Brandon Gray Claims Record-Breaking Seventh Flying Tiger Victory, Clinches Championship on McGee Hyundai of Barre Super Friday

The Maplefield/Irving Late Models started off McGee Hyundai of Barre Super Friday with their 50-lap trophy dash to kick start Super Friday’s five division showcase. Outside polesitter Taylor Hoar got off to a sour start, careening into the infield on lap one to bring out the early caution. Chip Grenier put the pedal down to lead the restart on the outside groove over Stephen Martin and set the pace out front. The caution flew once more on lap 16 as Christopher Bedard stacked up the middle of the pack in turn four, sending Jason Corliss hard into the Widowmaker frontstretch wall and ending his night early.

On the restart, Marcel Gravel would take control of the field with Stephen Martin in tow at the front before the halfway caution for a number of cars spinning in turn two. Martin would get the jump on the restart to lead Gravel back to the line as Chris Pelkey began to pressure the frontrunners. Even with the pressure pouring on, Stephen Martin kept it high, wide and handsome to take the first career win for the Craftsbury Common driver followed by Marcel Gravel and Chris Pelkey across the line.

The New England Supermodified Series (NESS) were next on the field with Jim Storace and Matt Swanson leading the field to green for their lightning-fast 75-lap affair. Storace immediately launched to the lead and used every inch of the Thunder Road asphalt to keep pace ahead of Swanson as defending series champion Dan Bowes kept watch in third. The battle for fifth was the most hotly contested as point leader Bobby Timmons tried again and again to round Dave Duggan before his engine let go in a plume of white smoke in turn one to call out the lap 56 caution.

Storace would maintain the restart lead but the catastrophic failure of a right rear tire ended his day on the backstretch. With thirteen laps remaining, Bowes got the best of Russ Wood on the restart and powered his way to the McGee Hyundai of Barre Super Friday victory, joined on the podium by Matt Swanson in second and Russ Wood in third.

The Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors went for a twin bill on Super Friday, starting with last Sunday’s rain-delayed NEFCU+VSECU feature. Derrick Mann would nab the early lead over Jed Whitcomb and maintained as the field bounced and battled for position behind him. Soon, the ‘Frickin Chicken’ Brodie Frazier cleared traffic and set his sights on Mann with five laps remaining he pulled up to a car-length behind the leader. Frazier pulled up alongside under the white flag and nabbed the lead of turn two to take the NEFCU+VSECU victory over Derrick Mann and Dan Garrett, Jr.

The gang would return to close out the night for their second feature with Anderson Boyd and Nick Copping pacing the field of Warriors for the 25-lap feature ahead. The two kept it clean and green until Boyd drove sideways out of turn two, giving Derrick Mann the exclusive lead around the two of them. Meanwhile shortly behind, Neal Foster and Brodie Frazier entered the picture, battling in podium territory. Derrick Mann kept his foot planted in the firewall to claim his first career Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warrior victory on McGee Hyundai of Barre night joined by Neal Foster and Brodie Frazier in victory lane.

The rk Miles Street Stocks began their 25-lap McGee Hyundai of Barre trophy dash under the leadership of Eric MacLaughlin but Derek Farnham quickly asserted his way to the point. Charging from a fourth-place starting spot, Patrick Tibbetts took over the lead on lap eight with a rearview mirror full of Tyler Whittemore. All three up front dug deep in search of their second win of the season while struggling with lapped traffic. The lap 21 caution would stall the field as Josh Lovely sat in the turn three grass while Zach Audet smacked the turn four wall and jumped pitside for a new right front shoe. Patrick Tibbetts would maintain the restart green all the way to win number two on the season with Derek Farnham in second and Tyler Whittemore taking third.

The Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers saw proud dad Mike Martin on the pole inside of Mike MacAskill to start their 40-lap main event. The two veterans would face off side-by-side in the early circuits as Chris LaForest looked to make it three wide underneath the leaders but backed off for a long-game strategy. MacAskill finally edged out to take the lone lead on lap 24, but again Martin and Cameron Ouellette stayed in the fight with Brandon Gray joining them. Gray would power into second on lap 26 and motored under MacAskill for the lead on lap 29. The duo remained beside each other with MacAskill gaining the lead back on lap 31 just to have Gray take it back over on lap 32! Brandon Gray took down his seventh win of the season, breaking the tie with Eric Williams’ impressive six-win season in 1994 and gained enough of a cushion to clinch the 2024 Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tiger track championship at Thunder Road!

Thunder Road closes out the track championship season next Friday, September 13 with Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Championship Night! The Maplefield/Irving Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers and rk Miles Street Stocks will officially close out the track championship chase alongside the fan-favorite Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors. Post Time on Friday, September 13 is set for 7:00pm.

For more information, contact the Thunder Road offices at (802) 244-6963, [email protected], or visit www.thunderroadvt.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ThunderRoadVT.

-Thunder Road Press Release
-Photo credit: Alan Ward

Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl – Barre, VT
Friday, September 6, 2024
McGee Hyundai of Barre Super Friday
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

Maplefield/Irving Late Models – (50 Laps)

1. 01VT Stephen Martin Craftsbury Common, VT
2. 86VT Marcel J. Gravel Wolcott, VT
3. 64VT Christopher Pelkey Graniteville, VT
4. 99VT Cody Blake Barre, VT
5. 18VT Kaiden Fisher Shelburne, VT
6. 40VT Nick Sweet Williamstown, VT
7. 04VT Justin Prescott Williston, VT
8. 9VT Chip Grenier E. Barre, VT
9. 31VT Stephen Donahue Graniteville, VT
10. 71VT #Jesse Laquerre E. Montpelier, VT
11. 8VT Chris Roberts Washington, VT
12. 17VT Darrell Morin Westford, VT
13. 16VT Brandon Lanphear Morrisville, VT
14. 0VT Scott Dragon Milton, VT
15. 14VT Phil Scott Montpelier, VT
16. 7VT Cooper Bouchard Hinesburg, VT
17. 25VT Michael Rubalcaba Barre, VT
18. 48VT #Taylor Hoar South Hero, VT
19. 23VT Kolby Picard Hyde Park, VT
20. 66VT Jason Corliss Barre, VT
21. 15QC Christopher Bedard Levis, QC
DNS 88NH Jimmy Kidder Norwich, VT

New England Supermodified Series – (75 Laps)

1. 25 Dan Bowles Epping, NH
2. 97 Matt Swanson Harvard, MA
3. 41 Russ Wood Pelham, NH
4. 51 Dave Duggan Milford, NH
5. 47 Jim Storace Kingston, NH
6. 13 Bobby Timmons Windham, ME
7. 11 Ben Seitz Bourne, MA
8. 24 David Sanborn Tilton, NH
9. 5 Rob Summers Manchester, CT
10. 52 Vern Romanoski Strong, ME

Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers – (40 Laps)

1. 00VT Brandon Gray E. Thetford, VT
2. 3VT Michael MacAskill Williamstown, VT
3. 01VT Michael Martin Craftsbury, Common, VT
4. 90VT Cameron Ouellette Barre, VT
5. 26VT Luke Peters Groton, VT
6. 31VT Logan Powers Middlesex, VT
7. 07VT Sam Caron Milton, VT
8. 67VT Kevin Streeter Waitsfield, VT
9. 56VT Chris Laforest Barre, VT
10. 4VT Cooper French Northfield, VT
11. 64VT Jason Pelkey Barre, VT
12. 15NH Brendan Moodie Wolcott, VT
13. 37VT Kyle Streeter Waterbury Ctr., VT
14. 23NY Cam Gadue Highgate, VT
15. 20VT Robert Gordon Milton, VT
16. 45VT Adam Maynard Milton, VT
17. 13VT Ty Delphia Waterbury, VT
18. 9VT #Logan Farrell Barre, VT
19. 22VT Travis Patnoe Wolcott, VT
20. 77VT Issac Spaulding Wolcott, VT

rk Miles Street Stocks – (25 Laps)

1. 34 Patrick Tibbetts Plainfield, VT
2. 39 Derek Farnham Bethel, VT
3. 74 Tyler Whittemore Barre, VT
4. 24 Todd Raymo Swanton, VT
5. 3 Michael Gay S. Burlington, VT
6. 50 Eric MacLaughlin Milton, VT
7. 79 Juan Marshall Pittsfield, VT
8. 8 Paul Rocheleau Georgia, VT
9. 32 #Kylee Potter Marshfield, VT
10. 08 Ryan Foster Waterbury, VT
11. 6 Terry Pearce Jr Chelsea, VT
12. 73 Paige Whittemore Graniteville, VT
13. 57 Trevor Jaques Milton, VT
14. 16 Dean Switser, Jr. Waterford, VT
15. 7 Kyle MacAskill Williamstown, VT
16. 98 Kasey Collins Berlin, VT
17. 33 Curtis Franks Topsham, VT
18. 43 Jamie Davis Johnson, VT
19. 29 Gary Mullen Tunbridge, VT
20. 9 Zach Audet Johnson, VT
21. 99 #Fred Fleury Graniteville, VT
22. 17 Justin Blakely Graniteville, VT
23. 47 William Hennequin Morrisville, VT
24. 04 Scott Weston Berlin, VT
25. 6x Connor Charbonneau Groveton, NH
26. 18 #Walker Fitch Marshfield, VT
27. 2 Haidyn Pearce Chelsea, VT
28. 54 Josh Lovely Williamstown, VT
29. 96 Thomas Peck Waterbury, VT
DNS 51 Thomas Smith Williamstown, VT

Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors – (25 Laps)

1. 27 Derrick Mann Graniteville, VT
2. 19 Neal Foster Moretown, VT
3. 17 Brodie Frazier E. Montpelier, VT
4. 43 Anderson Boyd Berlin, VT
5. 71 Jason Kirby Milton, VT
6. 54 Dan Garrett, Jr. Berlin, VT
7. 81 Mike Slingerland Milton, VT
8. 50 Nick Copping Barre, VT
9. 17 Brodie Frazier E. Montpelier, VT
10. 97 Eddie Thompson Colchester, VT
11. 14 Jed Whitcomb Williamstown, VT
12. 96 Bill O'Connor S. Washington, VT
13. 13 Kevin Wheatley Brookfield, VT
14. 8 Jaiden Del Toro Barre Town, VT
15. 70 Mason Frazier E. Montpelier, VT
16. 51 Caleb Cramer Georgia, VT
17. 72 Christopher Herring Montpelier, VT
18. 31 Tyler Wheatley Brookfield, VT

NEFCU+VSECU Labor Day Classic 20 Lap Make-Up

1. 17 Brodie Frazier E. Montpelier, VT
2. 27 Derrick Mann Graniteville, VT
3. 54 Dan Garrett, Jr. Berlin, VT
4. 31 Tyler Wheatley Brookfield, VT
5. 43 Anderson Boyd Berlin, VT
6. 81 Mike Slingerland Milton, VT
7. 18 Cayden Green Marshfield, VT
8. 71 Jason Kirby Milton, VT
9. 19 Neal Foster Moretown, VT
10. 14 Jed Whitcomb Williamstown, VT
11. 97 Eddie Thompson Colchester, VT
12. 50 Nick Copping Barre, VT
13. 96 Bill O'Connor S. Washington, VT
14. 8 Jaiden Del Toro Barre Town, VT
15. 51 Caleb Cramer Georgia, VT
16. 13 Kevin Wheatley Brookfield, VT
17. 33 Brayden Murphy Barre, VT
18. 70 Mason Frazier E. Montpelier, VT
19. 72 Christopher Herring Montpelier, VT