Thunder Road Inching Closer to Finish Line with U.S. Army Recruiting Night

Barre’s Thunder Road nears the zenith of its weekly racing season this Thursday, August 17 with U.S. Army Recruiting Night. The second-to-last Thursday night date on the calendar features a full card of action for the Thunder Road Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, and Allen Lumber Street Stocks as they draw closer to crowning the 2017 track champions.

Hinesburg’s Bobby Therrien continues to lead the Late Model ranks, currently holding a 21-point edge over South Burlington’s Trampas Demers with just three point-counting events remaining. Should he remain on top at season’s end, Therrien would become the first driver in modern Thunder Road history to hold titles in three different divisions. He previously won the 2007 Street Stock and 2012 Flying Tiger championships.

The Memorial Day Classic winner has ridden solid feature results and outstanding qualifying performances, including four Maplewood Semi-Feature victories, to the head of the standings. Demers has remained within striking distance by leading the division with five podium finishes, including his win in the Vermont Governor’s Cup on July 13.

Two-time 2017 feature winner Jason Corliss of Barre and defending “King of the Road” Scott Dragon of Milton sit a distant third and fourth in points as the season winds down. Barre’s Cody Blake rocketed up to fifth in the rankings after taking the Maplewood Triple Crown last Thursday night.

For the first time all season, the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers have a new name atop the standings. Waterbury Center’s Jason Woodard used his fourth feature win of the year last Thursday to wrestle the top spot from Wolcott’s Brendan Moodie, who had led the division since Opening Day. The 2014 Champion now has a 16-point lead over the 2015 Champion with four point-counting events left on the schedule.

Three-time 2017 winner Trevor Lyman of Hinesburg and 1991 “King of the Road” Dwayne Lanphear of Morrisville are now tied for third in the standings 49 points back of Woodard. Top rookie Jaden Perry of Hardwick completes the top five.

Hinesburg’s Cooper Bouchard has broken through the pack in the Allen Lumber Street Stocks in the past few weeks and now holds a 36-point advantage over Morrisville’s Brandon Lanphear. The battle from second through seventh remains razor-close with Lanphear, Fairfax’s Alan Maynard, Wolcott’s Jamie Davis, Waterbury Center’s Kelsea Woodard, Waitsfield’s Kevin Streeter, and Lyndonville’s Dean Switser Jr. separated by just 16 points. All are in position to get back in the title hunt should Bouchard run into any difficulties.

The next round of the 2017 Thunder Road season goes to post at 7:00pm this Thursday, August 17. In addition to the weekly racing action, U.S. Army Recruiting Night will also feature a Junior Champ Kart exhibition event for drivers in the Tuesday night racing series that have completed the Race to Read program. The pit gates will open at 3:30pm and the front gates will open at 5:15pm. Admission is $12 for adults, $3 for kids ages 6-12, and $25 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids).