Steffen grabs 14th Tiger win while Bouchard is a first-time Street Stock winner
BARRE – Scott Dragon made a daring third-to-first move on Thursday night at Thunder Road to claim his second Late Model win of the season.
The Milton driver dove to the inside of the two-car battle between race leader Eric Badore and Phil Scott and went past both to claim the lead with 12 laps remaining in the 85-lap event.
“The car was good on the bottom and I ran the bottom pretty much the whole race behind Phil (Scott),” Dragon told WDEV broadcaster Justin St. Louis in victory lane. “The car was awesome right from the get go.
“I was kind of biding my time behind Phil for most of that race and was just kind of waiting for something to open up. And it finally did. So, it’s time to go.”
Dragon started the WDEV Radio/Calkins Portable Toilets event in the 17th spot and, as he has done in nearly every race this season in his Richard Green Racing car, weaved his way toward the front. The finish for Dragon continued his streak of finishing inside the top-ten in every race this season with only two finishes outside of the top-five.
“Working with these (Richard Green Racing) guys has made this so much fun,” Dragon said. “We’re the good time team. They gave us that name at the beginning of the year and I think they’re right.”
The win for Dragon was the fourth of his Thunder Road career and his second of the season.
Vermont Lieutenant Governor and three-time Thunder Road champion Scott finished second after he was able to edge Badore at the checkered flag. Badore, of Milton, led through the midway point of the event after he took the lead following a lap 19 restart.
“I saw (Dragon) coming,” Badore said to WDEV’s St. Louis. “I could see Phil’s green hood and I could see Dragon. I was getting a little nervous, but once I saw them coming, I kept trying to drive my own race.
“It is what it is.”
Second place point driver Nick Sweet of Barre finished fourth from a 16th place starting spot while Jason Corliss, also of Barre, completed the top-five finishers after he started one row ahead of Sweet in 14th.
Mid-season championship winner Kyle Pembroke, Cody Blake, Trampas Demers, Memorial Day Classic winner Tyler Cahoon, and Mikey Bailey finished sixth through tenth, respectively.
Former Bond Auto Tiger Sportsman champion Joe Steffen picked up career win number 14 in the three 20-lap segment event.
The Grand Isle driver posted two third place finishes with a fourth to post the low overall score of 11.
Mike Martin of Craftsbury finished second overall with point leader Stephen Donahue of Graniteville third. Cameron Ouellette and defending champion Brendan Moodie completed the top-five overall finishers.
Cooper Bouchard of Hinesburg won the 25-lap Allen Lumber Street Stock feature event.
The rookie pilot started in the second spot and grabbed the early race lead, which he never surrendered.
Richard Gravel of Wolcott finished second with last week’s feature winner Peyton Lanphear of Duxbury third. Garry Bashaw and Jamon Perry completed the top-five finishers while sixth through tenth went to Jaden Perry, Kyle Streeter, Brandon Lanphear, Greg Collette, and Gary Mullen.
Thunder Road races again on Sunday, August 7 with the traditional M&M Beverages Enduro 200 and 50-lap Brian Perry & Sons Street Stock special. Post time is set for 6:00pm.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – WDEV Radio/Calkins Portable Toilets Night
Thunder Road Speedbowl, Barre, Vt.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Pos.-Driver-Hometown
(# — denotes rookie)
ACT Late Models (85 laps)
1. Scott Dragon, Milton
2. Phil Scott, Middlesex
3. Eric Badore, Milton
4. Nick Sweet, Barre
5. Jason Corliss, Barre
6. Kyle Pembroke, Montpelier
7. Cody Blake, Barre
8. Trampas Demers, South Burlington
9. Tyler Cahoon, St. Johnsbury
10. Mike Bailey, South Barre
Bond Auto Tiger Sportsman (3 x 20 laps)
1. Joe Steffen, Grand Isle
2. Mike Martin, Craftsbury
3. Stephen Donahue, Graniteville
4. Cameron Ouellette, Barre
5. Brendan Moodie, Wolcott
6. Jason Woodard, Waterbury Center
7. Mike Billado, Essex
8. Mark Barnier, Essex Junction
9. # Kevin Dodge, Barre
10. Tommy Smith, Williamstown
Allen Lumber Street Stocks (25 laps)
1. # Cooper Bouchard, Hinesburg
2. Richard Gravel, Wolcott
3. # Peyton Lanphear, Duxbury
4. Garry Bashaw, Lincoln
5. Jamon Perry, Hardwick
6. Jaden Perry, Hardwick
7. Kyle Streeter, Waitsfield
8. # Brandon Lanphear, Morrisville
9. Greg Collette, Milton
10. Gary Mullen, Tunbridge
PHOTO: Scott Dragon of Milton celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Thunder Road Late Models feature on WDEV/Calkins Portable Toilet Night. (Alan Ward photo)
