2011-05-30

THUNDER ROAD: Donahue, O'Donnell Take Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic Doubleheader Wins

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              TR-052911

Barre, VT – Graniteville’s John Donahue and Bradford’s Derrick O’Donnell claimed wins in Mekkelsen RV Memorial Classic doubleheader at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, VT on Sunday, May 29. Donahue, a former Milk Bowl champion and four time winner at Thunder Road in 2010, claimed the Late Model 100 lap feature win.

 

Donahue fought his way past Middlesex’s Dave Pembroke in a battle of two Fords on lap 33. The two battled hard for the first 32 laps with Donahue trying everything he could to get by leader Pembroke before finally gaining the edge. Donahue would lead the rest of the way for the most part uncontested.

 

Pembroke held off Vermont Lt. Governor Phil Scott to take second. Scott, 2010 King of the Road Nick Sweet and Brent Dragon rounded out the top five. Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., rookie Jimmy Hebert, Matt White, Reno Gervais and Cris Michaud completed the top ten.

 

Donahue lapped all but the top 11 cars of the 27 car field. The 100 lap event was completed in just 29 minutes and saw just two cautions.

 

Derrick O’Donnell earned his second win of the season in the first two events at Thunder Road. O’Donnell followed up his opening day win on May 1 with a win in the Bond/WIX Tiger Tour season opening Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day 100. The Bradford native took the lead from leader Bobby Therrien to lead the final 50 laps without a challenge.

 

Therrien would hold on for what appeared to be a second place finish before being penalized for rough riding. He was dropped to the final car on the lead lap in seventh. Eric Badore inherited second, while 2010 Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen Champion Tony Rossi took third. Joe Steffen and Joey Roberts completed the top five.

 

Josh Demers, Therrien, Mark Barnier, David Finck and Mike Ziter completed the top ten. O’Donnell managed to lap all but the top seven cars as the 100 lap event saw just two cautions. The race took just over 34 minutes to complete. A total of 37 cars attempted to qualify for the first of five Bond/WIX Tiger Tour events to be held in 2011. The starting grid had 28 cars.

 

The Allen Lumber Street Stocks saw Jefferson, NH’s Nick Pilotte, a former White Mountain Motorsports Park Champion, earn his first career win at Thunder Road. Sid Sweet, Jr., Greg Adams, Bunker Hodgdon and Martin Ingram all claimed top fives.

 

Williamstown’s Brock Parrott earned the win in the Junkyard Warriors. He was followed to the line by Jason Woodard and Danny Brassard.

 

Thunder Road has the next two weeks off before its first Sunday twilight event on Sunday, June 12. All four divisions will be in action for a regular event presented by Ferguson Waterworks. The event will also feature the New England Antique Racers.

 

Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic Doubleheader

Thunder Road International Speedbowl – Barre, VT

Sunday, May 29, 2011

 

Thunder Road Late Model Unofficial Results

Fin. (Start) Driver, Hometown, Laps Completed

1. (4) John Donahue, Graniteville, VT, 100 Laps

2. (2) Dave Pembroke, Middlesex, VT, 100 Laps

3. (3) Phil Scott, Berlin, VT, 100 Laps

4. (10) Nick Sweet, Barre, VT, 100 Laps

5. (9) Brent Dragon, Milton, VT, 100 Laps

6. (19) Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Hudson, NH, 100 Laps

7. (15) #Jimmy Hebert, Williamstown, VT, 100 Laps

8. (8) Matt White, Northfield, VT, 100 Laps

9. (1) Reno Gervais, Island Pond, VT, 100 Laps

10. (5) Cris Michaud, E. Montpelier, VT, 100 Laps

11. (12) Chip Grenier, Graniteville, VT, 100 Laps

12. (21) Cody Blake, Barre, VT, 99 Laps

13. (16) Jamie Aube, N. Ferrisburgh, VT, 99 Laps

14. (23) Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, VT, 99 Laps

15. (11) Mike Bruno, Rutland, VT, 99 Laps

16. (7) Grant Folsom, Waitsfield, VT, 99 Laps

17. (18) Brooks Clark, Fayston, VT, 99 Laps

18. (14) Joey Becker, Jeffersonville, VT, 99 Laps

19. (20) Eric Chase, Milton, VT, 99 Laps

20. (22) Dave Whitcomb, Essex Jct., VT, 99 Laps

21. (6) Scott Payea, Milton, VT, 99 Laps

22. (24) Brett Wheeler, Waterbury, VT, 98 Laps

23. (17) Ricky Roberts, Washington, VT, 98 Laps

24. (25) Brad Mattson, Graniteville, VT, 98 Laps

25. (26) #Jim Morris, Barre, VT, 98 Laps

26. (13) Mike Bailey, South Barre, VT, 97 Laps

27. (27) Marcel Gravel, Wolcott, VT, 35 Laps

Time of Race: 29:32                                         Margin of Victory: 3.86 seconds                

Cautions: 2 (Laps 10, 50)                                                                               

Leaders: Dave Pembroke, 1-32; John Donahue, 33-100                                                                  

Heat Winners: Mike Bruno, Chip Grenier, Grant Folsom                                                                

 

Bond/WIX Tiger Tour Unofficial Results

Fin. (Start) Driver, Hometown, Laps completed

1. (3) Derrick O’Donnell, Bradford, VT, 100 Laps

2. (2) Eric Badore, Milton, VT, 100 Laps

3. (7) Tony Rossi, Peacham, VT, 100 Laps

4. (10) Joe Steffen, Grand Isle, VT, 100 Laps

5. (6) Joey Roberts, Georgia, VT, 100 Laps

6. (11) Josh Demers, Middlesex, VT, 100 Laps

7. (1) Bobby Therrien, Hinesburg, VT, 100 Laps

8. (5) Mark Barnier, Essex Jct., VT, 99 Laps

9. (14) David Finck, Barre, VT, 99 Laps

10. (15) Mike Ziter, Williamstown, VT, 99 Laps

11. (17) Pete Ainsworth, Jr., Middlesex, VT, 99 Laps

12. (9) Christopher Pelkey, S. Barre, VT, 99 Laps

13. (19) John Lambert, Northfield, VT, 99 Laps

14. (16) Troy Gray, Fairlee, VT, 99 Laps

15. (12) Scott Coburn, S. Barre, VT, 99 Laps

16. (13) Mike Billado, Essex, VT, 99 Laps

17. (22) Jason Bonnett, St. Albans, VT, 99 Laps

18. (8) Shawn Fleury, Middlesex, VT, 99 Laps

19. (21) Brendan Moodie, Wolcott, VT, 98 Laps

20. (18) Bradley Bushey, Fairfax, VT, 98 Laps

21. (4) Mike Martin, Craftsbury Common, VT, 98 Laps

22. (25) Blair Bessett, Worcester, VT, 98 Laps

23. (23) George May, Barre, VT, 98 Laps

24. (27) #Micheal MacAskill, Williamstown, VT, 98 Laps

25. (28) Tucker Williams, Hyde Park, VT, 97 Laps

26. (20) Tim Churchill, Lincoln, NH, 88 Laps

27. (24) Jason Corliss, Danville, VT, 85 Laps

28. (26) Brian Gosselin, Bethlehem, NH, 38 Laps

Time of Race: 34:04                                         Margin of Victory: 4.724 seconds                             

Cautions: 2 (Laps 86, 89)                                                                               

Leaders: Eric Badore, 1-3; Bobby Therrien, 4-42; Derrick O'Donnell, 43; Therrien, 44-49; O'Donnell 50-100.                                                                             

Heat Winners: Joey Roberts, Tony Rossi, Josh Demers, Shawn Fleury                                                                     

NOTE: Apparent second place finisher Bobby Therrien was penalized to the last car on the lead lap for rough riding.                                                                       

 

Allen Lumber Street Stocks Unofficial Top Ten

Fin. Car # Driver Hometown

1. 11 Nick Pilotte, Jefferson, NH

2. 51 Sid Sweet, Jr., Williamstown, VT

3. 38 Greg Adams, Jr., Hardwick, VT

4. 83 Bunker Hodgdon, Hardwick, VT

5. 02 Martin Ingram, Essex Jct., VT

6. 77 David Whitcomb, Elmore, VT

7. 43 Jamie Davis, Wolcott, VT

8. 92 Garry Bashaw, Lincoln, VT

9. 39 Troy Kingsbury, Waitsfield, VT

10. 9 Ron Gabaree, Barre, VT

 

Junkyard Warriors Unofficial Top Three

Fin. Car # Driver Hometown

1. 23 Brock Parrott, Williamstown, VT

2. 68 Jason Woodard, Waterbury, VT

3. 30 Danny Brassard, E. Randolph, VT

 

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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 30.5.11

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