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Brian Hoar claims Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road

phil — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:24:28 +0000

By Phil Whipple

BARRE, Vermont — Eight-time and defending American-Canadian Tour (ACT) champion Brian Hoar took the lead from Wayne Helliwell Jr. on lap 129 and kept the wiley Granite State racer at bay to claim the 14th annual Merchants Bank 150 Sunday afternoon at Thunder Road International Speedbowl.

Hoar started second on the 30-car grid, led for 18 laps early in the race before pitting for fresh right-side rubber during a caution flag period at lap 70. After restarting outside the top 15, Hoar charged his way forward with skill and slick moves. He regained valuable track position lost during the pit stop as other leaders eventually hit pit road for service.

“He is awesome to race against,” Hoar said pointing to Helliwell. “He’s a good, clean driver. He got into me a couple of times, but he didn’t spin me out. I’ve been chasing this one a long time. Any win at Thunder Road is big, but this one is very special.”

Quebec veteran Patrick Laperle made an impressive late-race charge to claim third. “Irish” John Donahue and multi-time ACT champion Jean-Paul Cyr completed the top five. Finishing sixth through 10th Sunday was Trampas Demers (a great run for him), Luke Hinkley, Brooks Clark, Austin Theriault (who finished fifth Friday night at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., driving for NASCAR star Brad Keselowski) and

Six cautions slowed the race, the worst of which caused a red flag delay for just over 14 minutes. Twenty of the 30 drivers who started the Merchants Bank 150 finished on the lead lap.

A big crowd was on hand to witness this year’s season opener, despite frigid temperatures and strong, gusty winds that felt much more like snocross conditions than anything I’ve ever felt at a paved oval.

Those that endured the arctic air and wind chill saw a terrific race; full of twists and turns just ass the opener at Lee delivered just two weeks prior. We’re seeing a pattern developing here, and it looks like that “when to pit and take tires” strategy is enhancing how these races unfold. It certainly does add some excitement as teams employ the strategy they feel works best for them.

This was Hoar’s 35th career ACT win, first victory in this event and second win of 2012 after winning the season-opening NH Governor’s Cup 150 on April 15 at the Lee USA Speedway. Next up for the ACT warriors is a trip to Mike & Alayne Bruno’s Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT, next weekend.

Unofficial finish:
ACT Merchants Bank 150
Thunder Road International Speedbowl
Sunday, April 29, 2012

Pos. (Start) Driver, Hometown – Laps completed
1. (2) Brian Hoar, Williston, VT – 150 Laps
2. (9) Wayne Helliwell Jr., Dover, NH -150 Laps
3. (19) Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, QC – 150 Laps
4. (5) John Donahue, Graniteville, VT -150 Laps
5. (8) Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT – 150 Laps
6. (27) Trampas Demers, So. Burlington, VT – 150 Laps
7. (15) Luke Hinkley, Claremont, NH – 150 Laps
8. (4) Brooks Clark, Fayston, VT – 150 Laps
9. (23) Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, ME – 150 Laps
10. (3) Nick Sweet, Barre, VT – 150 Laps
11. (10) Scott Payea, Milton, VT – 150 Laps
12. (13) Brett Wheeler, Waterbury, VT – 150 Laps
13. (7) Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, NH – 150 Laps
14. (1) Dave Pembroke, Middlesex, VT – 150 Laps
15. (18) Ricky Rolfe, Albany Twp, ME – 150 Laps
16. (29) Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, VT – 150 Laps
17. (25) Rowland Robinson, Jr., Birch Harbor, ME – 150 Laps
18. (6) Mark Lamberton, Mooers Forks, NY – 150 Laps
19. (20) Jamie Aube, No. Ferrisburg, VT – 150 Laps
20. (14) Glen Luce, Turner, ME – 150 Laps
21. (24) Brent Dragon, Milton, VT – 149 Laps
22. (17) Travis Fadden, North Haverhill, NH – 149 Laps
23. (11) Cris Michaud, E. Montpelier, VT – 148 Laps
24. (30) Eric Chase, Milton, VT – 148 Laps
25. (22) Phil Scott, Berlin, VT – 128 Laps
26. (26) Quinten, Welch, Lancaster, NH – 70 Laps
27. (28) Cody Blake, Barre, VT – 70 Laps
28. (16) Randy Potter, Groveton, NH – 70Laps
29. (12) Ben Ashline, Pittston, ME – 70 Laps
30. (21) Ben Rowe, Turner, ME – 69 Laps

Lap Leaders: Dave Pembroke (1-21), Brian Hoar (22-40), Jean-Paul Cyr (41-109), Wayne Helliwell Jr. (110), Nick Sweet (111), Helliwell (112-116), Patrick Laperle (117), Helliwell (118-128), Hoar (129-150)
Time of Race: 1:13:55(red flag 14:21)
Margin of Victory: .279 seconds
Cautions: 6 (laps 21, 65, 70(red), 109, 116, 128)
Heat Winners: Joey Polewarczyk Jr, Cris Michaud, Brett Wheeler, Glen Luce
Consi Winners: Mark Lamberton, Ben Ashline, Brian Hoar
B-Feature Winner: Quinny Welch

Brian Hoar Looks To Make It 2-For-2 To Start The Season

Jay Hall — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 02:22:51 +0000

RPM Motorsports: ACT Late Model Tour
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl Race Preview

THE STORY

Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., will try and go 2-for-2 to open the ACT Late Model Tour season when the series competes in the Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt., on Sunday, April 29. Hoar, who won his 34th career ACT race in the season opener at Lee USA Speedway two weeks ago, finished fifth in this event last season. Though Hoar has had mixed results at Thunder Road recently – winning the season-ending Milk Bowl last September, but posting his worst finish of 2011 in the Labor Day Classic 200 at the track – RPM Motorsports has dominated the last two Late Model events there. Local driver Nick Sweet won the Labor Day Classic for car owner Rick Paya in September, while Hoar capped his championship year with his second career Milk Bowl.
WHO: Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt.
TEAM: RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge
CREW CHIEF: Rick Paya, Georgia, Vt.

BEST CAREER THUNDER ROAD FINISH: 1st (most recently, September 2011)
LAST RACE AT THUNDER ROAD: 1st (September 2011)

WHERE: Thunder Road International Speedbowl, Barre, Vt. (.25-mile banked oval)
WHEN: Practice, 1 p.m., Saturday, April 28; Qualifying, 1 p.m., Sunday, April 29; Race, 4 p.m., Sunday April 29

ACT LATE MODEL TOUR
LAST RACE: Sunday, April 15, NH Governor’s Cup 150, Lee USA Speedway, Lee, N.H. (1st)
NEXT RACE: Sunday, May 6, Spring Green 112, Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, Vt. (.500-mile oval)
POINTS POSITION: 1st

DID YOU KNOW?

Brian Hoar won six races races in 2011 en route to the ACT Late Model Tour title.
Brian Hoar has led the ACT Late Model Tour standings since midway through the 2010 season.
Rick Paya plans to spend Thursday nights at Thunder Road this season in weekly competition, serving as crew chief for the No. 85 Late Model of Trampas Demers.

Brian Hoar has more race wins (34) than any driver in ACT history, while he and car owner Rick Paya each have a record eight career ACT championships.

Brian Hoar spent the past winter training to run in the Vermont City Marathon over Memorial Day Weekend.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

BRIAN HOAR, Driver of the RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge, On his confidence level in returning to Thunder Road this weekend: “It’s such a tough little bullring. We have struggled there. It actually helped a lot when I had Nick (Sweet) as a teammate for the Labor Day race. Going into last year, I considered Thunder Road one of our weak spots. We were still pulling off Top-5s ,but we weren’t contending for wins.

“We were always fast, but I thought we lacked a little bit in our approach to the long-distance part of it – the 150-lap, 200-lap races. We have a new approach now that came from working with Nick, and we made it work for us in the Milk Bowl with the 75-alp segments. I think that was key.

“I’m sure when we unload for practice (on Saturday), we’ll be right on the money. I think we’ve got something for them this year. My confidence isn’t lacking at all.”

On whether he feels like the competition has caught up to him in 2012: “The first year Rick and I were together (in 2009), we went into it with a real open mind. I put my faith in Rick, Rick put his in me, and we came out with a championship. Second year, we went into it and we were confident we could do it again, but we knew some of the guys would be tougher. It was the same thing last year.

“It takes so much to go right to win a championship. It doesn’t take much to take you out of it. I think the competition is still getting tougher every year. They’re getting experience. Joey Pole is a guy, look at him – he’s ready to bust out. But it’s up to the teams and crews to use that experience and get the results. Same with Austin (Theriault). With experience comes wisdom. Same thing with Wayne (Helliwell). Last year, he learned a lot. The guys that have some experience, they either learn from that and stay out of trouble and are right there all year, or they don’t.”
On the key to success at Thunder Road: “When you go to Thunder Road, you’ve got to contend with all the weekly guys. They’re just so strong there – Nick Sweet, Dave Pembroke, Phil Scott, Cris Michaud. There’s a long list. It just doubles the list of ‘to contend with’ guys. It’s going to be a battle.

“I think it’s like anything. To win the championship and finish up front, you’ve got to run good and be good basically everywhere. All the top teams do. I think we all have our favorite places. Look at Joey Pole, Wayne and Austin. They’ll probably struggle more (at Thunder Road) than the Nick Sweets or the guys on the Tour that did run there in the past on a weekly basis.

“We’ve just been in more situations on that tough little bullring than some of the other guys because we’ve run so many laps there.”

UP NEXT

The ACT Late Model Tour returns to Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, Vt., for the Spring Green 112 on Sunday, May 6… Brian Hoar won the event a year ago, leading the final 37 laps in his first-ever visit to the track after the Spring Green moved from its previous incarnation as a fixture on the Airborne Speedway schedule.

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Green flag set to wave on new season at Vermont’s Thunder Road

phil — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:11:46 +0000

By Phil Whipple

After an exciting season opener for the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) teams at Lee USA, it’s time to make that annual trek over the mountain to a place very dear to my heart.

Over in the beautiful Green Mountain State of Vermont, race teams from around the region and thousands of fans are gearing up for the 2012 season opener at Ken Squier’s famed Thunder Road International Speedbowl
in Barre.

Since 1960, fans have ascended Quarry Hill to witness some of the greatest battles ever waged on a northeastern short track. This coming Sunday, April 29, the intensity level ratchets up once again as ACT presents the 14^th annual Merchants Bank 150 on the Barre high banks.

The season opener at Thunder Road is like a Vermont old home day; you’ll see more hand-shaking and hugs and hear more “so, I see you made the winter ok,” than you can count. It’s absolutely wonderful.

Yet after the friendships and acquaintances have been renewed, we’ll focus on the reason we all climb that hill in the first place. It’s that intense, side-by-side yet respectful racing synonymous with Thunder Road. Once you’ve seen a tour race there, it’s difficult to replace that level of adrenaline.

Leading the charge into Thunder Road is Barre native Nick Sweet. The former champion will attempt to claim his third straight victory in this event in the St. Jay Auto-sponsored No. 88 entry. Other drivers to watch include multi-time champion and current Lt. Governor Phil Scott, as he looks to start his 2012 season off with a victory.

Without argument, the battle between ACT points chasers will heat up in a big way at “The Road.” Brian Hoar, off to a perfect start in his quest for a fourth straight and ninth overall title, will look to carry the momentum forward from his win in the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 on April 15. Wayne Helliwell Jr., the man who chased Hoar to the finish both at Lee and in last year’s points chase, will be right there ready to pounce.

Don’t forget young Joey Polewarczyk Jr., of Hudson, New Hampshire. The friendly lad they call “Joey Pole” knows how to win on the historic ¼-mile oval, but he also remembers what it’s like to fall off the top of turn 3 while leading the feature. I’ll wager he’ll be pretty dialed in this weekend and a serious factor in the outcome.

Another “young gun” I’ll be watching in the Merchants Bank 150 is Maine native Austin Theriault. The intense young man from Fort Kent finished third at Lee after starting deep in the field. His focus is sharp this year, and I’ll bet we see him bag his first ACT victory within the next two or three races.

Finishing second last year behind Sweet was Polewarczyk, followed by John Donahue in third. Patrick Laperle and Hoar founded out the top five. Second-generation Ontario driver Jonathan Urlin finished sixth, with Randy Potter, eventual ACT Rookie-of-theYear Ben Ashline, Quinny Welch and Mark Lamberton completing the top 10.

We witnessed a super-clean race last year on May 1 (my favorite kind); with only one caution in a race run off in less than 40 minutes. Let’s hope for a similar show this coming Sunday afternoon. Post time is set for 1 p.m. Regardless of who comes out on top, the action is sure to be intense at “the nation’s site of excitement.”

Thunder Road Announces Half Price Airborne Fall Foliage Tickets to Season Pass Holders

Jay Hall — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 22:37:58 +0000

Barre, VT – Thunder Road has announced that all its 2012 season pass holders will receive half price off the $18 general admission ticket to the American Canadian Tour Fall Foliage at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY on Saturday, October 6. The event will feature the 200-lap final point-counting ACT event of the season.

2012 season passes, either reserved seat gold passes or general admission passes, are good for admission to all 18 events at the “Nation’s Site of Excitement.” The 18 events of 2012 include special events such as the 50th People’s United Bank Milk Bowl, the ACT Merchants Bank season opener, the ACT Bond Auto Labor Day Classic, the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic and the Vermont Governor’s Cup. Season pass holders also get to enter the grandstand area 15 minutes before regular general admission tickets.

Season passes are still available. They are just $199 for general admission passes or $259 for gold season passes, which allow fans to reserve their seat in the grandstands for the entire season (first come first serve basis). Passes can be bought by contacting the ACT office at 802.244.6963 or tb@acttour.com.

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VERMONT LATE MODEL STOCK CAR CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ANNOUNCED

Jay Hall — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:11:29 +0000

Waterbury, VT – Officials from Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, VT and Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT have announced a Vermont State Late Model Championship Series for the 2012 race season.

Four (4) long distance stock car events for Late Model race teams will determine the Vermont State Late Model Champion. The American Canadian Tour (ACT) type Late Model division is the most popular form of stock car racing in the northeastern US and eastern Canada, serving the needs of racers and fans at fifteen different race tracks and two regional touring divisions.

Thunder Road will present the historic 50th anniversary Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic and annual Vermont Governors Cup 150 as part of the Vermont State series. The new owners of Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT, Mike and Alayne Bruno, have joined over a dozen regional tracks by incorporating the ACT Late Model rules as a part of their NASCAR weekly racing program.

Mike Bruno, a former ACT Late Model competitor himself, said, “I know how competitive these cars can be and when Tom (Curley) and I talked about this idea, it just seemed like a good fit for our first year with Devil’s Bowl Speedway, and for the entire Late Model region”.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway will host a 100-lap event on Friday, June 8, 2012. The Vermont State Late Model Champion will be crowned at the Devil’s Bowl season finale on Sunday, September 16, 2012. Both events will be 100 laps in distance. The two tracks will post over $10,000 in point fund money for participating teams.

“The ACT US Tour Late Models have put on a great show at Devil’s Bowl over the past couple years, and the opening event at Devil’s Bowl will once again be the traditional Spring Green 112 lap event. This combined effort to give the weekly teams around the region an opportunity to have a four race weekly type series and honor the first Vermont State Late Model Champion is a nice balance between tour racing and weekly racing. I think it will be well received by Late Model teams in the region,” said Tom Curley, long time promoter of Thunder Road and the American Canadian Tour.

2012 VERMONT LATE MODEL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SCHEDULE

Sun May 27 Thunder Road Mekkelsen Memorial Day Classic 100L
Fri Jun 08 Devil’s Bowl D Bowl 100L
Thu Jul 12 Thunder Road Vermont Governor’s Cup 150L
Sun Sep16 Devils Bowl Vermont 200 Weekend 100L

2012 Thunder Road Schedule Highlighted by 50th Milk Bowl

Jay Hall — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:10:07 +0000

Barre, VT – Barre, VT’s Thunder Road International Speedbowl has released their 18-event 2012 schedule, which will include the 50th running of both the Milk Bowl and Memorial Day Classic. The high-banked ¼-mile will also feature two American Canadian Tour events.

The 53rd Thunder Road season will commence with the 14th running of the Merchants Bank 150 on Sunday, April 29. It will be the first of two ACT events on the schedule and will feature the annual car show on Saturday, April 28. The second ACT event on the schedule will be the 34th Bond Auto Labor Day Classic on Sunday, September 2.

The second event of the season will be the 50th running of the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic on Sunday, May 27. It will be the first point counting event in the 2012 “King of the Road” title battle.

The beginning of June will once again see two Sunday twilight events on June 10 and June 17. The June 10 event will feature the New England Antique Racers. The Thursday night schedule will begin on June 21 and run through Late Model Champions Night, August 23.

Thursday night specials will once again include the Vermont Governor’s Cup on July 12, Times Argus Mid-Season Championships on July 19 and a Bond/WIX Tiger Tour event on August 2. Thunder Road’s 4th of July celebration will be on Tuesday, July 3, while the 28th Annual M&M Beverage Enduro will be run on Sunday, August 5.

The 53rd season of Thunder Road stock car racing will conclude with the 50th running of the People’s United Bank Milk Bowl on Sunday, September 30. The popular and one of a kind 3-segment event is considered one of the toughest short track stock car races in the country. The event awards no weekly or tour points, allowing drivers to go all out for the win. The Milk Bowl has averaged over 56 cars during the past five years.
Season tickets are available now by calling the ACT office at 802.244.6963.

2012 Thunder Road Schedule of Events
# Day Date Event Note
1. Sat/Sun April 28/29 14th Annual Merchants Bank 150 ACT
2. Sun. May 27 50th Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic Special
3. Sun. June 10 Sunday Twilight NEAR
4. Sun. June 17 Sunday Twilight
5. Thurs. June 21 Regular Event
6. Thurs. June 28 Regular Event
7. Tues. July 3 4th of July Special
8. Thurs. July 5 Regular Event
9. Thurs. July 12 VT Governor’s Cup Special
10. Thurs. July 19 Times Argus Mid-Season Championship
11. Thurs. July 26 Regular Event
12. Thurs. Aug. 2 Bond WIX Tiger Tour 100
13. Sun. Aug. 5 28th M&M Beverage Enduro
14. Thurs. Aug. 9 Regular Event
15. Thurs. Aug. 16 Regular Event
16. Thurs. Aug. 23 LM Championship Night
17. Sun. Sept. 2 34th Annual Bond Auto Labor Day Classic ACT
18. Sat/Sun Sept. 29/30 50th People’s United Bank Milk Bowl
Schedule Subject to Change

Brian Hoar and Patrick Laperle Crowned ACT Champions

Jay Hall — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:18:46 +0000

Jimmy “Scruffy” Linardy Receives MacTavish Award

Burlington, VT – The American Canadian Tour (ACT) crowned Brian Hoar of Williston, VT and Patrick Laperle of St-Denis, Quebec as the ACT Tour and Série ACT Castrol stock car racing champions respectively, at the ACT Banquet of Champions on Saturday, January 21 at the Double Tree Inn in Burlington, VT. It was the first ever combined banquet for the sister championship stock car racing series. Both champions cashed a point fund check of $10,000.

Hoar earned his eighth career championship on the U.S.-based ACT Tour during another strong season in which he earned five wins in 12 events. With those five wins he solidified himself on top of the ACT Late Model career wins list with 33 and added wins at four new tracks including New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He also won the Showdown at Chaudiere in Vallee-Jct., Quebec and the 49th Annual People’s United Bank Milk Bowl at Barre, VT’s Thunder Road. Hoar and car owner Rick Paya earned their third straight ACT Tour title.

Laperle earned his second career title on the Quebec-based Série ACT Castrol. He finished the season with four wins in his 12 events, including his first ever win in the Quebec season finale St-Eustache 300 at Autodrome St-Eustache. Laperle and his crew chief brother, Eric, now have 13 career wins on the Série ACT Castrol. Patrick is also the 2008 ACT Tour (U.S.) Champion and three-time People’s United Bank Milk Bowl Champion.

The 43rd Annual Don MacTavish Award went to ACT veteran Jimmy “Scruffy” Linardy of Somerville, MA. The prestigious MacTavish Award is named for legendary New England racer Don MacTavish who was killed in 1969 while racing at Daytona International Speedway. Linardy received the award for his continued support of ACT and Northeast stock car racing and his always positive attitude. Those qualities also helped Linardy grace the cover of this month’s edition of Late Model Racer magazine.

Wayne Helliwell, Jr. of Dover, NH and car owner Bruce Bernhardt were honored for their second straight Ford Blue Oval Cup Championship. The special program was designed for competitors who ran the Ford crate engine on the ACT Late Model Tour, Série ACT Castrol Edge or any of the twelve ACT affiliated tracks. Helliwell is a multi-time Lee USA Speedway Champion and joined the ACT Tour full-time in 2011. While visiting most of the tracks on the ACT schedule for the first time, they put together an impressive season with 10 top tens in 12 starts and earned second in the ACT Tour standings. They also earned feature wins at Twin State Speedway and Waterford Speedbowl on their way to the Ford title.

Rookie of the Year honors went to Ben Ashline of Pittston, ME and Yannick Tremblay of Chicoutimi, Quebec for the ACT Tour and Série ACT Castrol, respectively. The 21-year-old Ashline and his family team claimed 9th in the final standings of the ACT Tour. They also earned a career best 5th place finish in the Spring Green at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT. Tremblay finished 9th in the Série ACT Castrol standings on his way to the Rookie title. He also gained the respect of the veterans with his clean driving on his way to just one did not finish for the year.

The Crew Chief of the Year Awards were awarded for the fourth consecutive season on the U.S. tour and for the first time on the Série ACT Castrol. Eric Laperle earned the first ever Castrol Crew Chief Award as part of the two-time Série ACT Castrol Championship team with his brother Patrick behind the wheel. Bruce Bernhardt received the fourth ACT Tour Crew Chief of the Year Award as part of the second place ACT Tour and Ford Blue Oval Cup Championship team with driver Wayne Helliwell, Jr.

Teams will continue to prepare their cars for the 2012 seasons during the winter months. The U.S.-based ACT Tour will start their season at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH with a 150-lap event on Sunday, April 15. The Quebec-based Série ACT Castrol kicks off their season with a 100-lap event at Autodrome Montmagny in Montmagny, Quebec on Saturday, May 26. The 2012 Série ACT Castrol schedule will consist of 12 events, while the ACT Tour will hold 10 events. Special events include the 50th People’s United Bank Milk Bowl at Thunder Road, the fourth annual ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the Showdown at Chaudiere at Autodrome Chaudiere, and the Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway.

For more information contact the ACT office (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com or visit www.acttour.com.

Dave Pembroke Crowned “King of the Road” at 2011 Thunder Road Banquet of Champions

Jay Hall — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:45:20 +0000

Barre, VT – Montpelier’s Dave Pembroke was honored as the 2011 “King of the Road” at the 2011 Thunder Road Banquet of Champions on Saturday, December 10 at the Barre Elks Club. Pembroke put together one of the biggest comebacks in Thunder Road history to claim his second career Late Model title. During their first season in a Ford powered ride, Pembroke and his family team erased an 80 point deficit with back-to-back feature wins at mid-season. The Vermont State Employees Credit Union/Lamoille Valley Ford team earned the first Thunder Road track title for Ford in over twenty years. The Barre Elks Club was sold out with team members, officials and fans on hand to honor Pembroke, who claimed a $5,000 point fund check.

Bradford’s Derrick O’Donnell received the Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen Thunder Road and the Bond/WIX Tiger Tour titles following his dominant 2011 season. O’Donnell claimed a total of four wins between the two titles and never trailed in either point standings for the year. It was O’Donnell’s first titles for both the Thunder Road Tigers and the Tour.

Greg Adams, Jr. of Hardwick was honored for his first Allen Lumber Street Stock track title. After a season long battle, Adams took the championship by just three points. He earned three feature wins during his championship run.
First year Junkyard Warrior driver Jason Woodard of Waterbury took the crown. He took home nine wins during his dominant season. He will move up to the Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen ranks for the 2012 season.

The 2011 Ken Squier Award went to Thunder Road Director of Operations Steve Melendy. Melendy has been a long-time employee of Thunder Road and the American Canadian Tour and is an invaluable asset to keeping both running smoothly. He was recognized for his countless hours of dedication to both Thunder Road and ACT.

The third annual Pete Hartt Memorial Media Award was given to Richard “Big” Bigelow of the Caledonian Record. The award is given in memory of former WDEV personality and Times Argus Sports Editor Pete Hartt. Bigelow has been covering Thunder Road and the American Canadian Tour through radio and print since the mid-1990’s. His weekly “Strap In” article for the Caledonian Record has been in print since 1998 and has supplied countless coverage of Thunder Road and ACT.

The Gordon R. Nielsen Rookie Achievement Award went to Montpelier’s Kyle Pembroke. Pembroke earned the 2011 Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen Rookie of the Year honors, while improving throughout the season. His clean and respectful style earned him the award, which is given in memory of former Thunder Road and ACT chief scorer Dr. Gordon Nielson.

Rookie of the Year honors went to Williamstown’s Jimmy Hebert in the Late Models, Pembroke in the Tigers, and Cabot’s Ken Christman in the Allen Lumber Street Stocks.

Sportsmanship Awards were voted on by drivers and officials for each division. Honors went to Barre’s Nick Sweet in the Late Models, and Williamstown’s Mike Ziter in the Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen. Waitsfield’s Troy Kingsbury took the 2011 Ed Carroll Memorial Award for Sportsmanship in the Allen Lumber Street Stocks and Northfield’s George Sanders claimed the Junkyard Warriors award.

Most Improved Driver Awards were also voted on by the drivers and officials of the Late Models and Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen. Cody Blake of Barre earned the Late Model award, while Jason Allen also of Barre earned the Tiger award.

For the first time in several years, the Thunder Road Banquet of Champions was separate from the ACT Banquet of Champions. Thunder Road teams, fans and officials responded in overwhelming numbers as the banquet returned to Barre. The 2011 ACT Banquet of Champions will honor eight-time ACT Late Model Tour Champion Brian Hoar and two-time Série ACT Castrol Champion Patrick Laperle at the Doubletree Inn in South Burlington, VT on Saturday, January 21.

ACT and Thunder Road Announce Separate Banquets

Jay Hall — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:09:36 +0000

Waterbury, VT – For the first time in several years the American-Canadian Tour has announced separate banquets for the 2011 ACT competitors and the 2011 Thunder Road competitors. The ACT Late Model Tour (US) and the Série ACT Castrol (Canada) Banquet of Champions will be held at the Doubletree Inn in Burlington, VT on Saturday, January 21, while the Thunder Road Banquet of Champions will be at the Elks Club in Barre, VT on Saturday, December 10, 2011.

The ACT Banquet will honor Brian Hoar of Williston, VT as the eight-time ACT (US) Champion as well as Patrick Laperle of St-Denis, QC as the two-time Série ACT Castrol (Canada) Champion. Hoar had a record setting season in his Rick Paya-owned ride for RPM Motorsports. He claimed five point counting wins as well as the People’s United Bank Milk Bowl and the Showdown at Chaudiere non-point counting events. Laperle, who also has a ACT (US) Championship, secured his second career Série ACT Castrol title with four wins in 2011.

Competitors from Thunder Road and the Bond/WIX Tiger Tour will be honored at the Thunder Road Banquet. Montpelier, VT’s Dave Pembroke claims the top prize as he is the “King of the Road” for the second time in his career. Pembroke vaulted to the points lead with back-to-back wins including the double-points Mid-Season Championship. Derrick O’Donnell of Bradford, VT took both the Thunder Road Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen and the Bond/WIX Tiger Tour Championships. Greg Adams, Jr. from Hardwick, VT was the Allen Lumber Street Stock Champion, while Jason Woodard of Waterbury, VT is the Junkyard Warrior title holder.

Both banquets will feature a social hour, dinner, and award presentations followed by a live DJ. The Thunder Road Banquet of Champions at the Barre Elks Club on Saturday, December 10 will have the social hour beginning at 6:00pm followed by dinner. The ACT Banquet will have the same format at the Doubletree Inn in Burlington, VT on Saturday, January 21. Tickets order forms for both events will be available Monday (11/14) by contacting the ACT office in Waterbury, VT at (802) 244-6963, dar@acttour.com or at www.acttour.com and www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.

Brian Hoar Collects Third Career Milk Bowl Victory

Jay Hall — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:26:57 +0000

Brian Hoar Collects 3rd Career Milk Bowl Win

BARRE, Vt. – Brian Hoar put the finishing touches on a record-setting 2011 season Sunday by winning the 49 annual People’s United Bank Milk Bowl at Thunder Road International Speedbowl.

Hoar won his fifth career Milk Bowl pole in the event and won the first and third segments Sunday for his third career Milk Bowl championship. With the two segment wins, Hoar moved into sole possession of third-place for all-time segment wins.

“This is unbelievable,” Hoar said. “Man, that was awesome. I thought I lost it. It was wicked. I mean, unbelievable. It had been so many years since I won a race here, and I’ve always said the Milk Bowls that I won back in the ’90s were just awesome.”

Hoar finished with a three-segment total of 14 points, including two wins and a 12th-place finish in the second segment. Hoar also won the event in 1998 and 1999.

Hoar and the No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge took the lead from Randy Potter on Lap 62 and then held off part-time RPM Motorsports teammate Nick Sweet over the final 13 laps.

The win capped off a stellar season for both Hoar and RPM Motorsports, who each won a record eighth ACT Late Model Tour championship. Hoar won six points races during the campaign and now has 33 career Tour victories, which is also a record.

In addition, Hoar won the ACT Goodyear Speedweeks Cup – a non-points event in Florida in February.

Hoar put the finishing touches on the ACT regular season on Saturday, finishing sixth in the Rent-A-Wreck Fall Foliage 200 at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, N.Y. In 13 starts this season, Hoar posted only one finish of worse than sixth.