Barre, VT – Montpelier’s Dave Pembroke holds the Late Model points lead by a slim 11 points over Barre’s Nick Sweet at Thunder Road International Speedbowl Season heading into this Thursday’s Times Argus Mid-Season Championship Night. Double points will be on the line. Pembroke and Sweet head into what is possibly the most important event in their campaign to become the “King of the Road” in the 50th Anniversary Season.
Although the eventual champion has not won the Times Argus Mid-Season Championship event since Cris Michaud did it in 2004, it is clear that the event plays a big role in crowning the champion. Since 2003 the soon to be “King of the Road” finished no worse than 8th place with double points on the line. In all but one of those years the champion would leave the Mid-Season Championship event with the point lead. The only exception being in 2007 when champion Dave Pembroke trailed by only one point after Times Argus Mid-Season Championship Night.
Double points are up for grabs in all four of the “Nation’s Site of Excitement” divisions, including the NAPA Tiger Sportsmen. James Hebert of Williamstown leads the Tiger point’s battle by a mere three points over Derrick O’Donnell. The top five are currently separated by just 10 points.
The Allen Lumber Street Stocks point race is just as tight as 2008 champion Jason Corliss of Danville holds an eight point advantage.
Double points should give Ken Christman a chance to close the 26 point gap between himself and the Power Shift Junkyard Warrior point leader Donnie Yates of Montpelier. Four-time feature winner Kevin Streeter is 40 points out of the lead.
Times Argus Mid-Season Championship Night is this Thursday, July 16. All four divisions will be fighting for double points. There will also be an autograph session with all the drivers during intermission. Post time is set for 6:30pm.