The fireworks started off early with the rain-postponed Casella Waste Management 50-lapper for the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models. From the pole position hard-luck driver Scott Coburn led the early war but was overtaken by Memorial Day Classic winner Stephen Donahue on lap 15. Donahue continued to dominate through a lap-22 scramble in turn four between the 94VT of Brendan Moodie and the 0VT of Scott Dragon that took out contenders Brooks Clark and Bobby Therrien. Donahue started the night on a high note, taking the win over Chris Roberts and Dragon.
The Community College of Vermont Program swiftly followed. The headlining $1,000-to-Win R&R Race Parts Open Street Stock Series 75 morphed into twin-30-lap segments that were both handily won by Waterbury Center’s Tanner Woodard over the invading competition from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
The Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers was yet another week of exciting side-by-side racing at the front of the pack. Through to the near end, longtime racer Rich Lowrey battled hard against up-and-coming Rookie Kaiden Fisher. For 40-laps these two opposite ends of the racing career spectrum battled hard but a late-race over-drive by Fisher allowed Lowery to fully gain the lead and took them both under the checkered flags. Unofficially, Kevin Streeter took third for his second podium in as many events followed by point-leader Justin Prescott and Sam Caron.
The rk Miles Street Stocks took down another blistering event in 2022. Following a lap 6 dust-up leaving Thomas Peck in the pits and Justin ‘El Chopo’ Blakely starting from the tail end on the restart, the event was relatively smooth. Using some advice from his former racer Father and Late Model Ace Brother, Kyle Gravel took down his first Street Stock win followed by Scott Weston and Luke Peters.
The 8th annual Marvin Johnson Memorial First-Time Winners Race for the Street Stocks followed and was full of drama. With less than five-to-go, race leader Jesse Laquerre tangled with second place runner Trevor Jaques in turn one, also involving third-place pilot Taylor Hoar. Hoar recovered after Laquerre and Jaques ended their run early but was ultimately passed by Zach Audet for the win.
Ending CCV Night, the Late Models returned for their second feature of the evening led to point by Sophomore driver Cooper Bouchard and all-time-winner Phil Scott. While Scott faltered on the outside from the onset, Bouchard set the pace for the entirety of the flag-to-flag 11-minute and 59-second event. Behind Hinesburg’s Bouchard, Marcel Gravel and Brandon Lanphear battled hard to get around Chip Grenier and completed the podium.
Thunder Road continues the 2022 season next Thursday, June 30 with Scouts Night and Kids Rides, from 4:00pm to 4:45pm. All Scouts in uniform receive free admission for the four-division line-up including the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, rk Miles Street Stocks and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors. Post Time is set for 7:00pm.
For more information, contact the Thunder Road offices at (802) 244-6963, media@thunderroadvt.com, or visit www.thunderroadvt.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ThunderRoadVT.
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl – Barre, VT (Friday, June 24th, 2022)
UNOFFICIAL TOP 5
Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models – 50 Laps [6/16 Casella Night Make-Up]
1. 2VT Stephen Donahue Graniteville, VT
2. 3VT Chris Roberts Washington, VT
3. 0VT Scott Dragon Milton, VT
4. 27VT Kyle Pembroke Montpelier, VT
5. 64VT Christopher Pelkey Graniteville, VT
Community College of Vermont 50 Laps
1. 7VT Cooper Bouchard Hinesburg, VT
2. 86VT Marcel Gravel Wolcott, VT
3. 16VT Brandon Lanphear Morrisville, VT
4. 9VT Chip Grenier E. Barre, VT
5. 04VT Matt Smith Fairfax, VT
$1,000-to-Win R&R Race Parts Street Stock Open Series – 75 Laps
1. 68NH Tanner Woodard Waterbury Ctr., VT
2. 2 Christopher Buffone Belchertown, MA
3. 4VT Chris Riendeau Ascutney, VT
4. 21 Clark Brooks Raymond, NH
5. 4 Tom O’Sullivan Wilbraham, MA
Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers – 40 Laps
1. 8NH Rich Lowrey South Hero, VT
2. 18VT Kaiden Fisher Shelburne, VT
3. 67VT Kevin Streeter
4. 44VT Justin Prescott Williston, VT
5. 07VT Sam Caron Milton, VT
rk Miles Street Stocks – 25 Laps
1. 5 Kyle Gravel Wolcott, VT
2. 04 Scott Weston Berlin, VT
3. 26 Luke Peters Groton, VT
4. 79 Juan ‘Paco’ Marshall Plainfield, VT
5. 48 Taylor Hoar South Hero, VT
8th Annual Marvin Johnson Memorial First Time Winners Race – 19 Laps
1. 9 Zach Audet Morrisville, VT
