Barre, VT – Graniteville’s Frank Putney dominated the late stages of the 35th Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro 200 to claim the $3,000 top prize at Barre’s Thunder Road on Sunday, August 4. Putney took the lead with 70 laps to go after Barre’s Chris LaForest pitted with a flat tire and was never headed from there on his way to the victory.

In an interesting twist, Putney competed in the event just days after departing with his Allen Lumber Street Stock. Putney had been running for Rookie of the Year in the Street Stock division this season after earning three wins in the Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors the year before. The trade from Street Stock to Enduro paid off literally as Putney took home one of the biggest prizes awarded each year at Thunder Road.

A total of 103 cars arrived in the pits for the annual Enduro with entries ranging from Quebec to Ohio. While the race was its rough-and-tumble self early, the field thinned out quickly, and most of those who remained quickly adapted to the new retaining wall. Less than 40 cars were on track at the end and the race was completed in a brisk 84 minutes.

Putney started mid-pack and steadily worked his way through the field. He was already in the top-10 by lap 40 and took over the second spot just past lap 120 when Cole Smith hit the wall. However, Putney was sitting five laps behind LaForest, who had been strong all night in search of his first Enduro win.

But as LaForest was coming to complete the 129th lap, he got tangled up with another car, cutting a tire on his machine. LaForest headed pit-side to change the tire and was nearly two laps behind Putney by the time he re-emerged. Though LaForest fought valiantly and even drove back onto the lead lap, he had to pit again shortly thereafter, effectively ending his bid.

At that point, Putney had a several-lap lead of his own. A scare came on lap 153 when Putney got turned around in turn 1 and needed two laps to finally get rolling again. But his cushion was enough to remain ahead, and from there, Putney cruised to the victory by a full lap over his nearest challenger.

Orlean’s Paul Hodge was strong all night as well and finished second. Newport’s Matt Raboin made the trip from the border count with a third-place finish. Kyle Willis, Trevor Day, George Hoyt, Andrew Botala, LaForest, Chad Woodard, and Taylor Laroche rounded out the top-10. The full results will be posted Monday, August 5 at www.thunderroadvt.com.

Before the Enduro began, St. Johnsubry’s Kasey Beattie captured the win in the Bolduc Metal Recycling Street Stock Special for the Allen Lumber Street Stocks. Beattie started 11th in the 50-lap feature and, like Putney, slowly but surely worked his way to the front. The 15-year-old made the move to second following the event’s third caution at lap 25 and set his sights on rookie Derek Farnham, who had led since the drop of the green flag.

After looking to Farnham’s outside several times, Beattie made a veteran move, using a lapped car as a pick to get the lead with 14 circuits remaining. The fourth and final caution came out a lap later when a tire flew off rookie Cooper French’s car while battling in the top-5 and point leader Jeffrey Martin got caught up in the aftermath. Beattie easily kept the lead on the restart and pulled away down the stretch for his second Thunder Road victory.

Farnham held off several other challengers down the stretch for a career-best second-place result. Derby’s Tim Hunt completed the podium. Jamie Davis, Dean Switser Jr., Bryan P. Wall, Tyler Pepin, Tommy Smith, Juan Marshall, and Martin completed the top-10.

Thunder Road decides its first championship of the summer this Thursday, August 8 at 7:00pm at Cody Chevrolet Cadillac Night with the finale of the Myers Container Services Triple Crown Series. The Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers will go 75 laps under the lights with the series champion crowned at race’s end. The Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models and Allen Lumber Street Stocks also have a full card of championship action. Admission is $12 for adults, $3 for kids ages 6-12, and $25 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids).

BOLDUC METAL RECYCLING ENDURO 200 & STREET STOCK SPECIAL

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

ENDURO 200

Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown, Laps

1. Frank Putney ( 88 ) Graniteville, VT , 200 Laps

2. Paul Hodge ( 721 ) Orleans, VT , 199 Laps

3. Matt Raboin ( 87 ) Newport, VT , 197 Laps

4. Kyle Willis ( 43 ) Derby Line, VT , 193 Laps

5. Trevor Day ( 114 ) Orange, VT , 193 Laps

6. George Hoyt ( 1 ) Randolph , VT , 192 Laps

7. Andrew Botala ( 941 ) Grand Isle, VT , 192 Laps

8. Chris LaForest ( 56 ) Barre, VT , 192 Laps