Oct 4, 2013 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Barre, VT – A total of 46 American Canadian Tour Late Models were in attendance at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, VT for Friday’s (October 4) practice session in anticipation of the 51st People’s United Bank Milk Bowl. Practice was delayed and started around 1:30pm due to some showers. The session was extended until 6:00pm to give teams time to get comfortable on the new American Racer tires.
A diverse group of competitors ran near the top of the speed charts all day. Former Milk Bowl Champions Jean-Paul Cyr, Brent Dragon, Brian Hoar, Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Cris Michaud and Dave Pembroke were among them. Several drivers looking for their first career Milk Bowl wins also turned quick laps, including Chip Grenier, Trampas Demers, 2013 Thunder Road Champion Derrick O’Donnell, Cody Blake, Nick Sweet and Stacy Cahoon. A contingent of Quebec stars was also quick in the practice sessions. Alex Labbe and three-time Milk Bowl Champion Patrick Laperle led the way with Alex Labbe, Jonathan Bouvrette and Stephane Descoste not far behind. (more…)
Sep 2, 2013 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Barre, VT – Travis Stearns of Auburn, Maine scored his first career American Canadian Tour victory in one of the biggest races on the 2013 schedule. The rookie held off eight-time ACT Champion Brian Hoar to claim the win in the 35th Annual VT Foodbank Labor Day Classic 200 at Thunder Road on Sunday, September 1.
Two-time Thunder Road Champion Dave Pembroke led the entire first half of the 200 lap event, building a large lead through lap traffic before the second caution flag of the event flew on lap 116. Every lead lap car took advantage of the caution period to visit pit road for fresh right side tires. Hoar and Stearns were the first two cars back onto the race track claiming the first and second positions but starting 4th and 5th respectively on the ensuing restart. Pembroke stalled on the exit of pit road and could not get the car refired sending him to the tail of the field.
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Aug 30, 2013 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Barre, VT – North Haverhill, NH’s Derrick O’Donnell is poised to claim the 2013 “King of the Road” at the conclusion of tomorrow (Thursday, August 29) night’s VP Racing Fuels event at Thunder Road in Barre, VT. It would be O’Donnell’s second Thunder Road track title in three seasons, joining his 2011 Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen crown.
O’Donnell has used a pair of feature wins, along with a total of 12 top ten finishes in the 13 events so far, to amass a 60-point lead heading into tomorrow night’s Late Model finale. Barring any major issues, the 23-year old should fend off two-time Thunder Road track champion Nick Sweet. 2013 marks O’Donnell’s first full season of Late Model competition, which will also make him the Rookie of the Year, something that hasn’t been done in the modern era of Thunder Road stock car racing.
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Aug 27, 2013 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Barre, VT – Nick Sweet went home with the winner’s trophy/hardware on Aubuchon Night after a masterful performance in the Late Model 100 Friday at Thunder Road.
It was the first win of the season for the defending track champion, who came from 18th on the starting grid in the St. J Auto No. 88.
Sweet shot underneath eventual runner-up Jean-Paul Cyr for 2nd on lap 52, took the lead from Brett Gervais a lap later and then quickly drew out to a commanding advantage.
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Aug 19, 2013 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Barre, VT – Ten days after his first Late Model career win, which was 14 years in the making, Eric Chase of Milton was back in victory lane on FairPoint Communications Night Sunday at Thunder Road.
Chase ruled the FairPoint Communications Night 50-lap main event after taking the lead from Joey Becker on lap 8. Jason Corliss and Phil Scott spent over 20 laps in hot pursuit before the race came apart on the frontstretch on lap 43.
As lapped car Dave Whitcomb eased up the track to let Chase slip through, he was turned by Corliss who was coming off turn four at full throttle. Scott slammed on the brakes and came to a stop against Whitcomb, only to be hammered from behind by Jamie Fisher.
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Aug 14, 2013 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Barre, VT – Following last Sunday’s (8/11) 50-lap Street Stock special at Barre’s Thunder Road, engines were torn down and checked. Thunder Road officials have announced the engines of #38 five-time winner Greg Adams, Jr. and the #16 Dean Switser, Jr. were both found illegal. Adams engine was illegal due to piston and camshaft issues, while the engine of Switser was illegal with camshaft issues. The #92 Garry Bashaw was also found illegal in post race inspection for an illegal carburetor and refusal to allow his motor to be torn down.
Adams, Switser and Bashaw have all been disqualified from Sunday’s Street Stock event. The motor infractions have resulted in a complete loss of points for the 2013 season and all three competitors found illegal have been suspended from racing at Thunder Road or any ACT-sanctioned event for the remainder of the 2013 season.
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