Thunder Road SpeedBowl Thunder Road SpeedBowl
26th Annual M&M Beverage Enduro
26th Annual M&M Beverage Enduro $3,000 to Win

The 26th Annual M&M Beverage Enduro at Thunder Road International Speedbowl has posted a $3,000 top prize for the 100 plus novice competitors to shoot for. The 200 lap event will be a free-for-all with nearly street legal cars tackling the Barre highbanks for their chance to become a star of the “Nation’s Site of Excitement.”

Last year, Massachusetts native Bill Davis earned the grand prize for the 25th anniversary special. Over 150 drivers took a shot at the big paycheck in last season’s event, which saw several pile-ups and roll overs.

2009’s runner-up and veteran enduro competitor Don “Dipstick” Tofani was one of the first to file an entry already this year. He has been joined by 16 year old Cole Despault, grandson of Bond Auto Tiger Sportsman competitor Clem Despault, as well as former Allen Lumber Street Stock and Junkyard Warrior drivers Steve “Mudflap” Quenneville and Bryan Nykiel.

Drivers from all over Vermont have already filed entries, including wheelmen from Barre, Berlin, Braintree, Colchester, Essex Junction, Fairfax, Milton, Waterbury, and Plainfield, among others. They will be joined by entries from all over New England with representatives from New Hampshire, Maine, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Times Argus Mid-Season Champions

Mike Bailey Claims Times Argus Mid-Season Championship at Thunder Road

Barre’s own Mike Bailey took full advantage of the Times Argus Mid-Season Championships double points night at Thunder Road on Thursday, July 15. Bailey earned his second career Thunder Road Late Model win after taking the lead on lap 21 after working his way to the front from his fifth starting position. He would lead all but one of the remaining 29 laps. Island Pond’s Reno Gervais edged out Montpelier’s Cris Michaud for second.

Point leader Dave Pembroke of Montpelier took fourth and held onto his point lead while Barre’s Nick Sweet took fifth and will take over the second spot in the Thunder Road Late Model Championship point standings.

Matt White moved his way from the 19th starting position to earn sixth while Rich Lowrey, Cody Blake, John Donahue, and Dave Whitcomb rounded out the top ten. Montpelier’s Phil Scott was second in the point standings going into the mid-season championships but had to settle for 13th.

Times Argus Mid Season Championships

Make or Break For Thunder Road Title Dreams in Times Argus Mid-Season Championships

This Thursday’s Times Argus Mid-Season Championships at Barre’s Thunder Road will be the most important event for any team with 2010 title hopes, as double points are on the line for all four divisions. Some drivers will be looking to keep their momentum going into the second half of the 2010 season while others will be looking to use the double points night to turn around a forgettable first half of the season.

Montpelier’s Dave Pembroke, with two wins already this season, holds an eight point lead over Senator Phil Scott in the Thunder Road Late Model Championship standings. Barre’s Nick Sweet also has two wins this season, although one was an ACT Tour point counting event at Thunder Road, and sits just 26 points out of the lead. Among the top three Scott, who also has a feature win already this season, is the only one with a finish outside of the top ten in the first eight races.

Graniteville’s John Donahue is currently fourth in the standings and seems to be gaining momentum at the right time, with two podium finishes in the last three events, including a win in last Thursday’s Charter night. Northfield’s Matt White has used his feature win from two weeks ago to position himself in fifth place and 50 points back.