Oct 9, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Alan Ward/Big Al’s Photos
Barre, VT – The 53rd Annual Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl at Barre’s Thunder Road on Sunday, October 11 will once again present the toughest challenge of the season for American-Canadian Tour (ACT)-type Late Model teams. Drivers from throughout the Northeast United States and Canada will converge at the ¼-mile speedway this weekend vying for the $10,000 guaranteed top prize in the Thunder Road season finale.
The Milk Bowl historically attracts a “melting pot” of Late Model competitors. This year one of the most diverse fields in recent memory will take on the unique three-segment event, including former winners and track champions from around the region.
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Oct 2, 2015 | More Maine Racing News
ACT file photo
Barre, VT – Two of the most accomplished drivers in Milk Bowl and American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model history look to add to their accolades on Sunday, October 11. Three-time Milk Bowl winners Patrick Laperle and Brian Hoar have both entered the 53rd Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl at Barre’s Thunder Road. Both will look to tie Robbie Crouch’s record of four victories in the event known as “the toughest short-track stock car race in North America.”
“Patrick and Brian are really capable of doing it if anyone can,” Crouch said. “I would love to see it.”
St-Denis, QC’s Laperle put his stamp on the Milk Bowl from 2005-2008 when he became the only driver to win three times in a four-year span. Laperle was one of the first to enter this year’s event. In seeking a fourth win, he also looks to erase the sting of failing to qualify in 2014.
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Aug 28, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Alan Ward/Big Al’s Photos
Barre, VT – N. Haverhill, NH’s Derrick O’Donnell put an exclamation point on his bid for a third consecutive Thunder Road championship by making a late charge for his fourth win of the season Thursday, August 27 on Cody Chevrolet Cadillac Night.
O’Donnell broke out of traffic late in the 50-lap main event and sliced through the front of the pack, passing cars low and high before reaching leader Mike “Beetle” Bailey. The two-time defending champion then swung to the outside of Bailey and grabbed the top spot with just three laps remaining.
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Aug 21, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Alan Ward photo
Barre, VT – Milton’s Eric Badore held off point leader Derrick O’Donnell to score his first career Thunder Road Late Model win and the “Triple Crown” in the Jet Service Envelope/Accura Printing Trophy Dash on Thursday, August 20 in front of a full house at the Barre high banks.
The second-year driver started on the pole and led the whole way in the caution-free 50-lap feature, but Island Pond’s Brett Gervais followed him like a shadow for most of the event. N. Haverhill, NH’s O’Donnell entered the fray in the final 10 circuits and began working Badore’s outside with three laps to go.
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Aug 20, 2015 | American Canadian Tour, More Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Thunder Road, Touring Series News
Alan Ward photo
Barre, VT – Thunder Road racing legend and family patriarch Joey Laquerre of East Montpelier has been elected to the New England Auto Racing (NEAR) Hall of Fame’s Class of 2015.
The 71-year-old Laquerre is the all-time winningest driver at Barre’s Thunder Road with 45 wins, including a record 17 in the Tiger Sportsmen and 14 in the Late Models. His most recent Thunder Road victory came in a Late Model feature on June 5, 2014. Laquerre was the 1982 “King of the Road” and also won five championships in the Mini Stock division between 1973 and 1980.
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