Barre, VT – Three-time Thunder Road Champion and Vermont Lt. Governor Phil Scott will engage in more than political battles at Barre’s Thunder Road for the last Thursday night race of the summer. The Thursday finale will feature the 100-lap Aubuchon Hardware Late Model Championship event to close out the chase for the 2012 Late Model crown.
The all-time wins leader Scott, who has amassed a stunning 27 victories at Thunder Road, has been held winless in 2012. Scott remains third in the 2012 overall standings, and sits only five points off defending Champion Dave Pembroke. The situation is reminiscent to 2011, when Scott had been held winless until a convincing victory in the 100-lap finale, finishing second in overall points. Scott will attempt the feat again in 2012, working off a third place finish in last Sunday’s event, just as he was working off of a third place finish when he won the finale a year ago.
“I feel good coming in to the 100-lapper on Thursday,” said Scott. “Obviously we always want to be in it for the championship, but we’ve had a good year and with the momentum here from the last couple of weeks, I think we’ve got a good shot,” he finished.
Though the Late Model Championship race will end on Thursday, Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen and Allen Lumber Street Stock championships hit the homestretch with their third-to-last point counting event. Low-buck veteran Brendan Moodie, Jr, of Wolcott, leads the Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen in a close points battle, holding on to a slim 16-point lead over two-time Champion Shawn Fleury. Jason Allen, Bobby Therrien, and Mike Martin remain within striking distance of the top spot.
Jefferson, NH’s Nick Pilotte has stretched out his lead over rookie sensation Dean Switser, Jr as they head into the final three events, but his 33-point lead is far from insurmountable. Switser, along with Tommy “Thunder”, the winningest driver in Street Stock history, “Wild” Willy Hennequin, and Bunker Hodgdon continue to battle for the 2012 Allen Lumber Street Stock title.
All three divisions will be in action for the final Thursday night of the summer, featuring the 100-lap Late Model Finale presented by Aubuchon Hardware. Post time is 6:00pm. Adult admission is $10, a family pass is $20, kids 6-12 are $3 and children under 6 get in free.
For additional information, head to www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com, call the Thunder Road office at (802) 244-6963, or email us at media@acttour.com.