Thunder Road SpeedBowl
Aubuchon Hardware Night

“King of the Road” Title To Be Decided In 100-Lap Finale

After a summer long battle the 2011 Thunder Road Late Model Champion will be crowned this Thursday, August 25 with a 100 lap finale presented by Aubuchon Hardware and Benjamin Moore Paints.

The “King of the Road” title has been narrowed down to four contenders. Dave Pembroke of Montpelier currently sits atop the standings and will attempt to secure his second career title after winning back in 2007. Pembroke used back-to-back wins including the Mid-Season Championship to pull himself back from an 88 point deficit.

Graniteville’s John Donahue led the standings for the majority of the season but now finds himself in second, 38 points out of the lead. Donahue has the most Late Model wins this season at the ¼-mile speedway, including big wins in the Memorial Day Classic and the VT Governor’s Cup. The two-time Tiger Sportsmen Champion will be looking for his first career Thunder Road Late Model title on Thursday night.

ACE Hardware Night

Brooks Clark Wins First Late Model Feature at Thunder Road

Vermont ACE Hardware night at Thunder Road in Barre, VT on Thursday, August 18 saw two first time winners in victory lane. Brooks Clark of Fayston claimed his first career Late Model feature win. Clark battled hard from the outside pole to edge pole sitter Jamie Aube before the first and only caution of the 50 lap event came on lap ten. Clark and Brett Wheeler broke away from the pack following the restart. The two battled through lapped traffic in the later stages of the event but Wheeler didn’t have enough to get by.

Lt. Governor Phil Scott came from the 12th starting position to take third after using a lapped car as a pick to get around 2010 King of the Road Nick Sweet who settled for fourth. Cris Michaud completed the top five, while current point leader Dave Pembroke, Reno Gervais, Aube, John Donahue and Joey Becker rounded out the top ten.

The other first time winner was Jason Allen of Barre, who took his first career Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen win. Allen came from the sixth starting position and survived several restarts with less than ten laps remaining in the 35 lap event. Josh Demers, Mike Ziter, last week’s winner Tucker Williams and current point leader Derrick O’Donnell completed the top five. Shawn Fleury, Bobby Therrien, Kyle Pembroke, Scott Coburn, and Eric Badore took top tens.

Thunder Road

Lance Rabtoy Takes Renegade Win, Tucker Williams Earns Fourth Tiger Win at Thunder Road

Tucker Williams of Hyde Park picked up his fourth Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen win of the season, while Lance Rabtoy of Fairfax earned the Airborne Renegade win during Thunder Road’s Triple 50s on Thursday, August 11.

Williams led the majority of the Tiger 50 lapper, while holding off rookie of the year contender Kyle Pembroke. Williams led through several restarts including one with just five laps to go. Pembroke put up a fight on the outside but eventually slid to third as Brendan Moodie took second. Scott Coburn and Dylan Payea completed the top five. Jason Allen, Eric Badore, current point leader Derrick O’Donnell, Matt Potter and Shawn Fleury completed the top ten.

Lance Rabtoy used fourth and second place finishes in the Airborne Renegade twin 25 lap segments to take the mini-Milk Bowl style combined event. Current Renegade point leader Kevin Boutin took second after losing the tie breaker. Boutin was just inches away from the one spot he needed in the final segment when the checkers flew. Larry Underwood won the final segment to take third, while Jason McClatchie won the Hard Luck Bonus after losing the third place tie breaker and settling for fourth.