BARRE – With 65-laps on the board for the Trophy Dash, Darrell Morin and Brandon Lanphear brought the Late Models to green. The two blue cars showed the way side-by-side before Lanphear gained the upper hand in the outside groove. A caution at lap 24 for the blown engine under Stephen Donahue’s hood set up a new battle at the front between Justin Prescott and Brandon Gray. Lanphear held back in fourth to watch defending champion Jason Corliss line up to take on the two front runners with all four under a blanket.
photo by Alan Ward
Brandon Lanphear’s turn-three spin and pile-up would call out the final caution with five laps remaining. East Thetford’s Brandon Gray would get the jump on the restart and lead all the way home for the opening Thursday Night win at Thunder Road over Justin Prescott and Jason Corliss at the line.
Ben Seitz and Dan Bowes brought the New England Supermodified Series to green for their 75-lap visit on Super Thursday! Mechanical catastrophe would end the night for Dan Bowes on lap 44 after running in second throughout the event leaving Jon McKennedy to chase down No. 29 of Seitz. While McKennedy closed within inches by ten laps remaining Seitz was still the dominant machine out front. Ben Seitz would take down the Super Thursday win over McKennedy and defending series champion Jeffrey Battle.
photo by Alan Ward
The Street Stocks were 34 strong and next on the docket with Mike Gay and car-show winner Tyler Wheatley duking it out for the lead. A slam-bang affair in the back made for a blown right front for the rookie Greyson Reen as himself and Howard Stockwell collided with the turn three wall on lap 8. Things quieted down after that with Wheatley unshackling himself from the Gray and climb away with a strong lead out front. Tyler Wheatley would go on to win the 30-lap sprint over Kyle MacAskill and young phenom Hayden Bushey.
The Flying Tigers rounded out the evening with their 50-lap main event. Cameron Powers sailed off with the early lead with Ty Delphia and Parker Gagne in hot pursuit. Gagne shot into second around Delphia on lap 17 and set his sights on Powers with veteran Kevin Streeter in tow. Lap 28 brought calamity with Cooper French, Jaiden Del Toro, Karsen Murphy and more piling in on turn one just as Gagne struck into the top position. The bad luck continued for Gagne with Kevin Streeter powering up the outside to take the lead. With five laps remaining, Streeter slipped up the track just enough for Parker Gagne to take the advantage all the way to career win No. 1 with Derrick Calkins and Luke Peters rounding out the podium.
photo by Alan Ward
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS (local competitors)
Late Models – (65 Laps)
5. 86VT, Marcel J. Gravel, Wolcott
9. 01VT, Stephen Martin, Craftsbury Common
Flying Tigers – (50 Laps)
3. 26VT, Luke Peters, Groton
4. 94VT, Brendan Moodie, Wolcott
17. 5VT, Kyle Gravel, Wolcott
18. 22VT, Travis Patnoe, Wolcott
Street Stocks – (30 Laps)
16. 18VT, Walker Fitch, Marshfield
