Thunder Road SpeedBowl

Dennis Demers in Ferguson Waterworks victory lane

Stock car driver Dennis Demers of Shelburne came out on top of a thrilling 50-lap Late Model division feature on Ferguson Waterworks Night at Barre’s Thunder Road on Thursday. Demers recovered from a lap 2 spin, then drove through a disastrous crash on lap 41 to steal the lead from Dave Whitcomb of Essex Junction with seven laps remaining.

Whitcomb, driving a Ferguson Waterworks-sponsored Chevrolet, led the majority of the race, and held off strong challenges from Phil Scott, Demers, and Demers’ son, Trampas. As Dennis and Trampas Demers battled for second position on lap 41, Scott attempted to push the pair three-wide

Trampas Demers (85) slams the "Widowmaker" wall. Phil Scott (14) was also involved, but Cris Michaud (6) escaped

in Thunder Road’s treacherous fourth turn. As the three cars made contact, Trampas Demers veered directly into the outside wall, taking Scott with him. Dennis Demers spun to avoid the melee, as did Jamie Fisher. No drivers were injured in the wreck.

As green flag action resumed, Dennis Demers swiftly out-maneuvered Whitcomb to take over the top spot. Whitcomb attempted several times to rattle Demers, but had settle for second place. Cris Michaud of Williamstown nipped Fisher at the finish for third place. Dave Pembroke of Montpelier, who entered the night as the Late Model point leader, completed the unofficial top five finishers.

NAPA Tiger Sportsman winner Scott Coburn

Hometown drivers swept the top two finishing positions in the NAPA Tiger Sportsman feature. Scott Coburn took the lead from Josh Lovely near the halfway mark of the 35-lap event, and sped to his second career win. Lovely held off a great battle for third place between Craig Bushey of Cambridge and rookie Joel Hodgdon of Craftsbury. Hodgdon made a last-turn bid on the inside to grab the position from Bushey. Chuck Beede of Williamstown finished fifth.

Chad Stewart of Barnet nailed down his first career Allen Lumber Street Stock victory, narrowly edging out Bruce Melendy of Danville. Rookie Mike Ziter finished a career-best third, unofficially.

James Dopp of Montpelier earned his first Power Shift Junkyard Warrior win of the year to close out the Ferguson Waterworks event. Jared Henry of East Barre backed up a Memorial Day victory with a second- place finish. Neal Foster of Waterbury was third.

Thunder Road’s 48th season of exciting stock car racing continues with the WDEV 100 for the NAPA Tiger Sportsman division next Thursday (June 21), with an early start time of 6:00pm. Late Models, Street Stocks, and Warriors will also be in action. For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.

Summer in Vermont officially begins on Thursday evening, as Ferguson Waterworks presents the first of 12 Thursday night stock car racing events at Barre’s Thunder Road. Four divisions of race cars will compete at the high-banked ¼-mile oval on Quarry Hill to kick off the 48th year of traditional Thursday night summer races.

Pembroke is the Late Model point leader

Dave Pembroke of Montpelier leads the way in the ACT Late Model division following the first two championship events for his class. Pembroke won the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic 100 last month and is the Late Model division’s point leader. He also represented Thunder Road by leading many laps and finishing second at Capital City Speedway in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada one week ago. Joey Becker of Jeffersonville won the Thunder Road Late Model championship lid lifter at the Casella Waste Management Mother’s Day Extravaganza, and trails Pembroke by just seven points, 157-150.

STORIES

COMMENTS last 2 days

LINKS last 2 weeks

MEDIA GALLERY Last 7 Days