Aug 20, 2012 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Roberts, Smith Pick Up Feature Wins
Barre, VT – After a tough season, Winooski’s Jerry Lesage vindicated himself in style with a convincing victory in the 50-lap Late Model main event at Barre’s Thunder Road on Sunday, August 19. Lesage had to fend off rising star Cody Blake, as well as three-time “King of the Road” Phil Scott to take his first checkered flag in over seven years.
Pole-sitter Ricky Roberts ran with the lead early, but by lap 23 the familiar #74 of Lesage had pulled to his rear bumper. Lesage flew high to the outside and snatched the lead from Roberts by the halfway mark, and ran from the pack. Roberts was then swarmed by Blake, who took over the second position, as well as Scott, and point-leader Nick Sweet who stacked up two wide behind him. Blake distanced himself from the battle, while Scott methodically worked by Roberts with Sweet taking away fourth in the closing laps. Scott Payea, defending Champion Dave Pembroke, Jamie Aube, last week’s winner Cris Michaud, and Brett Wheeler completed the top ten finishers.
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Aug 17, 2012 | American Canadian Tour, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Steffen, Christman Fly to Feature Wins
Barre, VT – On a night where tough seasons were avenged, East Montpelier’s Cris Michaud took his second victory of the 2012 season, fending second-place point man David Pembroke, and current point leader Nick Sweet off for the feel-good win. Three-time Thunder Road Champion Phil Scott took the fourth position, and Winooski’s Jerry Lesage rounded out the top five.
Lesage, who drove to the early lead, was quickly eaten up by hungry defending Champion Dave Pembroke, who stretched out to a massive lead just before the halfway point. High point drivers Nick Sweet and Phil Scott worked their way through the field, but a lap 33 caution for the spinning car of Trampas Demers bunched the field back together. Pembroke stole the restart, but multi-time Champion Cris Michaud clung to his bumper before swinging high and wide with 10 laps to go. Michaud stole the lead from dominant Pembroke, and survived a late race restart to claim his second win of 2012. Pembroke fought off Sweet for second, while Scott slipped past Lesage in the closing laps for fourth. 2011 Tiger Champion Derrick O’Donnell, Scott Payea, Brooks Clark, Ricky Roberts, and first-time driver Emily Packard rounded out the top ten.
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Aug 15, 2012 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, NHMS, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Late Model Championship Coming to a Close
Barre, VT – As drivers prepare for weekly championship action this Thursday night (August 16), division titles are nearing the homestretch at the “Nation’s Site of Excitement” Barre’s Thunder Road. Only a handful of events remain for the Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen, who are currently locked in one of the closest point battles in recent memory, as well as the Allen Lumber Street Stocks. For Late Models, the championship is just around the corner.
Thursday will mark the beginning of the end for championship hopes in the Late Model division, as in a stretch of seven days they will run their final three point counting events. A rainout event last Thursday has moved the Make-A-Wish/Bond night to Sunday, August 19th, creating a weeklong dash to crown the Late Model “King of the Road.”
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Aug 10, 2012 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Race Tracks, Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Barre, VT – Thunder Road International Speedbowl officials have announced the make-up date of the postponed Make-A-Wish/Bond event as Sunday, August 19. The event, which was postponed due to rain on Thursday, August 9, will now be a Sunday twilight show with a 4:30pm post time. The grandstands will open at 3:00pm with the pits opening at 2:00pm.
It will now be the second to last Late Model point counting event in the 2012 “King of the Road” battle as the champion will be decided on Thursday, August 23. The Make-A-Wish/Bond event will feature all three Thunder Road divisions plus the annual Run-What-U-Brung and for the first time ever the Tough Truck Tug-O-War on the August 19 make-up date.
Thunder Road point battles continue next Thursday, August 16 with the VP Racing Fuel night. Post time will be 6:30pm.
Aug 9, 2012 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Barre, VT – Thunder Road International Speedbowl officials have announced the postponement of the Thursday, August 9 Make-A-Wish event due to rain. The event will be rescheduled for a date that will be announced later tonight.
The event will feature all three Thunder Road divisions plus the annual Run-What-U-Brung and for the first time ever the Tough Truck Tug-O-War. Fans can bring their street legal, registered and inspected vehicles and tackle the Barre highbanks in one lap match races in the Run-What-U-Brung or bring their Tough Trucks for the Tug-O-War pull offs.
Check the Thunder Road website (www.thunderroadbowl.com) later tonight for an update.
Aug 6, 2012 | American Canadian Tour, Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Barre, VT – Thunder Road officials have announced the disqualification of Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon from the 28th Annual M&M Beverage Enduro 200 held on Sunday, August 5 at Barre’s Thunder Road. Lauzon, the driver of the #39 O.U.R. House/Believe in Barre 1986 Buick Regal made an unapproved driver switch in the middle of the event, disqualifying him from his 80th place finish.
Lauzon, who is a hometown crowd favorite as the Mayor of Barre, found himself in trouble early in the 200-lap event. The 51-year old driver recorded 40 laps unofficially, but after an early incident dove into the pits and made an illegal driver switch. Just before the change however, Lauzon drew the ire of the Thunder Road Property Management team by engaging in some “agricultural racing”, tearing up the track’s infield for several minutes after a tire blowout.
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