THE JUICE: Four Days, Five Tracks, Seven Races

-by Justin St. Louis
VMM Editor

EDITOR’S NOTE: This column was written around 12:00 noon on Thursday… when the sun was out… before Thunder Road was postponed. The VMM schedule will almost certainly change a bit for the weekend, so please bear with us and stay tuned! Thanks!

Welcome back, Thursday night racing!

Tonight marks the (relatively late) opening event for Thunder Road’s summer Thursday night schedule, now a Central Vermont tradition for 51 years. Tonight’s event is the CARQUEST Vermont Governor’s Cup 100, and the winner will earn himself (or herself) a starting spot in the second annual ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September.

Speaking of which, we are so excited about getting back to racing in New Hampshire this weekend that we’ve decided to stay a while.

VMM will be at NHMS in Loudon from Friday to Sunday to cover NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series East, Whelen Modified Tour, Nationwide, and Sprint Cup races, and we’re also taking in the Sprint Cars of New England series event at Canaan Dirt Speedway in Canaan, N.H., on Friday, the ACT Late Model Tour race at White Mountain in North Woodstock, N.H., on Saturday, and, time permitting, the Twin State Modified Series race at the all-new Big Daddy’s Speedbowl in Rumney, N.H., on Sunday.

GlobeTrack Wireless, Inc., of Austin, Texas, will be presenting the weekend’s coverage, and we welcome them to the VMM family! Need a GPS unit? GTW has several practical, functional models to choose from. Check them out at www.gtwgps.com.

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Can it really happen? Can the American-Canadian Tour regulars get shut out of victory lane in five-straight races?

“Outlaw” Eddie MacDonald, a full-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver and part-time Late Model shoe, has swept both ACT Late Model Tour events at Oxford Plains Speedway, Thunder Road regular Nick Sweet won in his backyard, and Miles Chipman showed the way at Lee USA Speedway.

As the Tour moves to White Mountain Motorsports Park on Sunday, you can bet your sweet bippie (yes, bippie) that the ACT troops will be taking the Park regulars seriously. Drivers like Quinny Welch, Stacy and Tyler Cahoon, and Dan Colby — each one a top driver at White Mountain — have plenty of ACT experience and could certainly steal the show.

ACT drivers do have history on their side, though: No White Mountain driver has ever won an ACT race. Stacy Cahoon came the closest, finishing third once in 2006.

But the locals are just plain getting it done this year. If you can believe it, ACT Late Model Tour drivers have registered just nine top-five finishes this season. Nine. Out of a possible twenty. And four of those belong to Brian Hoar.

So can the streak of local winners continue? We’ll see on Friday.

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Looking for some local connections at Loudon this weekend? Here’s a list of teams with prominent ties to the area…

Sprint Cup Series:
Car #12 — Driver: Brad Keselowski. Connection: Keselowski recently announced that he will be driving in the TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains (Me.) Speedway for Barre team owner Kendall Roberts, as a teammate to Graniteville’s John Donahue. Keselowski will also be in the #22 car in the Nationwide Series, where he is the point leader.

Car #14 — Driver: Tony Stewart. Connection: One of Stewart’s crew members, catch can man Rick Pigeon, is a Vermont native. Stewart finished 16th in the Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 at Thunder Road last year.

Car #18 — Driver: Kyle Busch. Connection: Marshfield native Dave Rogers is Busch’s crew chief.

Car #26 — Driver: David Stremme. Connection: Latitude 43 Motorsports is owned by Vermont resident Bill Jenkins. Crew chief Frank Stoddard, a North Haverhill, N.H., native is a former crew member at Barre’s Thunder Road and Bradford’s Bear Ridge Speedway.

Nationwide Series:
Car #09 — Driver: Sean Caisse. Connection: Caisse is a native of Pelham, N.H., and drove for Barney McRae’s Milton-based team in the former NASCAR Busch North Series in 2005.

K&N Pro Series East:
Car #1 — Driver: Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. Connection: Polewarczyk, of Hudson, N.H., is a four-time winner on the ACT Late Model Tour and won last year’s Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 at Thunder Road in Barre.

Car #16 — Driver: Jonathan Smith. Connection: Smith is driving for Fadden Racing of North Haverhill, N.H., owned by multi-time Thunder Road race winner Mike Olsen.

Car #35 — Driver: Andrew Ranger. Connection: Ranger is a native of Roxton Pond, Que., driving for Milton-based NDS Motorsports and owner Bob Torriere. Colchester’s Sam Caron, a former Thunder Road Late Model driver, is the team’s crew chief. Ranger won the K&N West race at Infineon Raceway last weekend for the team.

Car #39 — Driver: Dustin Delaney. Connection: Delaney, of Mayfield, N.Y., is a former Modified driver at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven. His crew chief is North Ferrisburg native Jamie Aube, a three-time K&N East champion and former Vermont Governor’s Cup winner.

Car #60 — Driver: D.J. Shaw. Connection: Shaw, a North Conway, N.H., native, is a former White Mountain Motorsports Park champion and finished 18th in Thunder Road’s Memorial Day Classic 100 last month. His father, Dale, is a prominent chassis builder and former K&N East champion.

Car #71 — Driver: Eddie MacDonald. Connection: MacDonald, of Rowley, Mass., has won two of the last three ACT Late Model Tour events, both at Oxford Plains Speedway. He was the inaugural ACT Invitational winner at NHMS last year, and owns three K&N East victories there as well.

Whelen Modified Tour:
Car #15 — Driver: Danny Knoll, Jr. Connection: Long-time ACT fans will remember Buffalo, N.Y., native Knoll as a solid driver on the former ACT Pro Stock Tour.

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AROUND THE REGION:

Time to take a look at the top Vermonters from the past weekend…

ACT Late Model Tour: Brian Hoar of Williston finished fifth at Oxford Plains Speedway on Saturday night with Milton’s Brent Dragon seventh. Eddie MacDonald of Rowley, Mass, was the winner.

Airborne Speedway (Plattsburgh, N.Y.): Brandon’s Don Scarborough finished third in the Modified feature on Saturday night, and Milton’s Bill Sawyer was eighth in the Sportsman race. Milton’s Cody Benoit won the Renegade feature over Kevin Boutin of Swanton, with Dave Rabtoy of St. Albans fourth, and Rob Gordon of Milton fifth.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway (Malta, N.Y.): Mike Bruno of Bomoseen was fourth in Friday’s Modified feature, with Brandon’s Don Scarborough sixth. Fred Little of Salisbury was fifth in the Pro Stocks.

Bear Ridge Speedway (Bradford): Jason Gray of East Thetford won the Twin State Modified Series event on Saturday over Travis Shinn of Groton, N.H., and Gary Siemons of Orford, N.H. Topsham’s Josh Harrington won the Sportsman Coupe race over Bryan King of Corinth and Melvin Pierson of East Corinth. Will Hull of East Montpelier won the Limited Late Model race over Tyler Stygles of Bradford and Jason Giguere of Lebanon, N.H., while Josh Sunn of White River Junction won the Fast Four race over Andy Johnson of Wilder and Josh Connor of White River Junction. Tom Placey of Bradford was the Hornet winner over Bobby Bell of St. Johnsbury and Eric Lang of Groton.

Big Daddy’s Speedbowl (Rumney, N.H.): Hartland’s Ed Tobin finished tenth in Sunday’s Sportsman Modified race, and Josh Sunn of White River Junction won the Mini Stock feature.

Canaan Dirt Speedway (Canaan, N.H.): Rookie Dan Eastman of Thetford Center took his first career Sportsman Modified victory on Friday, and East Montpelier’s Will Hull won the Super Street feature. Josh Sunn of White River Junction was the Mini Stock runner-up with Josh Connor of White River Junction fifth. Dakota Stender of Tunbridge was fourth in the Bandit race.

Canaan Fair Speedway (Canaan, N.H.): Kevin Menard of South Royalton was seventh in Saturday’s Pro Stock feature, and Bradford’s Arnie Stygles was eighth in the Late Model race. Jamie Hodgdon of Ascutney was the Pure Stock runner-up, and Bradford’s Mike Parker swept both Bandit features. Brandon Gray of East Thetford won the Daredevil Youth race.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway (West Haven): Kenny Tremont, Jr., of West Sand Lake, N.Y., won Sunday’s Modified race over Don Scarborough of Brandon and Mike Perrotte of Plattsburgh, N.Y. Chris Johnson of Malta, N.Y., won the Sportsman feature over Don Miller of Wells and Cullen Howe of South Londonderry. Jon Miller of Malta, N.Y., was the Renegade winner over Fair Haven’s Randy Alger and Dave Emigh of Ballston Spa, N.Y. Ascutney’s Tyler Lescord won the Bomber Warrior race. Scott MacMichael of New London, N.H., won the Pro Stock/Super Street Challenge of Russ Davis of Cavendish and Mike Scorzelli of Malta, N.Y.

Modified Racing Series: Dwight Jarvis of Ascutney finished seventh at Thompson Int’l Speedway on Thursday night. Les Hinckley of Windsor Locks, Conn., was the winner.

Monadnock Speedway (Winchester, N.H.): Vernon’s Josh King was 13th in Saturday’s Modified race, and Chris Riendeau of Asctuney was tenth in the Outlaw Pro Stocks. Nate Kehoe of Windham was sixth in the Sportsman Modifieds and Ascutney’s Joey Jarvis was eighth.

NASCAR Nationwide Series: Kevin Lepage of Shelburne finished 43rd at Road America on Saturday.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Boris Said finished eighth at Infineon Raceway on Sunday for Vermont-based Latitude 43 Motorsports.

Riverside Speedway (Groveton, N.H.): Paul Schartner of Lyndon was the Late Model runner-up on Saturday. Howard Switser of West Burke was the Dwarf Car runner-up, and Aaron Smith of Orleans won the Street Stock feature over Robert Isham of St. Johnsbury and Brendan Hunt of Derby Line. Shaun Stetson of Sheffield was the Cyclone runner-up. Cabot sisters Joanna and Lyndsey Christman went 1-2 in the Angels feature.

Sprint Cars of New England: Rookie Kevin Chaffee of Orange finished second at Big Daddy’s Speedbowl on Sunday behind winner Chris Donnelly of Orford, N.H. Lacey Hanson of Orwell was ninth.

Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl (Barre): Tony Andrews of Northfield won Sunday’s Late Model feature over Phil Scott of Middlesex and Grant Folsom of Waitsfield. Bradford’s Derrick O’Donnell was the Tiger Sportsman winner over Eric Badore of Milton and Shawn Fleury of Middlesex. Eric Johnson of Randolph won the Street Stock race over Mike MacAskill of Williamstown and Scott Weston of Berlin, and Kevin Dodge of Barre was the top Junkyard Warrior over Ken Christman of Cabot and Brock Parrott of Williamstown.

Twin State Modified Series: Jason Gray of East Thetford won Saturday’s event at Bear Ridge Speedway, with Kevin Chaffee of Orange seventh and Middlebury rookie Justin Comes eighth.

Twin State Speedway (Claremont, N.H.): Rutland’s Dallas Trombley finished sixth in the Late Model feature on Friday night, and Robert Hagar of Windsor was fourth in the Modifieds. Chris Wilk of Mendon was fourth in the Super Street feature, and Kyle Davis of Pittsford won the Strictly Stock feature over Jacksonville’s Kaitlin Stone. Rob Leitch of Cavendish was the Wildcar winner over Jeremiah Losee of North Springfield, and Brandon Gray of East Thetford beat East Montpelier’s Jeff Laquerre, Jr., to win the Sportsman youth race.

White Mountain Motorsports Park (North Woodstock, N.H.): Tyler Cahoon of St. Johnsbury was eighth in Saturday’s Late Model race, with father Stacy Cahoon ninth. Stevie Parker of Lyndonville won the Strictly Stock feature,a dn Ernie Snider of Orange was the Strictly Stock Mini runner-up.

***

THIS WEEK:

Thursday, June 24
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl, Barre — 6:00pm (Governor’s Cup 100)

Friday, June 25
Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Malta, N.Y. — 6:45pm (Regular Event)
Canaan Dirt Speedway, Canaan, N.H. — 7:00pm (SCoNE 360 Sprint Cars)
Twin State Speedway, Claremont, N.H. — 7:30pm (Regular Event)

Saturday, June 26
Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y. — 6:00pm (Regular Event)
Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford — 6:00pm (SCoNE 360 Sprint Cars)
Canaan Fair Speedway, Canaan, N.H. — 6:00pm (Regular Event, Late Model 50)
Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, N.H. — OFF
Riverside Speedway, Groveton, N.H. — 7:00pm (Regular Event)
White Mountain Motorsports Park, North Woodstock, N.H. — 5:00pm (ACT Late Model Tour)

Sunday, June 27
Big Daddy’s Speedbowl, Rumney, N.H. — 4:00pm (Sprint Cars of New England)
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven — 6:00pm (Regular Event)

TOURING SERIES:

ACT Late Model Tour: Sat., June 26 — White Mountain Motorsports Park, North Woodstock, N.H. (5:00pm)
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East: Fri., June 25 — New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H. (5:00pm)
NASCAR Nationwide Series: Sat., June 26 — New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H. (ESPN/2:30pm)
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Sun., June 27 — New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H. (TNT/1:00pm)
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour: Sat., June 26 — New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H. (1:00pm)
Pro All Stars Series: Sat., June 26 — Orange County Speedway, Rougemont, N.C. (7:00pm)
Sprint Cars of New England: Fri., June 25 — Canaan Dirt Speedway, Canaan, N.H. (7:00pm)
Sprint Cars of New England: Sat., June 26 — Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford, Vt. (6:00pm)
Twin State Modified Series: Sun., June 27 — Big Daddy’s Speedbowl, Rumney, N.H. (4:00pm)