Jul 24, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Alan Ward photo
Barre, VT – Two-time defending “King of the Road” Derrick O’Donnell took a big step in his chase for a three-peat by winning the Times Argus Mid-Season Championship on Thursday, July 23.
N. Haverhill, NH’s O’Donnell took the lead from local driver Mike “Beetle” Bailey with 11 laps to go in the 75-lap Thunder Road Late Model main event. The two bumped and banged as Bailey made a final bid for the double-point win, but O’Donnell held on for his third victory of the season.
“I had to work really hard for this one,” O’Donnell said. “The car got really tight – we got hit in the left front and it folded the nose up on the tire, and I could definitely feel it not wanting to turn. But we still had a pretty good car, and it all worked out.” (more…)
Jul 23, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Alan Ward photo
Barre, VT – One of the most important events of the Thunder Road season goes to post this Thursday, July 23 at 6:30pm with the annual Times Argus Mid-Season Championships. Double points are on the line in all events for the Thunder Road Late Models, Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen, and Allen Lumber Stocks, which means championship aspirations will be reaffirmed, re-inspired, or even crumble away by the time the final checkered flag flies.
The annual mid-summer event includes extra-distance features for all divisions, with the Thunder Road Late Models going 75 laps instead of their normal 50. It’s a prime opportunity for a top contender to establish themselves at the top of the standings as three of the last six Mid-Season Champions in the Late Models went on to win the season-long title. Conversely, a poor performance can leave a driver spending the second half of the season scrambling to make up ground. (more…)
Jul 20, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Alan Ward photo
Barre, VT – Kyle Pembroke rode the outside line to pick up his second Thunder Road Late Model win in the last three races at the Fairpoint Communications Trophy Dash on Thursday, July 16.
East Montpelier’s Pembroke started on the pole of the 50-lap main event, but used the high groove to get the jump on Milton’s Eric Badore following the race’s only caution on lap 28. Jason Corliss and Nick Sweet followed Pembroke through to second and third, but became locked in a battle of their own for the second position, allowing Pembroke to hang on for the win.
(more…)
Jul 14, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Alan Ward photo
Barre, VT – The 56th season of racing at Barre’s Thunder Road Speedbowl continues with Fairpoint Communications Night on Thursday, July 16. The championship battles in the Thunder Road Late Models, Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen, and Allen Lumber Street Stocks have remained close throughout the first two months of the 2015 season. In each division, the gap between first and second in the standings is just three points, ensuring the intensity remains high as the season nears the halfway mark.
The main attraction continues to be the heavyweight battle in the Thunder Road Late Models between N. Haverhill, NH’s Derrick O’Donnell and Barre, VT’s Nick Sweet as both chase a third “King of the Road” crown. Sweet’s dramatic victory in the Vermont Governor’s Cup last Thursday, July 9 – in which he took the lead from O’Donnell in the closing laps – tightened the gap to its current three-point margin.
(more…)
Jul 9, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Alan Ward Photo
Barre, VT – Barre’s Nick Sweet came out on top of a battle with Thunder Road Late Model point leader and fellow two-time “King of the Road” Derrick O’Donnell to with his fourth VP Fuels Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 on Thursday, July 9.
Sweet took the lead from N. Haverhill, NH’s O’Donnell on lap 125 following the fourth and final restart after stalking him for much of the event. O’Donnell made a bid to get back around Sweet on the outside, but came under attack from polesitter Cody Blake with 10 laps remaining, allowing Sweet to drive off tothe victory. Sweet moved into a tie with Robbie Crouch for the most Vermont Governor’s Cup wins of all-time.-
(more…)
Jul 9, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Alan Ward photo
Barre, VT – The VP Fuels Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 for Thunder Road’s American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Models takes the green this Thursday, July 9. Numerous former Thunder Road Champions and winners are expected to challenge for the victory in the special long-distance event, but Barre’s Nick Sweet will try to do one better and further cement his place in Governor’s Cup history.
Sweet has won three of the last five Vermont Governor’s Cups, including the most recent event in 2014. A fourth win on Thursday would tie Sweet with six-time ACT Pro Stock Tour Champion Robbie Crouch atop the all-time winner’s list.
(more…)
