The gloves are off Thursday as Nextel Cup star Kenny Schrader of Fenton, MO returns to Thunder Road July 13th in an attempt to capture the VT Governors Cup. The 51-year-old driver will take on the ¼ mile asphalt oval and it’s weekly heroes for a second time. Schrader will join the Late Models in a car provided by Phil Scott of Montpelier for the New England Dodge Dealers VT Governors Cup, a special 100-lap feature. Local Late Model competitors were excited the first time Schrader rolled into town, however this time they will take him on as an outside coming in to take away their prized Governors Cup. First Schrader will need to qualify for the event, which last year proved to be a difficult task for the veteran driver. Forced to qualify through a consolation round, Schrader went on to finish the feature in the ninth position.

Late Model stock car driver, Joey Laquerre of E. Montpelier gave himself an early birthday present Thursday by winning the Charter Communication/CMT 50 at Barre’s Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl. Laquerre, who has the distinction of winning a feature race at the high banked quarter-mile oval in each of five decades, will turn 63 in four days. He dominated the race from his pole starting position. . (PHOTO: Joey Laquerre takes a lap of honor following his victory in the Charter Communications/CMT 50)

Middlesex resident, Phil Scott, who started 11th, was second, while Joe Becker from Jeffersonville, was a close third. Completing the top five were Hyde Park’s Eric Williams and So Barre’s Mike Bailey.

From the outset, Laquerre set a blistering pace and left the battle for position to the rest of the field. David Chagnon of Colchester, clearly one of the most improved Late Model drivers in competition this year, held on for the runner-up spot early but was bested by Pete Fecteau from Morrisville. Fecteau, a former track champion set off after Laquerre. Rookie contender, Bailey, had other plans for Fecteau and passed the veteran using the outside groove to move in to second. Fecteau’s Pontiac eventually faded toward the rear of the pack.

Pete Ainsworth began his racing career like many do, as a sixteen-year-old in the Allen Lumber Street Stock division at Thunder Road. The 29 year-old driver of the # 80 NAPA Tiger Sportsman is competing in his fourteenth season as a driver at the ¼ mile track. One thing that many may not know that Pete designs and creates decals for several competitors as well as drivers in the Allen Lumber Street Stocks and Late Model Sportsman division.

Pete’s brightly colored Ford Taurus is a fan favorite and certainly hard to overlook on the race track. His standout performances make him a top contender week in and out. Monday, July 3rd at the Pepsi Firecracker event Pete captured his first victory of the season over Nick Sweet of Barre.