O’Donnell Begins Threepeat Quest with Memorial Day Classic Triumph
Barre, VT—Two-time defending Thunder Road “King of the Road” Derrick O’Donnell began his quest for a threepeat in dominating fashion with a win in the Mekkelsen Memorial Day Classic 100 on Sunday, May 24.
Haverhill, NH’s O’Donnell quickly got to the front from his third starting position, moving around pole sitter Nick Sweet on the outside to take the lead on lap eight. The 2013 Memorial Day Classic winner drew out to a big lead, but run into two-by-two lapped traffic at the halfway point of the caution-free race, allowing Milton, VT’s Scott Dragon to catch him.
Dragon managed to nose in front of O’Donnell for two circuits just past the halfway point. However, O’Donnell pulled back away once the two got clear of traffic and took his second Memorial Day Classic win.
“We were saving for most of the race,” O’Donnell said. “We got a huge lead, and then we got caught up in that lapped traffic that was racing side by side forever, and it just destroyed our lead. It was around the same time that my car started fading a little bit. I had my hands full, that’s for sure.”
Dragon settled for second, with Sweet a distant third. Merchants Bank 150 winner Brad Babb was fourth and John Donahue completed the top-5. Shawn Fleury, Brooks Clark, Dave Pembroke, Kyle Pembroke, and Trampas Demers were sixth through 10th.
Berwick, ME’s Joey Doiron made history by becoming the first ever Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model winner at Thunder Road in their 150-lap event. Doiron started on the pole before surrendering the lead to Turner, ME’s Glen Luce on lap 10. He retook the lead on the race’s third and final restart for Mike Rowe’s spin on lap 42, only to see Dover, NH’s Wayne Helliwell power around his outside three laps later.
Helliwell darted out to a big lead, but Doiron began reeling him in after the halfway point and reassumed the lead on lap 93. A surprising Jeremy Davis slid through to second and followed Doiron like a shadow for the final 50 laps, but Doiron held on for his fifth career PASS North victory.
Davis finished second, with defending PASS North Champion D.J. Shaw in third. Former American –Canadian Tour (ACT) Rookie of the Year Bobby Therrien was fourth, followed by multi-time ACT Champion Brian Hoar. Mike Rowe, Travis Benjamin, Dave Pembroke, Helliwell, and Ben Rowe completed the top-10.
Joe Steffen was the last man standing in a wild Bond Auto Tiger Sportsman 35-lap feature. The stage was set on lap 26 when Christopher Pelkey dove three-wide inside a battle for the lead between Brendan Moodie and Jason Woodard on the backstretch. With none of the drivers willing to lift, the trio came together on the frontstretch, sending all three hard into the wall entering turn one.
Eric Johnson and Caleb Nelson inherited the front row on the restart, but the two came together coming to the green flag, sending both into the wall and flipping Johnson’s machine on its roof. Doug Crownshield assumed the point and seemed on his way to his first Tiger win when the yellow flag flew for Mike Martin’s spin as the field entered turn one on the final lap.
Thinking the race to be over, Crowningshield slowed entering turn 3, and Steffen alertly darted through for the win. Rookie Stephen Donahue finished second with Jeffery Bousquet in third. Crownshield came hope a disappointing fourth. Cameron Ouellette, Derek Barker, Mike Billado, Derrick Calkins, Martin, and Dylan Payea rounded out the top-10.
Bunker Hodgdon led wire-to-wire in a caution-free Allen Lumber Street Stock feature to pick up his fifth career win. The 2013 Street Stock Champion withstood heavy pressure throughout the event from event from runner-up Jamie Davis, third-place finisher Alan Maynard, and Marcel J. Gravel. Jaden Perry, Tyler Austin, Jamon Perry, Jeremy Colson, Garry Bashaw, and Kyle Streeter completed the top-10.
Thunder Road kicks off its Thursday night racing season on June 11 with Harvest Equipment Night, featuring the annual Kid’s Rides. All three divisions will be in action. The Kid’s Rides are from 4:00-4:40pm with post time at 6:30pm.
The ACT Late Models and PASS Super Late Models can be seen together again at the 3rd Annual ACT International 500 on July 18 and 19 at Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY. Both divisions will run 200-lap, $10,000+-to-win events. Qualifying events will be held on Saturday, July 18, with features on Sunday, July 19.
For more information contact the Thunder Road offices at 802.244.6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.
Sources: Michael Stridsberg/ACT PR
Mekkelsen Memorial Day Classic 100
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
Pos Start Pos Driver Car # Hometown Laps
1. ( 3 ) Derrick O’Donnell ( 60VT ) , N. Haverhill, NH , 100 Laps
2. ( 2 ) Scott Dragon ( 16VT ) , Milton, VT , 100 Laps
3. ( 1 ) Nick Sweet ( 88VT ) , Barre, VT , 100 Laps
4. ( 4 ) Brad Babb ( 15NH ) , Windham, ME , 100 Laps
5. ( 6 ) John Donahue ( 26VT ) , Graniteville, VT , 100 Laps
6. ( 8 ) Shawn Fleury ( 1VT ) , Middlesex, VT , 100 Laps
7. ( 7 ) Brooks Clark ( 68VT ) , Fayston, VT , 100 Laps
8. ( 21 ) Dave Pembroke ( 44VT ) , Middlesex, VT , 100 Laps
9. ( 5 ) Kyle Pembroke ( 27VT ) , Montpelier, VT , 100 Laps
10. ( 12 ) Trampas Demers ( 85VT ) , S. Burlington, VT , 100 Laps
11. ( 9 ) Tyler Cahoon ( 38VT ) , St. Johnsbury, VT , 100 Laps
12. ( 11 ) Cody Blake ( 99VT ) , Barre, VT , 100 Laps
13. ( 10 ) Jason Allen ( 29VT ) , Barre, VT , 99 Laps
14. ( 13 ) Jamie Fisher ( 18VT ) , Shelburne, VT , 99 Laps
15. ( 17 ) Jason Corliss ( 66VT ) , Barre, VT , 99 Laps
16. ( 15 ) Matt White ( 42VT ) , Northfield, VT , 99 Laps
17. ( 18 ) Mike Bailey ( 00VT ) , S. Barre, VT , 99 Laps
18. ( 27 ) Boomer Morris ( 13VT ) , Barre, VT , 99 Laps
19. ( 19 ) Brandon Atkins ( 4NY ) , AuSable Forks, NY , 99 Laps
20. ( 16 ) Josh Demers ( 10VT ) , Montpelier, VT , 99 Laps
21. ( 29 ) Chip Grenier ( 9VT ) , Graniteville, VT , 99 Laps
22. ( 24 ) Eric Williams ( 2VT ) , Hyde Park, VT , 99 Laps
23. ( 14 ) Eric Badore ( 4VT ) , Milton, VT , 99 Laps
24. ( 26 ) Brett Gervais ( 11NH ) , Island Pond, VT , 99 Laps
25. ( 22 ) Eric Chase ( 40VT ) , Milton, VT , 98 Laps
26. ( 20 ) #Darrell Morin ( 17VT ) , Westford, VT , 98 Laps
27. ( 23 ) Scott Coburn ( 72VT ) , Barre, VT , 98 Laps
28. ( 25 ) David Whitcomb ( 25VT ) , Essex Jct., VT , 98 Laps
29. ( 30 ) Phil Scott ( 14VT ) , Middlesex, VT , 98 Laps
30. ( 28 ) Ricky Roberts ( 3VT ) , E. Barre, VT , 50 Laps
Lap Leaders: Nick Sweet, 1-7; Derrick O’Donnell, 8-55; Scott Dragon, 56-57; O’Donnell, 58-100. 3 Lead changes among 3 drivers.
Time of Race: 23:58 Margin of Victory: 0.797 seconds
Cautions: None
Heat Winners: Tyler Cahoon, Brooks, Clark, Jason Allen
Consi Winners: Matt White, Nick Sweet
PASS 150
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
Pos Start Pos Driver Car # Hometown Laps
1. Joey Doiron (73), Berwick, ME, 150 Laps
2. Jeremy Davis (09), Tamworth, NH, Laps
3. D.J. Shaw (60), Ctr. Conway, NH, 150 Laps
4. Bobby Therrien (5X), Hinesburg, VT, 150 Laps
5. Brian Hoar (37VT), Williston, VT, 150 Laps
6. Mike Rowe (7), Turner, ME, 150 Laps
7. (Travis Benjamin (17), Morrill, ME, 150 Laps
8. Dave Pembroke (44), Middlesex, VT, 150 Laps
9. Wayne Helliwell Jr. (27NH), Dover, NH, 150 Laps
10. Ben Rowe (4N), Turner, ME, 150 Laps
11. Brent Dragon, Milton, VT, 150 Laps
12. David Oliver (21), Standish, ME, 149 Laps
13. Richie Dearborn (33), Hollis, ME, 149 Laps
14. Cassius Clark (77), Farmington, ME, 149 Laps
15. Travis Stearns (16), Auburn, ME, 149 Laps
16. Brad Babb (14X), Windham, ME, 148 Laps
17. Bryan Kruczek (00), Newmarket, NH, 148 Laps
18. Gary Smith (75), Bangor, ME, 147 Laps
19. Derek Griffith (12), Hudson, NH, 119 Laps
20. Scott McDaniel (14), Livermore, ME, 106 Laps
21. Glen Luce (7L), Turner, ME, 104 Laps
22. Kyle DeSouza (88), E. Providence, RI, 79 Laps
23. Johnny Clark (54), Hallowell, ME, 71 Laps
24. Raphael Lessard (71), St-Joseph Beauce, QC, 70 Laps
25. Joey Polewarczyk Jr. (97NH), Hudson, NH, 68 Laps
Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen
Pos Car # Driver Hometown
1. Joe Steffen ( 00 ) Grand Isle, VT
2. #Stephen Donahue ( 26 ) Graniteville, VT
3. Jeffrey Bousquet ( 44 ) Worcester, VT
4. Doug Crowningshield ( 14 ) Barre, VT
5. Cameron Ouellette ( 90 ) Barre, VT
6. #Derek Barker ( 15 ) Post Mills, VT
7. Mike Billado ( 8 ) Essex, VT
8. Derrick Calkins ( 4 ) Milton, VT
9. Mike Martin ( 01 ) Craftsbury, VT
10. Dylan Payea ( 7 ) Milton, VT
11. Jason Woodard ( 68 ) Waterbury Ctr., VT
12. Brendan Moodie ( 94 ) Wolcott, VT
13. Christopher Pelkey ( 64 ) S. Barre, VT
14. Eric Johnson ( 20 ) Randolph Ctr., VT
15. Mike Martin ( 01 ) Craftsbury, VT
16. Brian Delphia ( 27 ) Duxbury, VT
17. #Tommy Smith ( 50 ) Williamstown, VT
Allen Lumber Street Stocks
Pos Car # Driver Hometown
1. Bunker Hodgdon ( 83 ) Hardwick, VT
2. Jamie Davis ( 43 ) Wolcott, VT
3. Alan Maynard ( 10 ) Fairfax, VT
4. Marcel J. Gravel ( 86 ) Wolcott, VT
5. Jaden Perry ( 92 ) Hardwick, VT
6. Tyler Austin ( 5 ) E. Calais, VT
7. Jamon Perry ( 62 ) Hardwick, VT
8. Jeremy Colson ( 44 ) S. Royalton, VT
9. Garry Bashaw ( 4 ) Lincoln, VT
10. Kyle Streeter ( 37 ) Waitsfield, VT
11. Gary Mullen ( 29 ) Tunbridge, VT
12. Brandon Gray ( 00 ) E. Thetford, VT
13. Will Hennequin ( 47 ) Morrisville, VT
14. Donny Yates ( 05 ) N. Montpelier, VT
15. Jennifer Getty ( 25 ) Cambridge, VT
16. Kevin Streeter ( 67 ) Waitsfield, VT
17. Ken Stridsberg ( 6 ) Berlin, VT
18. Dave Whitcomb ( 77 ) Morrisville, VT
19. Patrick Tibbetts ( 48 ) Barre, VT
20. #Chris Cardarelli ( 9 ) St. George, VT
21. #Reilly Lanphear ( 21 ) Duxbury, VT
22. Scott Maynard ( 59 ) Burlington, VT
23. #Chris LaForest ( 56 ) Barre, VT
24. Kelly Miller Jr. ( 0 ) Johnson, VT
25. Travis Streeter ( 61 ) Waitsfield, VT
26. Thomas Merchant ( 38 ) Eden Mills, VT