The Juice
THE JUICE: Forget Pembroke, Don’t Bet Against Laperle!
PHOTO: Patrick Laperle was all smiles after last week's Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 win. Can he get another one at Airborne on Sunday? Probably.
-by Justin St. Louis
VMM Editor
Remember how I championed Dave Pembroke in last week’s “The Juice,” saying there was no way he could lose the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200? I believed that until lap 186. That’s when Patrick Laperle showed up.
And then I remembered that Patrick Laperle is awesome. The French Kyle Busch.
As the American-Canadian Tour skips across the lake to Airborne Speedway this weekend for the Mohawk Casino Fall Foliage 300, it’s a fool who doesn’t take the orange No. 91 in the grandstand betting pool. Seriously folks, it’s a dollar. And you’ll get five back after 300 laps.
How good is he? This year alone, he has wins at five very different race tracks -- the flat-as-a-pancake, 4/10-mile Autodrome St-Eustache, the high-banked, long-straight 1/3-mile at Montmagny, the incredibly challenging 7/10-mile St-Felicien tri-oval, high-banked 1/3-mile bullring at Chaudiere, and the treacherous Thunder Road 1/4-mile.
So why not add another win at the long, sweeping, D-shaped Airborne half-mile?
Laperle has four victories at the track, each with a unique twist: His first-ever ACT win came in the 200-lap Fall Foliage event in 1999 on the old, flat, one-groove layout; a 100-lapper in 2000; the Fall Foliage 150 in 2005; and last year’s Foliage 300 on the new progressively-banked, multi-groove surface.
In last year’s 300 --- just as last week’s 200 at Thunder Road -- Laperle won on pit strategy. But last year’s 300 was like watching a grand puppet master at work. While everyone pitted near the halfway point, Laperle went 248 laps without pitting, coming to pit road with a car sputtering out of fuel, then blasting through the field on new right-side tires to grab the win.
If you need a refresher, check this out:
Laperle rides the momentum of back-to-back $5,000 wins at Chaudiere and Thunder Road entering the Fall Foliage 300, and looooves winning big events.
And if Donald Theetge shows up, well, that’s even more motivation.
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We can’t go any further without thanking the staff and officials of the Champlain Valley Racing Association and Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
Vermont Motorsports Magazine was given the annual Howard T. Cameron Media Award last Sunday night during the post-race awards ceremony.
I was embarrassed to admit on Sunday night that I didn’t know who Mr. Cameron was, but I’ve come to learn that he was a popular Rutland-area radio host and one of the pioneering officials with C.J. Richards at Devil’s Bowl in the 1960s. Cameron was the track announcer for many years, and his son, Jay, is the current announcer.
The award has had some distinguished honorees including, I’m told, the WCAX TV sports department, and it’s a privilege to be in that company.
On behalf of myself and the dozen-or-so people behind the scenes that make VMM possible, I humbly thank CVRA and Devil’s Bowl Speedway. I hope I make Mr. Cameron and the rest of you proud.
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Speaking of Devil’s Bowl, congratulations are in order for Kenny Tremont, who took his fifth Modified championship in six years on Sunday night. Don Miller (Sportsman), Frank Monroe (Renegade), and Erika Lilly (Duke Stock) each earned their first championships, and Nate Woodworth picked up his second-straight title in the Bomber Warrior class.
With eight wins against the division with the largest field of cars each week, Miller was named the Devil’s Bowl Speedway 2010 Driver of the Year.
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Coolest photo sequence of the summer:
Thanks to Eric LaFleche for the shots, and to Joey Laquerre (#15) and Brad Babb (#4) for crashing so awesomely.
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Kevin Chaffee is a freaking rock star.
Chaffee, out of Orange, Vt., ran the Sprint Cars of New England events at Canaan, Bear Ridge, and Big Daddy’s, and two of the three Modified races -- that’s five features, if you’re keeping score -- and posted a runner-up finish, two thirds, a fourth, and spun out of the top three with two laps to go in the final race.
And in case you missed it, Danny Douville swept all three Sprint Car races.
That’s some good stuff, boys.
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By the way, we’re just as excited about the 100-lap Modified feature at Airborne on Sunday as we are about the ACT race. At $22 for a one-day ticket (or $27 to include the Saturday show), that’s a wicked deal.
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AROUND THE REGION:
Time to take a look at the Vermont racing scene from the past week...
ACT Late Model Tour: Phil Scott of Montpelier was the runner-up in Sunday’s Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 at Thunder Road, with Dave Pembroke of Middlesex third, John Donahue of Graniteville fourth, Milton’s Scott Payea fifth, Brian Hoar of Williston sixth, Joey Becker of Jeffersonville ninth, and Jean-Paul Cyr of Milton tenth. Patrick Laperle, of St-Denis, Que., was the winner.
Airborne Speedway (Plattsburgh, N.Y.): Brandon’s Vince Quenneville, Jr., finished fourth in Saturday’s Modified feature and Middlebury’s Todd Stone was seventh. Patrick Dupree of Saranac Lake, N.Y., was crowned the track champion. Milton’s Bill Sawyer was seventh in the Sportsman race. Swanton’s Dave Rabtoy won the Renegade feature with Milton’s Don Franklin third, Lance Rabtoy of Fairfax fourth, and Kevin Boutin of Swanton sixth.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway (Malta, N.Y.): Castleton’s Mike Bruno won Friday’s Modified feature, and Middlebury’s Hunter Bates was third in the Sportsman race.
Bear Ridge Speedway (Bradford): Dan Douville of Bridgewater, N.H., won Saturday’s Sprint Cars of New England event over Floyd Billington, Jr., of South Glens Falls, N.Y., and Kevin Chaffee of Orange. Gary Siemons of Orford, N.H., won the Sportsman Modified race over Adam Pierson of Fairlee and Chaffee, who pulled double-duty. Topsham’s Josh Harrington took his fourth-straight Sportsman Coupe win over Jason Horniak of Bradford and Chris Carbee of South Ryegate. Robert Tucker of Topsham won the Limited Late Model race over Ray Johnson of Campton, N.H., and Newbury’s Jeremy Hodge. White River Junction’s Josh Sunn earned his 12th Fast Four win over Tim Hodge of Vershire and Kevin Harran of St. Johnsbury. Bradford’s Tom Placey was the Hornet winner over Mark Nickles of Piermont, N.H., and Brad Martin of Thomaston, Conn.
Big Daddy’s Speedbowl (Rumney, N.H.): Lacey Hanson of Orwell was ninth in Sunday’s Sprint Cars of New England race. Kevin Chaffee of Orange was the Sportsman Modified runner-up, and St. Johnsbury’s Kevin Harran was the Mini Stock runner-up.
Canaan Dirt Speedway (Canaan, N.H.): Keivn Chaffee of Orange finished fourth in Friday’s Sprint Cars of New England event with Lacey Hanson of Orwell ninth. Josh Sunn of White River Junction finished sixth in the Sportsman Modified race with Bradford’s Ryan Dutton eighth. Rookie Dan Eastman of Thetford Center clinched the track championship. Will Hull of East Montpelier was third in the Street Stock race. Sunn was also the Mini Stock winner and earned that division’s championship. Mike Stender of South Strafford was the Bandit runner-up with Dakota Stender of Tunbridge third.
Canaan Fair Speedway (Canaan, N.H.): Sharon’s Kevin Menard was seventh in Saturday’s Pro Stock feature. Bruce Jaycox of Hartland was fifth in the Super Streets with Hartland’s Russ Downing seventh. Tom Coates of White River Junction was fourth in the Pure Stocks with Rory Merritt of North Springfield fifth and Andy Merritt of Perkinsville sixth. Matt Sonnhalter of East Thetford was the Bandit runner-up with Mike Parker of Bradford fourth and Tyler Lescord of Ascutney sixth. Brandon Gray of East Thetford was the Youth Daredevil winner over Joey Laquerre of East Montplier.
Devil's Bowl Speedway (West Haven): Don Scarborough of Brandon won Sunday’s Tri-Track Modified Series event over Chris Ross of Malta, N.Y., and Marc Johnson of Guilderland, N.Y., and Kenny Tremont, Jr., of West Sand Lake, N.Y., was crowned the track champion. Middlebury’s Hunter Bates won the Sportsman race over Paul Dunham, Jr., of Indian Lake, N.Y., and Ron Wanamaker of Hampton, N.Y., and Don Miller of Wells won the championship. Granville, N.Y.’s Frank Monroe won the Renegade feature and championship, beating Hydeville’s Bill Duprey and Randy Alger of Fair Haven in both instances. Eddie Bruno of Fair Haven won the Bomber Warrior race over champion Nate Woodworth of Essex Junction and Kalob Gagnon. Scott Atwood of Castleton won the Duke Stock race over Ray Germain and champion Erik Lilly of Castleton.
Lebanon Valley Speedway (West Lebanon, N.Y.): Neil Stratton of Bennington was 18th in Saturday’s Modified feature, and Cullen Howe of South Londonderry was 16th in the Sportsman race. Chuck Towlsee of Manchester was eighth in the Pro Stocks.
Modified Racing Series: Ascutney’s Dwight Jarvis finished fifth in Saturday’s event at Waterford Speedbowl. Jon McKennedy of East Chelmsford, Mass., was the winner.
Mohawk Int’l Raceway (Akwesasne, N.Y.): Todd Stone of Middlebury was fourth in Friday’s Modified feature.
Monadnock Speedway (Winchester, N.H.): Josh King of Vernon was 18th in Saturday’s Modified race, and Dana Shepard of Putney was 12th in the Super Stocks. Joe Rogers of Ludlow was the Mini Stock runner-up with Mike Metcalf of Westminster ninth.
Pro All Stars Series: St. Johnsbury’s Steven Legendre finished 24th at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway on Saturday. Chase Elliott of Dawsonville, Ga., was the winner.
Sprint Cars of New England: On Friday at Canaan Fair Speedway, Kevin Chaffee of Orange was fourth and Lacey Hanson of Orwell was ninth. Chaffee was third on Saturday at Bear Ridge Speedway, and Hanson was ninth at Big Daddy’s Speedbowl on Sunday. Dan Douville of Bridgewater, N.H., won all three events.
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl (Barre): Patrick Laperle of St-Denis, Que., won Sunday’s ACT Late Model Tour event over Phil Scott of Montpelier and Dave Pembroke of Middlesex. Peacham’s Tony Rossi was the Tiger Sportsman winner over Williamstown drivers Mike Ziter and Jimmy Hebert. Eric Johnson of Randolph won the Street Stock race over Jean LeBlanc of Gorham, N.H., and Ron Gabaree of Barre. Ken Christman earned his track record 11th Junkyard Warrior win over Brock Parrott of Williamstown and Matt LeBlanc of Gorham, N.H.
Twin State Speedway (Claremont, N.H.): Dallas Trombley of Rutland won Friday’s Late Model feature, and Earl Moul of Bellows Falls was eighth in the Modified event. Dave Davis of White River Junction was the Super Street winner over Mendon’s Chris Wilk and Richard LaMotte, Jr., of Ascutney. Pittsford’s Kyle Davis was third in the Strictly Stock race with Kaitlin Stone of Jacksonville fifth. Jeremiah Losee of North Springfield was the Wildcat winner over Rob Leitch of Cavendish and Tyler Lescord of Ascutney. Hillary Renaud of Vernon was the Youth Sportsman runner-up.
White Mountain Motorsports Park (North Woodstock, N.H.): Stacy Cahoon of St. Johnsbury won Saturday’s Late Model feature with Bernie Lantagne of McIndoe Falls third, Tyler Cahoon of St. Johnsbury fourth and Norm Andrews of Northfield tenth. East Haven’s Michael Moore was the Super Sportsman runner-up with Jeff Potter of Plainfield third and Gary Griswold of Wells River fifth. Stevie Parker of Lyndonville was fifth in the Strictly Stocks.
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THIS WEEK:
Friday, Sept. 10
Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Malta, N.Y. -- 6:45pm (Championship Finale)
Canaan Dirt Speedway, Canaan, N.H. -- 7:00pm (Mini Stock and Bandit Championship)
Twin State Speedway, Claremont, N.H. -- 7:30pm (Regular Event)
Saturday, Sept. 11
Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y. -- 1:30pm (Mini-Modified, Bomber Championship)
Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford -- 6:00pm (Granite State Mini Sprints)
Big Daddy's Speedbowl, Rumney, N.H. -- 6:00pm (Modified 50)
Canaan Fair Speedway, Canaan, N.H. -- 5:00pm (Championship Finale)
Devil's Bowl Speedway, West Haven -- 8:00am-5:00pm (SCCV Autocross)
Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, N.H. -- 6:00pm (Modifieds, Outlaw Pro Championship)
White Mountain Motorsports Park, North Woodstock, N.H. -- 6:00pm (Regular Event)
Sunday, Sept. 12
Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y. -- 1:00pm (ACT Late Model Tour, Tri-Track Modified Series 100, Sportsman and Renegade Championship)
TOURING SERIES:
ACT Late Model Tour: Sun., Sept. 12 -- Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y. (1:00pm)
Granite State Mini Sprints: Sat., Sept. 11 -- Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford, Vt. (6:00pm)
Modified Racing Series: Fri., Sept. 10 -- Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, Conn. (6:00pm)
NASCAR Nationwide Series: Fri., Sept. 10 -- Richmond Int’l Raceway, Richmond, Va. (ESPN2/7:00pm)
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Sat., Sept. 11 -- Richmond Int’l Raceway, Richmond, Va. (ESPN/7:30pm)
Pro All Stars Series: Sun., Sept. 12 -- Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough, Me. (12:00pm)
Tri-Track Modified Series: Sun., Sept. 12 -- Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y. (1:00pm)
