John Donahue Wins Charter Communications Main Event at Thunder Road

Graniteville’s John Donahue earned his first feature win of the 2010 Thunder Road Late Model season during Thursday’s (July 8) Charter Communications night. Donahue rebounded from finishing dead last while being involved in a wreck just four days ago on Sunday’s July 4^th event.

Donahue started the feature in the 8^th position and worked his way to second before the feature’s only caution flag flew on lap 18. On the restart Donahue took the lead from outside pole sitter Eric Chase and was not contested for the remainder of the 50 lap event.

Tracie Bellerose just edged out Brooks Clark at the line for the second position. Senator Phil Scott took fourth with point leader Dave Pembroke taking fifth. Chase dropped back to sixth, rookie Cody Blake earned a career high seventh, while Joey Becker, Cris Michaud, and Nick Sweet completed the top ten.

The Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen feature also was completed with just one caution. Bradford’s Derrick O’Donnell earned his second career feature win and second win of the season. He was chased to the line by George May and Joe Steffen completing the podium. Eric Badore and David Finck rounded out the top five. 2009 Bond Auto Tiger Champ Jimmy Hebert earned sixth, Mike Ziter seventh, point leader Tony Rossi eighth, Shawn Fleury ninth and Tom Therrien tenth.

Cris Michaud Earns First Win of the Season on Pepsi Holiday Fireworks Night

East Montpelier’s Cris Michaud earned his first win of the 2010 season on Sunday, July 4^th’s Pepsi Holiday Fireworks event. Michaud, who has had some bad luck so far this season took his Ford powered Fusion from the fifth starting position and took the lead with less than fifteen laps to go. Michaud’s win will help him in not only the Thunder Road point standings but the Ford Blue Oval Cup standings. It was also Michaud’s 16^th career Thunder Road Late Model win.

Northfield’s Matt White followed up his win this past Thursday with a second followed by Randolph’s Dylan Smith who finished a career high third after leading the first half of the 50 lap event. Rich Lowrey took fourth with Senator Phil Scott rounding out the top five. Reno Gervais, Nick Sweet, Thunder Road Late Model point leader Dave Pembroke, Grant Folsom and Joey Becker completed the top ten.

Hinesburg’s Bobby Therrien held off his brother Tom for the Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen feature win. The two battled for the lead after Bobby started third and Tom started sixth. They also had to hold off Tony Rossi who took third. Eric Badore earned fourth followed by John Lambert. Shawn Fleury finished sixth, Matt Potter seventh, Pete Ainsworth eighth, David Finck ninth, and Lance Allen tenth.

Joe Steffen Takes Bond/WIX Tiger Tour 100

Win at Thunder Road

Essex Junction’s “Double O” Joe Steffen won the second event on the Bond/WIX Tiger Tour at Thunder Road on Thursday, July 1. Steffen came from the sixth starting position to take the lead after a lap 43 restart. He would hold off the rest of the field through three more cautions and lead the rest of the way.

Milton’s Eric Badore and Georgia, Vermont’s Joey Roberts battled for the runner-up position during the final laps. Badore took second while Roberts settled for third. Jason Bonnett took fourth and Tony Rossi rounded out the top five. Chip Grenier, Tom Therrien, Mike Billado, Tucker Williams, and David Finck completed the top ten.

The 100 lap event took just over one hour and eighteen minutes to complete with a total of nine cautions and three lead changes among three drivers.