Corvettes square off in last year's "Run What You Brung" spectator races

Past entries have run the gamut of street vehicles, from everyday sedans to sporty Corvettes and BMWs, from pickup trucks to utility vans, and from limousines to bread trucks and community shuttle busses.

“Run What You Brung” competitors must be 18 years or older, and enter registered and inspected street-legal automobiles at the pit area registration booth before 6:00pm on the day of the race.  The entry fee will be $25 at the pit gate, and no entries will be accepted after 6:00pm.  No studded tires will be allowed, and all drivers must wear a helmet.

Championship point races continue in Thunder Road’s weekly stock car divisions on NAPA Auto Parts/Make-A-Wish Night.  American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model driver Jamie “Hurricane” Fisher of Shelburne leads an exciting see-saw battle over Williamstown’s Cris Michaud and Montpelier’s Dave Pembroke.  Just 17 points separate the three drivers at the top of the standings.  Fisher and Michaud are each looking to carry the checkered flag for the first time this season on Thursday.

Kip Stockwell takes win #2 in 2007

Once at the head of the field Stockwell was not seriously challenged even following a pair of mid-race restarts.  Both times former Thunder Road champion, Dave Whitcomb tried the outside line around Stockwell.  Not finding the high groove to his liking, the Essex Jct, VT driver settled into the runner-up spot, a position he would not relinquish.

Pole sitter, Rusty Berger from Williston, VT turned in a career best finish with a third.  Winooski, VT driver Jerry Lesage was fourth and Barre’s Mike “Beetle” Bailey rounded out the top five.  The division’s top three point men, Jamie Fisher, Dave Pembroke and Cris Michaud were mired back in the field with none cracking the top 15.  In spite of their sub-par performances all three remain at the top of the standings.

The long awaited return of multi-time ACT Tour Champion, Robbie Crouch from Tampa, FL was realized in Thursday night’s Calkins/Pelletier Quick Lube 50.  Crouch, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer prior to the start of the race season made his racing debut a few weeks ago at Maine’s Oxford Plains Speedway in the TD Banknorth 250.  Thursday’s event was his first at Thunder Road in a decade.  He and Trampas Demers from Shelburne, VT were involved in a lap 29 incident which ended both of their night’s early.

Completing the top ten finishers were Shawn Fleury in sixth, John Donahue, Clark, Dwayne Lanphear and Pete Fecteau.

In 2006 the Power Shift Junk Yard Warriors took home the bragging rights.

Participants in the Port-A-Potty Grand Prix were chosen prior to the Times Argus Mid-Season Championship event last week.  Representing the Late Model division will be Dave Pembroke of Montpelier, who currently ranks one point out of first place in the race for the “King of the Road” title behind Shelburne’s Jamie Fisher.  Joining Pembroke will be Sportsman point leader Nick Sweet of Barre, Street Stock rookie Bobby Therrien of Hinesburg, and Warrior point leader Bunker Hodgdon of Hardwick.  All four drivers and their respective teams will pull, push, tug, or tow a home-built Port-A-Potty (functionality optional) in a race down Thunder Road’s frontstretch, aiming for the top prize – the Golden Seat.  Thunder Road fans will also name the “best appearing” potty, awarding their selection the coveted Golden Plunger trophy.