Barnier, Gravel claim Tiger, Street Stock Wins
–by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor
BARRE – Andy Shaw made it look easy for the PASS Modified portion of the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic on Sunday afternoon at Thunder Road.
The Center Conway, N.H. driver took the lead early in the 30-lap event and posted a comfortable lead throughout the event. Shaw held on through a late race restart over Ben Tinker to claim the win.
For Shaw, the win comes in his first race ever at the quarter-mile oval.
“This is a very special win for me,” Shaw said in victory lane. “I came here as a kid and then I didn’t come here for 17 years. I came and helped my cousin D.J. (Shaw) for the Milk Bowl in 2006 and this is the first time I’ve been back since.
“I’ve never raced here. It’s a very special win.”
Tinker, of New Gloucester, Maine, finished second while Ryan Robbins of Dixfield, Maine completed the podium. Mike Carignan and former ACT Late Model driver Ron Henry completed the top-five finishers.
Mark Barnier claimed his 11th career Bond Auto Tiger Sportsman feature win in their 30-lap feature. It was Barnier’s first win since 2009.
The Essex Junction driver took the lead early in the event and held on through a brief rain delay midway through the event. When the race resumed, the veteran driver was forced to hold off a pair of former champions, Joe Steffen and Jason Woodard, for the race win.
Steffen, of Grand Isle, settled for second while Woodard of Waterbury Center finished third. Graniteville’s Stephen Donahue and Barre’s Doug Crowningshield finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Rookie driver Kyle Street finished sixth, while Mike Martin, Cameron Ouellette, John Lambert, and defending champion Brendan Moodie finished seventh through tenth, respectively.
After the division was parked for numerous caution flags with weather looming, Richard Gravel of Wolcott claimed the win in the 25-lap Allen Lumber Street Stock feature.
Gravel finished ahead of Hardwick’s Jaden Perry and Will Hennequin. Kelly Miller Jr. of Johnson and Lincoln’s Gary Bashaw finished fourth and fifth. Bunker Hodgdon, Jamon Perry, Jennifer Getty, Tyler Austin, and Jamie Davis completed the top-ten finishers.
Thunder Road returns to action on Sunday, June 12 with Harvest Equipment trophy dash.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl, Barre, Vt.
Sunday, May
Pos.-Driver-Hometown
(# — denotes rookie)
Bond Auto Tiger Sportsman (30 laps)
1. Mark Barnier, Essex Junction
2. Joe Steffen, Grand Isle
3. Jason Woodard, Waterbury Center
4. Stephen Donahue, Graniteville
5. Doug Crowningshield, Barre
6. # Kyle Streeter, Waitsfield
7. Mike Martin, Craftsbury Common
8. Cameron Ouellette, Barre
9. John Lambert, Northfield
10. Brendan Moodie, Wolcott
Allen Lumber Street Stocks (25 laps)
1. Richard Gravel, Wolcott
2. Jaden Perry, Hardwick
3. Will Hennequin, Hardwick
4. Kelly Miller Jr., Johnson
5. Garry Bashaw, Lincoln
6. Bunker Hodgdon, Hardwick
7. Jamon Perry, Hardwick
8. Jennifer Getty, Cambridge
9. Tyler Austin, East Calais
10. Jamie Davis, Wolcott
PASS Modifieds (30 laps)
1. Andy Shaw, Center Conway, N.H.
2. Ben Tinker, New Gloucester, Maine
3. Ryan Robbins, Dixfield, Maine
4. Mike Carignan, Lebanon, Maine
5. Ron Henry, New Gloucester, Maine
PHOTO: Andy Shaw in victory lane after the Center Conway, N.H. driver claimed the PASS Modified win on Sunday afternoon at Thunder Road. (Alan Ward photo)
