BARRE – Double Features were on the menu Thursday at Thunder Road International Speedbowl. Double features for some meant strategy was thrown to the wayside with the foot to the firewall, to others it was patience, a strong brake pedal and eyes up.
The Late Models were just some of the superstars showcased on Double Feature night, starting off with a green-to-checkered affair in their first of two 50-lap feature events. Highlighted by a mid-pack scuffle between Cooper Bouchard and Kaiden Fisher, with Fisher careening through the infield grass, Bryan Wall Jr. proved his Memorial Day Classic win was no fluke en-route to Victory Lane with point leader Jason Corliss and Chris Roberts rounding out the first podium.
photo by Alan Ward
Feature No. 2 saw a change in lead stars out front with Thunder Road’s two most recent Flying Tiger champions leading the Late Model fray in Brandon Gray and Kyle Streeter. The rookie front row saw Gray get the jump but Streeter held close. Mechanical woes ended the night with crushing blows to Scott Dragon, Phil Scott and Trevor Jaques in three separate incidents. Through it all, Gray persevered, coming from his own mechanical-interruptions in feature No.1 to claim his first Late Model victory followed by Christopher Pelkey and Streeter.
The Flying Tigers had a rough start to double feature action with a lap six pile-up involving Matt Ballard, Rich Lowrey and Cam Gadue in turn one before returning to good, hard racing. Logan Powers led from the start to take down his first career Flying Tiger win over multi-time champion Jason Woodard and Chris Laforest. The Tigers kept true to form for feature No. 2 with Travis Patnoe looking to have a career day before Ballard reeled him in. Ballard, with Cooper French and Lowrey in tow, moved into the lead on lap 23 and never looked back coming from a wrecked pile at the end of last season to a victory lane piece. French and Lowrey rounded out the second podium.
photo by Alan Ward
The Street Stocks had the hardest night of all four Thunder Road divisions. Feature No. 1 seemed to be in the hands of Jason Kirby but three caution spells made for a hard pull on the Road Warrior alum, as it did for point leader Dean Switser Jr. Switser got caught in a rolling road block and ended his day with a hard lick into the turn one wall. Patrick Tibbetts made the most of the caution periods to climb up to the winner’s circle for his first checkered flag of the season with Fred Fleury and rookie Hayden Bushey joining the podium.
Feature No. 2 was no nicer to the crunch bunch with a big backstretch pile-up ending the day for championship hopeful Nate Brien and last week’s first time winner Tyler Wheatley on lap 10. The redeeming qualities came back in full with a head-to-head battle between young Walker Fitch and Derek Farnham on the return to green. The two fought hard at the front until Farnham overtook the youngster to lead lap 19 and kept pace for the win with Kyle MacAskill rounding out the podium in third.
The Road Warriors put on two lightning-fast 20 lap shows. Derrick Mann ran away with the first trophy dash over Mike Slingerland and Cayden Green and looked poised to do so again in Feature No. 2. Mann and Neal Foster fought door handle-to-door handle in their final 20-lap race with Foster getting the better for his first win of the season and Green again taking third.
Thunder Road International Speedbowl is back in action Thursday, July 3, for the Independence Day Spectacular featuring the annual Northstar Fireworks display. The Late Models, Flying Tigers, Street Stocks and Road Warriors are all back to battle on the Barre highbanks with a 7 p.m., post time.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
(local ompetitors)
Late Models – Feature #1 (50 Laps)
6. 01VT, Stephen Martin, Craftsbury Common
12. 86VT, Marcel J. Gravel, Wolcott
Feature No. 2 (50 Laps)
4. 86VT, Marcel J. Gravel, Wolcott
13. 01VT, Stephen Martin, Craftsbury Common
Flying Tigers – Feature No. 1 (40 Laps)
6. 15NH, Brendan Moodie, Wolcott
21. 22VT, Travis Patnoe, Wolcott
Feature No/ 2 (40 Laps)
8. 15NH, Brendan Moodie, Wolcott
16. 22VT, Travis Patnoe, Wolcott
Street Stocks – Feature No. 1 (25 Laps)
1. 34, Patrick Tibbetts, Plainfield
6. 32, Kylee Potter, Marshfield
22. 18x, Walker Fitch, Marshfield
Feature No. 2 (25 Laps)
2. 18x, Walker Fitch, Marshfield
14. 32, Kylee Potter, Marshfield
18. 34, Patrick Tibbetts, Plainfield
Road Warriors – Feature No. 1 (20 Laps)
3. 18, Cayden Green, Marshfield
Feature No. 2 (20 Laps)
3. 18, Cayden Green, Marshfield
