Alan Ward Photo
Barre, VT – Derrick O’Donnell rebounded from a tough opening Thursday night in a big way by winning the Casella Waste Management Trophy Dash at Thunder Road on Thursday, June 18.
N. Haverhill, NH’s O’Donnell took the lead from Brett Gervais following the race’s second caution on lap 36 of 50 for Mike Bailey’s spin. The two-time defending “King of the Road” then held on through a final restart on lap 39 before pulling away for his second win of the season.
“We were really good on restarts,” O’Donnell said. “I knew we could get (Gervais) on the first try, and we did – which was good, because the car would fall off a little bit (after a few laps). But it went good, and it all worked out.”
Gervais started on the pole and darted out to a big lead before the caution flew on lap 16 when Kyle Pembroke made hard contact with the frontstretch wall. Eric Chase drew alongside Gervais on the restart and a spirited battle ensued, as the two officially swapped the lead eight times before Gervais gained command.
O’Donnell followed Gervais through to second and was running in his wake when the lap-36 caution came out. Despite Gervais’ best efforts, the defending champion would not be denied on the penultimate restart.
Gervais finished second, while Eric Badore recovered from a bobble on the final restart to beat out Jason Corliss for third. Nick Sweet, point leader Scott Dragon, Chase, Josh Demers, Trampas Demers, and Phil Scott rounded out the top-10.
Rookie Stephen Donahue of Graniteville scored his first career win in the Bond Auto Tiger Sportsman feature. Donahue took the lead with a daring move beneath polesitter Dylan Payea and defending Champion Jason Woodard on lap 4 of the 35-lap event. After pulling away in the middle stages, Donahue held off a late charge from Opening Day winner Chris Pelkey for the victory.
Mike Martin finished third, followed by Woodard. Brendan Moodie, Caleb Nelson, Payea, Cameron Ouellette, Joe Steffen, and Doug Crowningshield completed the top-10.
Fairfax’s Alan Maynard got his first victory in two years in the 25-lap Street Stock feature. The University of Vermont professor inherited the lead on a lap-18 restart after Marcel J. Gravel and Chris LaForest were penalized to the second row for multiple failed attempts. Maynard then fended off last week’s winner Kyle Streeter for the win.
Gravel finished third ahead of Jamie Davis and Garry Bashaw. Richard Gravel, LaForest, Jamon Perry, Tyler Austin, and Kevin Streeter also earned top-10 finishes.
Thunder Road will be back in action next Thursday, June 25 at 6:30pm for North Country Federal Credit Union Night. The Late Models, Tiger Sportsmen, and Street Stocks will all be action. The front gates will open at 5:00pm. It is also Scout night at Thunder Road, with all boy and girl scouts in uniform admitted free. Admission is $12 for adults, $3 for kids ages 6-12, free for kids under 6, and $25 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids).
Fore more information contact the Thunder Road offices at 802.244.6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.
CASELLA WASTE MANAGEMENT NIGHT
UNOFFICIAL FINISH
THUNDER ROAD LATE MODELS
Pos, Driver, (Car #), Hometown
1. Derrick O’Donnell ( 60VT ) N. Haverhill, NH
2. Brett Gervais ( 11NH ) Island Pond, VT
3. Eric Badore ( 4VT ) Milton, VT
4. Jason Corliss ( 66VT ) Barre, VT
5. Nick Sweet ( 88VT ) Barre, VT
6. Scott Dragon ( 16VT ) Milton, VT
7. Eric Chase ( 40VT ) Milton, VT
8. Josh Demers ( 10VT ) Montpelier, VT
9. Trampas Demers ( 85VT ) S. Burlington, VT
10. Phil Scott ( 14VT ) Middlesex, VT
11. Dave Pembroke ( 44VT ) Middlesex, VT
12. John Donahue ( 26VT ) Graniteville, VT
13. Matt White ( 42VT ) Northfield, VT
14. #Darrell Morin ( 17VT ) Westford, VT
15. Jason Allen ( 29VT ) Barre, VT
16. #Scott Coburn ( 72VT ) Barre, VT
17. David Whitcomb ( 25VT ) Essex Jct., VT
18. Boomer Morris ( 13VT ) Barre, VT
19. Ricky Roberts ( 3VT ) E. Barre, VT
20. Mike Bailey ( 00VT ) S. Barre, VT
21. Shawn Fleury ( 1VT ) Middlesex, VT
22. Cody Blake ( 99VT ) Barre, VT
23. Kyle Pembroke ( 27VT ) Montpelier, VT
24. Joey Laquerre ( 15VT ) E. Montpelier, VT
25. Mark Norris ( 22ME ) Benson, VT
BOND AUTO TIGER SPORTSMEN
1. Stephen Donahue ( 26 ) Graniteville, VT
2. Christopher Pelkey ( 64 ) S. Barre, VT
3. Mike Martin ( 01 ) Craftsbury, VT
4. Jason Woodard ( 68 ) Waterbury Ctr., VT
5. Brendan Moodie ( 94 ) Wolcott, VT
6. Caleb Nelson ( 07 ) Moretown, VT
7. Dylan Payea ( 7 ) Milton, VT
8. Cameron Ouellette ( 90 ) Barre, VT
9. Joe Steffen ( 00 ) Grand Isle, VT
10. Doug Crowningshield ( 14 ) Barre, VT
11. Derrick Calkins ( 4 ) Milton, VT
12. David Finck ( 37 ) Barre, VT
13. #Derek Barker ( 15 ) Post Mills, VT
14. Tommy Smith ( 50 ) Williamstown, VT
15. Mike Billado ( 8 ) Essex, VT
16. Brian Delphia ( 27 ) Duxbury, VT
17. Bert Gallison ( 30 ) Graniteville, VT
ALLEN LUMBER STREET STOCKS
1. Alan Maynard ( 10 ) Fairfax, VT
2. Kyle Streeter ( 37 ) Waitsfield, VT
3. Marcel J. Gravel ( 86 ) Wolcott, VT
4. Jamie Davis ( 43 ) Wolcott, VT
5. Garry Bashaw ( 4 ) Lincoln, VT
6. Richard Gravel ( 68 ) Wolcott, VT
7. #Chris LaForest ( 56 ) Barre, VT
8. Jamon Perry ( 62 ) Hardwick, VT
9. Tyler Austin ( 5 ) E. Calais, VT
10. Kevin Streeter ( 67 ) Waitsfield, VT
11. Patrick Tibbetts ( 48 ) Barre, VT
12. #Matthew Smith ( 04 ) Essex Jct., VT
13. Will Hennequin ( 47 ) Morrisville, VT
14. Dave Whitcomb ( 77 ) Morrisville, VT
15. Scott Maynard ( 59 ) Burlington, VT
16. Jennifer Getty ( 25 ) Cambridge, VT
17. Justin Town ( 53 ) East Barre, VT
18. #Reilly Lanphear ( 21 ) Duxbury, VT
19. Gary Mullen ( 29 ) Tunbridge, VT
20. Jamon Perry ( 62 ) Hardwick, VT
21. Avery Gaudette ( 61 ) Waterbury, VT
22. Kelly Miller Jr. ( 0 ) Johnson, VT
23. Jeremy Colson ( 44 ) S. Royalton, VT
24. Donny Yates ( 05 ) N. Montpelier, VT
25. Jaden Perry ( 92 ) Hardwick, VT
26. Thomas Merchant ( 38 ) Eden Mills, VT
27. Scott Weston ( 40 ) Berlin, VT
28. Bunker Hodgdon ( 83 ) Hardwick, VT
29. Steve Bennett Jr. ( 76 ) Northfield, VT