Eric Pembroke of Montpelier emerges from his car in Victory Lane after claiming the Times Argus Mid-Season Championship. Photo by Alan Ward
Another Late Model feature, another photo finish at Thunder Road. Kyle Pembroke of Montpelier lost the lead to Eric Chase of Milton with a lap to go in the Times Argus Mid-Season Championship, then came back to claim the victory on the final lap by 2/100ths of a second.
Pembroke, who started ninth in the 25-car grid, moved into the top three after a lap-35 restart, took over second on lap 50, then claimed the lead from Boomer Morris of Barre following a lap 67 caution. Pembroke looked to be motoring to an easy victory until the fifth caution of the 75-lap feature flew on lap 67. Chase, starting on the outside, was able to grab a slim lead on lap 74, but couldn’t hold on for the victory.
Rounding out the Late Model top 10 in the double-points Mid-Season Championship for all three Thunder Road divisions were Phil Scott of Middlesex, Mike Bailey of South Barre, Scott Dragon of Milton, Shawn Fleury of Middlesex, Jason Corliss of Barre, Trampas Demers of S. Burlington, Nick Sweet of Barre, and Cody Blake of Barre.
The Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen ran Triple 20s, and Brendan Moodie of Wolcott picked up his second feature victory of the season. Moodie finished second, fifth, and fourth in the three segments for a combined 11 points. Mike Billado of Essex, who won the first and third segments, finished in second place.
Eric Johnson of Randolph Ctr., Stephen Donahue of Graniteville, and Cameron Ouellette of Barre rounded out the top five, while Mike Martin of Craftsbury Common claimed the second segment win.
In the 35-lap Allen Lumber Street Stocks feature, Peyton Lanphear of Duxbury prevailed in a side-by-side battle with William Henniquin of Hardwick over the final 15 laps to claim her first career victory. Lanphear started on the pole and let for the entire race. Henniquin, who started seventh, caught up with Lanphear on lap 20, but was unable to move around the rookie for the lead.
Bunker Hodgdon lll of Hardwick finished fourth in the 27-car field. He was followed in the top 10 by Garry Bashaw of Lincoln, Brandon Lanphear of Morrisville, Jamon Perry of Hardwick, Jamie Davis of Wolcott, Richard Gravel of Wolcott, and Thomas Merchant of Eden Mills.
Racing action returns to Thunder Road on Thursday, August 4 for WDEV/Calkins Portable Toilets Night. The event features a full card of action for the Thunder Road Late Models, Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen, and Allen Lumber Street Stocks. Post time is 7:00 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $3 for kids ages 6-12, and $25 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids).
