VT – There may be no person in Vermont looking forward to Thursday evening more than Late Model stock car driver Dave Whitcomb of Essex Junction. The multi-time champion will return to Barre’s Thunder Road – a 1/4-mile, high-banked, asphalt short track where Whitcomb was the 1995 “King of the Road” Track Champion – in pursuit of the victory on Ferguson Waterworks Night, June 12 at 6:30 pm.
The event is significant for several reasons; first, it’s the opening Thursday night event at Thunder
Road, a central Vermont stock car racing and entertainment tradition 49 years running. Second, Whitcomb’s sleek, black #25 Chevrolet Monte Carlo is sponsored by Ferguson Waterworks. Third, and perhaps most importantly, Whitcomb led 42 laps at the event last year before finishing a close second.
“That was one great race, but I’d like to finish one spot higher this year,” said Whitcomb. “I’m going to give it all I can, and we’ll see what happens.”
Whitcomb certainly gave it all he had in last year’s 50-lap Ferguson Waterworks showdown. He and
Shelburne’s Dennis Demers fought tooth-and-nail for the win in a paint-swapping match that brought the fans to their feet. Demers survived two spins before stealing the win.
“It was a pretty wild race last year, a lot of fun. Maybe I can steal it again this year,” Demers
chuckled.
“I like to win, but it really doesn’t matter where I finish as long as we’re putting on a good show,”
Whitcomb added. “The people at Ferguson were there because they sponsored the event, but they’re also race fans and they had a blast last year. It’s nice that people still get excited about racing, and it’s great to have their support and all the other fans’ support at Thunder Road… and I do want to get that win for them on Thursday.”
Whitcomb, Demers, point leader John Donahue of Graniteville, and the rest of the American-Canadian Tour Late Model division will be joined on Ferguson Waterworks Night by the NAPA Tiger Sportsman, Allen Lumber Street Stock, and Power Shift Online Junkyard Warrior divisions, as well as the New England Antique Racers. General admission is only $9.50 for adults, $3 for children (6-12), and just $20 for a “family” ticket, good for any two adults and two kids. Racing action begins at 6:30 pm. For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.