BARRE – It all came down to Thursday night for the Triple Crown championship 100 lap showdown. Cooper French and Rich Lowrey kept things interesting at the front of the pack throughout the opening laps with Derrick Calkins keeping up the pressure for good measure. Flat tires ruined the night for both Ty Delphia in the beginning of the race and Sam Caron towards the end as Lowrey yo-yoed between the lead and second against French and Calkins.
photo by Alan Ward
With twenty-five laps remaining, Calkins made his move to the front and led for the first time as Milton’s Robert Gordon cracked into the top-five underneath Mike MacAskill. A pair of late race restarts threatened the title chase before Calkins came down the line to take the 100 over Lowrey and French. By maintaining fifth, Robert Gordon took the overall as the ninth different Triple Crown champion, perhaps the most popular victory lane of the summer.
photo by Alan Ward
The Street Stocks kicked off feature racing action on the night with veteran Scott Weston and rookie Tyler Wheatley bringing the field to green. Mechanical failure ended Hayden Morris and Walker Fitch’s days early while Jamie Davis methodically made his way to the front. The lone caution flag flew for youngsters T.J. Haggett and Jaiden Del Toro’s synchronized spin into the infield grass with six laps remaining. Back under green flag it was all Jamie Davis to the bitter end, taking his second win in a hard-fought season with Derek Farnham and point leader Kyler Davis rounding out the top three.
The Late Models put on a spirited battle at the head of the pack all night long. Following a bash-up start with the field spinning in turn four before the green flag waved, Cody Blake and Stephen Donahue fought door handle-to-door handle through to the lap 31 caution for Brandon Lanphear’s turn one spin. Back under green, Donahue rode the outside lane to finally nab the full lead with ten laps remaining, just as Justin Prescott began breathing down his neck. Time ran out for Prescott as Donahue took the win in emotional tribute to his late grandfather Paul Donahue, an instrumental character in the rebirth of the famed Flying Tiger division at Thunder Road and Catamount Stadium in the 1980s. Blake held on to round out the podium.
photo by Alan Ward
The Road Warriors rounded out the evening’s program with Brandon Premont becoming the second first time winner in as many weeks in the starter division with equally enthused Brayden Murphy tackling second in his first ever podium finish. Cayden Green repaired his mount to come home third.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
(local competitors)
Flying Tigers – Round No. 3 of Triple Crown (100 Laps)
9. 15NH, Brendan Moodie, Wolcott
10. 01VT, Michael Martin, Craftsbury, Common
26. 22VT, Travis Patnoe, Wolcott
Late Models – (50 Laps)
7. 86VT, Marcel J. Gravel, Wolcott
23. 01VT, Stephen Martin, Craftsbury Common
Street Stocks – (25 Laps)
9. 34, Patrick Tibbetts, Plainfield
19. 32, Kylee Potter, Marshfield
25. 18x, Walker Fitch, Marshfield
Road Warriors – (20 Laps)
3. 18, Cayden Green, Marshfield
