Thunder Road SpeedBowl
Aubuchon Hardware Night

Scott Looks to Repeat in Thursday Night Finale

Three-time Thunder Road Champion and Vermont Lt. Governor Phil Scott will engage in more than political battles at Barre’s Thunder Road for the last Thursday night race of the summer.  The Thursday finale will feature the 100-lap Aubuchon Hardware Late Model Championship event to close out the chase for the 2012 Late Model crown. 

The all-time wins leader Scott, who has amassed a stunning 27 victories at Thunder Road, has been held winless in 2012.  Scott remains third in the 2012 overall standings, and sits only five points off defending Champion Dave Pembroke.  The situation is reminiscent to 2011, when Scott had been held winless until a convincing victory in the 100-lap finale, finishing second in overall points.  Scott will attempt the feat again in 2012, working off a third place finish in last Sunday’s event, just as he was working off of a third place finish when he won the finale a year ago.


Make-A-Wish Bond Night

Lesage Hangs Tough for Victory

Roberts, Smith Pick Up Feature Wins

 

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.

VP Racing Fuel Night

Michaud Bounces Back, Claims Hard-Fought Victory

Steffen, Christman Fly to Feature Wins

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.