Thunder Road concludes its Thursday night season on August 24 as South Burlington’s Trampas Demers (#85VT) attempts to reel in Hinesburg’s Bobby Therrien for the 2017 “King of the Road” title. (Alan Ward photo)
Barre, Vt. – Barre’s Thunder Road hosts its final Thursday night event of the 2017 racing season this Thursday, August 24 with Jet Service Envelope/Accura Printing Night. All four divisions will be in action as drivers set themselves up for the final push in their title chases.
In addition to a full card of action for the Thunder Road Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, Allen Lumber Street Stocks, and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors, the program will feature the annual “Run-What-You-Brung” spectator races. Drivers ages 18 or older will compete in one-on-one single lap races in their street-legal vehicles around the Barre high banks. All vehicles need to be registered, inspected, and insured, and competitors must purchase a pit pass and wear an approved safety helmet. Competitors must register by6:00pm and the field will be capped at 50 entries.
“The Run-What-U-Brung has been part of the Thursday night finale for several years now, and we think it’s a perfect way to give the fans something fun as we close out the weekly schedule,” Thunder Road co-owner Cris Michaud said. “When you add in the three championship battles and a Road Warrior class that’s been growing with each event, everyone is in for a real treat this Thursday.”
Just two point-counting events remain for the Thunder Road Late Models as they fight to determine the 2017 “King of the Road”. Hinesburg’s Bobby Therrien sits in the catbird seat after capturing his fifth Maplewood Semi-Feature victory and finishing fourth in the main event last Thursday. The result extended his lead to 31 points over South Burlington’s Trampas Demers despite Demers’ third-place feature effort.
Barre’s Jason Corliss and Milton’s Scott Dragon sit a distant third and fourth in the standings, respectively. Another Barre driver, Cody Blake, is closing fast on both after posting three straight top-two finishes. Counting the American-Canadian Tour event on June 11, Thunder Road has seen 12 different Late Model winners in 13 events on the season, with several other drivers looking to steal the spotlight in the final weeks.
The Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers remain closely contested between 2014 Champion Jason Woodard of Waterbury Center and 2015 Champion Brendan Moodie of Wolcott. Woodard maintains an 11-point edge over Moodie after rallying back from a midrace spin last Thursday due to a flat tire, finishing sixth to Moodie’s third-place result.
1991 Tiger Champion Dwayne Lanphear of Morrisville and three-time 2017 feature winner Trevor Lyman of Hinesburg sit third and fourth, 57 and 62 points back of Woodard. Top rookie Jaden Perry of Hardwick is far back in fifth after a hard encounter with the wall early in Thursday’s feature. Both the Tigers and Street Stocks have three point-counting events left on their schedule.
Hinesburg’s Cooper Bouchard remains atop the Allen Lumber Street Stock standings, but the ranks have tightened up after their most recent outing. 2015 Champion Jamie Davis of Wolcott used his ninth career Street Stock victory to climb to second in the standings 18 points behind Bouchard.
Morrisville’s Brandon Lanphear sits another point back in third. Fairfax’s Alan Maynard, Waterbury Center’s Kelsea Woodard, and Lyndonville’s Dean Switser Jr. could also mathematically leave this Thursday’s event with the top spot. The Street Stock Rookie of the Year battle looks like it will go down to the wire as well, with Craftsbury Common’s Stephen Martin holding a 10-point advantage over Middlesex’s Logan Powers.
The final Thursday night event of the Thunder Road season goes to post at 7:00pm on August 24. The pits for Jet Service Envelope/Accura Printing Night open at 3:30pm and the front gates open at 5:15pm. Admission for the packed program is just $12 for adults, $3 for kids ages 6-12, and $25 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids).
For more information, contact the Thunder Road offices at (802) 244-6963, media@thunderroadvt.com, or visitwww.thunderroadvt.com.