Gravel Sets New Track Record to Earn Milk Bowl Pole

Wolcott’s Marcel J. Gravel will lead the 55th Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank on Sunday, October 1. The sophomore Thunder Road Late Model competitor circled the high banks in 12.236 seconds to set a new track record, eclipsing the previous mark of 12.245 seconds set by Sylvain Metievier at the 1995 Milk Bowl.

Gravel was the 32nd driver to take time on Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Milk Bowl Qualifying Day and laid down the record-breaking lap on his first trip around the speedway. In doing so, he knocked South Burlington’s Trampas Demers off the top spot. Demers settled for second with a near-record time of 12.267 seconds and will start on the outside pole on Sunday.

Defending Milk Bowl Champion Nick Sweet of Barre will start third in the Milk Bowl after taking the victory in the first 50-lap qualifying race. Sweet got the jump on Hinesburg’s Bobby Therrien following a lap-43 restart and survived a trio of late cautions for the win.

Colchester’s Scott Payea also got by Therrien in the closing laps for second. Therrien, Josh Masterson, Darrell Morin, Ray Christian III, Jesse Switser, and Christopher Pelkey finished third through eighth to transfer into the Milk Bowl.

Milton’s Scott Dragon took the win in the second 50-lap qualifier to earn the fourth starting spot in tomorrow’s Milk Bowl. Dragon came out on top of a back-and-forth battle with Williamstown’s Jimmy Hebert and Barre’s Jason Corliss over the final 14 laps to earn the win.

Corliss took second with Hebert third. Cody Blake, Mike Bailey, Eric Chase, Brooks Clark, and Jonathan Bouvrette also finished in qualifying spots. Matt White, Ricky Roberts, Evan Hallstrom, and Kyle Pembroke fell back on their time trial speeds to earn a Milk Bowl starting position.

While Sweet is comfortably in the show, fellow three-time Milk Bowl winners Patrick Laperle and Kevin Lepage will be going to the Last Chance “B” Feature on Sunday after failing to make the main event on Saturday. Vermont Governor Phil Scott and NASCAR Pinty’s Series Champion Alex Labbé are also on the outside looking in.

Craftsbury Common’s Mike Martin emerged from a late battle to win Segment 1 of the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tiger Mini Milk Bowl. Martin dueled with Morrisville’s Dwayne Lanphear for 10 laps before finally getting the break with three laps to go in the 40-lap segment for the victory.

Joel Hodgon got underneath Lanphear in the final circuits for second, with Brendan Moodie and polesitter Jason Woodard completing the top five.

Lyndonville’s Dean Switser Jr. was the winner in Segment 1 of the Allen Lumber Street Stock Mini Milk Bowl. The veteran earned the pole in time trials and was never headed from the top spot in the 25-lap segment.

Lincoln’s Garry Bashaw finished second with E. Thetford’s Brandon Gray third. Will Hennequin, Jamie Davis, Gary Mullen, Stephen Martin, Kelsea Woodard, Logan Powers, and Issac Spaulding completed the top-10.

Lower Waterford’s Andy Hill grabbed the win in Segment 1 for the New England Dwarf Cars. Hill took the lead on lap four and held on through a pair of late restarts. Jason Wyman finished second followed by polesitter Dave Gyger, Tommy Smithers, and Colby Bourgeois.

Barre’s Jared Blakely was a first-time winner in the 30-lap Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors feature. Blakely had surrendered the lead to fellow hometown driver Jeffrey Martin with five laps remaining, but got back underneath him in traffic two laps later to take the victory in the caution free event. Craftsbury’s Jesse Gerrow completed the podium.

The Last Chance “B” Feature for the Thunder Road Late Models will role to the line at 12:15pm on Sunday, October 1 to set the final four Milk Bowl starting spots. Opening ceremonies for the 55th Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank begin at 1:00pm. Adult admission is $30 for adults and free for kids age 12 and under.

BOOTH BROS./H.P. HOOP MILK BOWL QUALIFYING DAY

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

MILK BOWL STARTING LINE-UP

Pos., Car #, Driver, Hometown

1. ( 86VT ) Marcel J. Gravel , Wolcott, VT

2. ( 85VT ) Trampas Demers , S. Burlington, VT

3. ( 88VT ) Nick Sweet , Barre, VT

4. ( 16VT ) Scott Dragon , Milton, VT

5. ( 37VT ) Scott Payea , Colchester, VT

6. ( 66VT ) Jason Corliss , Barre, VT

7. ( 5VT ) Bobby Therrien , Hinesburg, VT

8. ( 58VT ) Jimmy Hebert , Williamstown, VT

9. ( 11NY ) Josh Masterson , Charlotte, VT

10. ( 99VT ) Cody Blake , Barre, VT

11. ( 17VT ) Darrell Morin , Westford, VT

12. ( 00VT ) Mike Bailey , S. Barre, VT

13. ( 93CT ) #Raymond L. Christian lll , Norwich, CT

14. ( 40VT ) Eric Chase , Milton, VT

15. ( 10ME ) Jesse Switser , West Burke, VT

16. ( 68VT ) Brooks Clark , Fayston, VT

17. ( 64VT ) Christopher Pelkey , Graniteville, VT

18. ( 41QC ) Jonathan Bouvrette , Blainville, QC

19. ( 42VT ) Matt White , Northfield, VT

20. ( 3VT ) Ricky Roberts , Washington, VT

21. ( 1VT ) Evan Hallstrom , Northfield, VT

22. ( 27VT ) Kyle Pembroke , Montpelier, VT

23. 1st place – Last Chance Race

24. 2nd place – Last Chance Race

25. Thunder Road Provisional

26. ACT/Serié ACT Provisional

LENNY’S SHOE & APPAREL FLYING TIGERS SEGMENT #1

Pos., Car #, Driver, Hometown

1. Mike Martin ( 01 ) Craftsbury Common, VT

2. Joel Hodgdon ( 36 ) Craftsbury Common, VT

3. Dwayne Lanphear ( 11 ) Morrisville, VT

4. Brendan Moodie ( 94 ) Wolcott, VT

5. Jason Woodard ( 68 ) Waterbury Ctr., VT

6. #Jaden Perry ( 92 ) Hardwick, VT

7. Derrick Calkins ( 15 ) Danville, VT

8. #Tyler Austin ( 5 ) East Calais, VT

9. Cameron Ouellette ( 90 ) Barre, VT

10. Trevor Lyman ( 17 ) Hinesburg, VT

11. Mike Billado ( 8 ) Essex, VT

12. Brandon Lanphear ( 91 ) Morrisville, VT

13. Robert Gordon ( 20 ) Milton, VT

14. Matthew Potter ( 7 ) Marshfield, VT

15. Clement Despault, Sr. ( 3 ) Waterbury, VT

16. Cooper Bouchard ( 41 ) Hinesburg, VT

17. Colin Cornell ( 54 ) Lyndonville, VT

18. Kevin Dodge ( 88 ) Barre, VT

19. Chris Chambers ( 14 ) Brookfield, VT

20. Adam Maynard ( 57 ) Milton, VT

21. Shane Sicard ( 19 ) Barton, VT

22. Steve Denio ( 27 ) Passumpsic, VT

23. Eric Johnson ( 66 ) Randolph Ctr., VT

24. #Jason Pelkey ( 64 ) Barre, VT

25. Jacob Perry ( 62 ) Hardwick, VT

26. Brian Delphia ( 25 ) Duxbury, VT

27. Joe Steffen ( 00 ) Grand Isle, VT

28. Eric Messier ( 08 ) Hinesburg, VT

29. Chandler Potter ( 23 ) Marshfield, VT

ALLEN LUMBER STREET STOCKS SEGMENT #1

Pos., Car #, Driver, Hometown

1. Dean Switser, Jr. ( 45 ) Lyndonville, VT

2. Garry Bashaw ( 4 ) Lincoln, VT

3. Brandon Gray ( 00 ) E. Thetford, VT

4. William Hennequin ( 47 ) Hardwick, VT

5. Jamie Davis ( 43 ) Wolcott, VT

6. Gary Mullen ( 29 ) Tunbridge, VT

7. #Stephen Martin ( 01 ) Craftsbury Common, VT

8. Kelsea Woodard ( 55 ) Waterbury Ctr., VT

9. #Logan Powers ( 31 ) Middlesex, VT

10. Issac Spaulding ( 82 ) Wolcott, VT

11. Tyler Pepin ( 78 ) Barre, VT

12. Dennis Perry ( 18 ) E. Corinth, VT

13. Dylan Laleme ( 14 ) Bethlehem, NH

14. #Kasey Collins ( 98 ) Barre, VT

15. Bryan P. Wall ( 77 ) E. Kingston, NH

16. Cooper Bouchard ( 7 ) Hinesburg, VT

17. Jeff Murray ( 35 ) Georgia, VT

18. Justin Blakely ( 17 ) Graniteville, VT

19. Michael Gay ( 3 ) So. Burlington, VT

20. Tom Campbell ( 85 ) Middlesex, VT

21. Alan Maynard ( 10 ) Fairfax, VT

22. Steve LaFountain ( 61 ) Barre, VT

NEW ENGLAND DWARF CARS SEGMENT #1

Pos., Car #, Driver, Hometown

1. Andy Hill ( 8 ) Lower Waterford, VT

2. Jason Wyman ( 88 ) Franconia, NH

3. Dave Gyger ( 93NH ) Campton, NH

4. Tommy Smithers ( 60 ) Gilmanton, NH

5. Colby Bourgeois ( 93 ) St. Johnsbury, VT

6. Tim Churchill ( 66 ) Lincoln, NH

7. Jeff Ainsworth ( 41 ) Bethlehem, NH

8. Cody Wyman ( 00 ) Bath, NH

9. Kevin Wyman ( 02 )

10. Beany O'Hare ( 09 ) Compton, NH

11. Chad Dufour ( 52 )

12. Ethan Tyrrell ( 23 ) Worcester, VT

BURNETT SCRAP METALS ROAD WARRIORS

Pos., Car #, Driver, Hometown

1. Jared Blakely ( 28 ) Barre, VT

2. Jeffrey Martin ( 8 ) Barre, VT

3. Jesse Gerrow ( 01 ) Craftsbury, VT

4. Benjamin Ashford ( 95 ) Northfield, VT

5. Frank Putney ( 88 ) Graniteville, VT

6. Connor Garand ( 41 ) Barre, VT

7. Fred Fleury ( 98 ) Graniteville, VT

8. Eric Chase ( 13 ) Berlin, VT

9. Trevor Rossi ( 04 ) Washington, VT

10. Cole Smith ( 26 ) Swanton, VT

11. Kyle MacAskill ( 07 ) Williamstown, VT

12. Sean McCarthy ( 86 ) Williamstown, VT

13. Ethan Howes ( 24 ) Fayston, VT

14. Michael Stearns ( 3 ) Johnson, VT

15. Alex Lessard ( 14 ) Williamstown, VT

16. Julian Gorman ( 9 ) Randolph, VT

17. James Dopp ( 0 ) Northfield, VT

18. Nathan Woodworth ( 08 ) Essex Jct., VT

19. Dylan Duffy ( 72 ) Milton, VT

20. Rodney Campbell ( 10 ) Worcester, VT