BARRE, VT – Stock car driver Cris Michaud of Northfield tightened the track championship point battle at Barre’s Thunder Road with a victory in the 50-lap Times Argus Mid-Season Championship race on Thursday night. The win, his third of the season, came in a race that awarded double points, bringing him to within six points of leader Eric Williams, unofficially.
Trampas Demers of South Burlington finished second over Montpelier’s Phil Scott, in a season-best third place. Williams, of Hyde Park, finished in fourth over Middlesex racer Dave Pembroke. Dave Whitcomb, Joe Becker, John Donahue, rookie Tony Andrews, and Brett Wheeler completed the unofficial top ten finishers in order.
Michaud, who entered the night 18 points behind Williams, now trails 533-527, unofficially. Scott and Pembroke are tied at third with 500 points each, while Donahue sits fifth at 480.
East Montpelier veteran Joey Laquerre, who celebrated his 65th birthday last week, won his second NAPA Tiger Sportsman feature of the season in the division’s 30-lap event. Eric Badore of Georgia earned his best results of 2008 in second place. Tom Therrien of Hinesburg, Alex Perkins of Chelsea, and Essex Junction’s Mark Barnier completed the unofficial top five.
Tommy “Thunder” Smith of Williamstown captured the 25-lap Allen Lumber Street Stock event despite a souring engine. Smith passed leader David Greenslit of Waitsfield late in the going and held on the for the win. Greenslit fended off Hardwick’s Greg Adams, Jr., Williamstown rookie Mike MacAskill, and Northfield’s Jason Allen at the finish.
Travis Hull of Graniteville took his second Power Shift Online Junkyard Warrior feature win of the year in a 15-lap race. Neal Foster of Waterbury was second, followed by Barre’s Justin Gay, Troy Randall of West Burke, and Jeff Martin, Jr. of Moretown.
Thunder Road is back in action on Thursday, July 24 with the Fisher/Federated Auto Parts Trophy Dash. General admission is $9.50 for adults, $3 for kids (6-12), and just $20 for a family of four. Gates open at 5:00pm, racing begins at 6:30pm. For
more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Times Argus Mid-Season Championship
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl – Barre, VT – Thursday, July 17, 2008
(# – denotes rookie)
Pos.-Driver-Hometown
Late Model (50 laps)
1. Cris Michaud, Northfield
2. Trampas Demers, South Burlington
3. Phil Scott, Montpelier
4. Eric Williams, Hyde Park
5. Dave Pembroke, Middlesex
6. Dave Whitcomb, Essex Jct.
7. Joe Becker, Jeffersonville
8. John Donahue, Graniteville
9. #Tony Andrews, Middlebury
10. Brett Wheeler, Waterbury Ctr.
NAPA Tiger Sportsman (30 laps)
1. Joey Laquerre, East Montpelier
2. Eric Badore, Georgia
3. Tom Therrien, Hinesburg
4. Alex Perkins, Chelsea
5. Mark Barnier, Essex Jct.
6. Lance Allen, Barre
7. Craig Bushey, Cambridge
8. Brendan Moodie, North Wolcott
9. Shawn Sicard, Barre
10. #Mike Ziter, Barre
Allen Lumber Street Stock (25 laps)
1. Tommy Smith, Williamstown
2. David Greenslit, Waitsfield
3. Greg Adams, Jr., Hardwick
4. #Mike MacAskill, Williamstown
5. Jason Allen, Northfield
6. #Brett Pierce, Montpelier
7. Gary Mullen, Tunbridge
8. Lloyd Blakely, Barre
9. Mike Martin, Craftsbury Common
10. Garry Bashaw, Lincoln
Power Shift Online Junkyard Warrior (15 laps)
1. Travis Hull, Graniteville
2. Neal Foster, Waterbury
3. Justin Gay, Barre
4. Troy Randall, West Burke
5. Jeff Martin, Jr., Moretown
6. Jamie Davis, Wolcott
7. Mark LaFleche, Graniteville
8. Lance Donald, Williamstown
9. Fred Schroeder, Bristol
10. Mike Ducey, Williamstown