Corliss Scores Another Big Win at Labor Day Classic
Barre, VT – Hometown racer Jason Corliss proved once again that he’s the man to beat in big Thunder Road events by taking the Coca-Cola Labor Day Classic for the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) on Sunday, September 2. Corliss grabbed the lead from polesitter Cody Blake just before the halfway point and never looked back on his way to a $5,000 payday in the Summer Showdown Series finale.
Fellow Barre, VT resident Blake earned the pole in qualifying and looked like the man to beat early, opening up a huge lead on multiple occasions. But Corliss steadily worked his way through the field from his 11th starting position in front of a huge holiday weekend crowd.
Aided by a pair of cautions for single-car spins, Corliss found his way to the second position on lap 86 when he got around Kyle Pembroke. From there, Blake was living on borrowed time at the front. Corliss quickly ran down Blake and swung to his outside, moving to the top spot on the leaderboard on lap 97.
Newly crowned “King of the Road” Scott Dragon of Milton, VT followed Corliss into the second spot a few laps later and seemed poised to contend for an elusive Labor Day Classic win. Three quick cautions between laps 125 and 148, including for when Brian Tagg pounded the frontstretch wall on lap 131, allowed Dragon to get alongside.
But Corliss was able to slay his challenger every time, pulling away down the stretch for a season sweep of the ACT Late Model Tour events at the Barre high banks. It also gave Corliss a lifetime sweep of the three biggest events at Thunder Road, joining his wins in the Vermont Milk Bowl and Labor Day Classic for a spot on all three granite monuments.
Dragon finished second at the Labor Day Classic for the third consecutive year. Blake took third followed by Stephen Donahue. The top-4 all ran the entire event on the same set of tires, beating out others who changed right-side rubber at various points during the event.
Colchester, VT’s Scott Payea was the highest-finishing ACT regular as he passed Eddie MacDonald with 10 laps remaining for fifth. Marcel J. Gravel, Brooks Clark, Kyle Pembroke, and Nick Sweet rounded out the top-10. Payea’s late pass, combined with a better qualifying result, unofficially gives him a 26-point lead over MacDonald in the standing with just one event remaining.
Marshfield’s Matt Potter broke a long winless streak by taking the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tiger feature. Potter started on the outside pole of the 40-lap main event after several hard wrecks in recent weeks and quickly jumped to the top spot over Adam Maynard.
Williamstown’s Sid Sweet Jr. got the jump on Potter on a lap-10 restart to take the lead. But Sweet lost control on the backstretch two laps later, collecting Robert Gordon in the process. From there, Potter was able to hold on to the point through two more late cautions for his third career win.
Waitsfield’s Kyle Streeter made a late charge for second while Williamstown’s Micheal MacAskill completed the podium. Mike Martin, Kelsea Woodard, Jason Woodard, Cooper Bouchard, Tyler Austin, Kevin Streeter, and Joe Steffen also earned top-10 finishes. Craftsbury Common’s Joel Hodgdon finished the event in the garage due to damage sustained in a lap-34 incident with Dwayne Lanphear, but had already clinched the Flying Tiger championship before the day began.
Hardwick’s Will Hennequin earned the final point-counting win of the year in Allen Lumber Street Stocks. Hennequin inherited the lead on lap 5 of the 25-lap feature when Danville’s Jacob Roy broke a right rear wheel and hit the turn 1 wall. He then held off a late charge from Essex Jct.’s Matthew Smith for his 13th career victory.
Pittsfield’s Juan “Paco” Marshall completed the podium while Jeffrey Martin nipped Tim Hunt at the line for fourth. Stephen Martin, Dean Switser Jr., Logan Powers, Tyler Pepin, and Bryan P. Wall completed the top-10. With his result, Stephen Martin clinched the Street Stock championship to become the youngest champion in track history at 16 years, 68 days.
Williamstown’s Jayme Lee earned his third career victory in the Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors. Lee grabbed the top spot from Brian Putney just past the halfway point in the 20-lap feature. He then held off a fierce challenge from Putney’s brother Frank in the final circuits for the win.
Northfield’s James Dopp finished third followed by Eric Chase and Josh Vilbrin. Fred Fleury, Mike Mitchell, Jacob Hall-Larson, Brian Putney, and Michael Stearns finished 6th through 10th.
Fraconia, NH’s Jason Wyman took the win in the 20-lap New England Dwarf Cars feature. Wyman got the lead early from Chad Dufour and saw his closest challenge go by the wayside when Andy Hall got tangled up in a lap-14 incident after the caution had already come out. Wyman then held off Jeff Ainsworth over the final laps. Colby Borgeois, Jarred Ainsworth, and Dufour rounded out the top-5.
Thunder Road caps its season with the 56th Vermont Milk Bowl Weekend from Friday, September 28 to Sunday, September 30. A special Northfield Savings Bank “Milk Bowl Friday” event at 6:00pm on the 28th includes visits from the Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models, North East Mini Stock Tour, and Street Stock Showdown Series along with the Road Warriors.
This will be followed by Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Qualifying Day at 1:00pm on Saturday, September 29 followed by the Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank at 12:15pm on Sunday, September 30. Adult admission is $20 for Friday only and $30 for a Saturday/Sunday ticket. Kids 12 and under are admitted free all three days.
The ACT Late Model Tour wraps up its season on Saturday, October 13 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park with the World Series 75. The event is part of the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing.
For more information, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com. You can also contact Thunder Road at (802) 244-6964, media@thunderroadvt.com, or www.thunderroadvt.com.
COCA-COLA LABOR DAY CLASSIC
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
ACT LATE MODEL TOUR
Pos., Start Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown, Laps
1. ( 11 ) Jason Corliss ( 66VT ) , Barre, VT , 200 Laps
2. ( 6 ) Scott Dragon ( 16VT ) , Milton, VT , 200 Laps
3. ( 1 ) Cody Blake ( 99VT ) , Barre, VT , 200 Laps
4. ( 7 ) Stephen Donahue ( 2VT ) , Graniteville, VT , 200 Laps
5. ( 10 ) Scott Payea ( 37VT ) , Colchester, VT , 200 Laps
6. ( 20 ) Eddie MacDonald ( 17MA ) , Rowley, MA , 200 Laps
7. ( 18 ) Marcel Gravel ( 86VT ) , Wolcott, VT , 200 Laps
8. ( 15 ) Brooks Clark ( 68VT ) , Fayston, VT , 200 Laps
9. ( 5 ) Kyle Pembroke ( 27VT ) , Montpelier, VT , 200 Laps
10. ( 22 ) Nick Sweet ( 46VT ) , Barre, VT , 200 Laps
11. ( 16 ) Jimmy Hebert ( 58VT ) , Williamstown, VT , 200 Laps
12. ( 3 ) Josh Masterson ( 11NY ) , Bristol, VT , 199 Laps
13. ( 24 ) Boomer Morris ( 9VT ) , Barre, VT , 199 Laps
14. ( 8 ) Rich Dubeau ( 30NH ) , Lebanon, NH , 199 Laps
15. ( 2 ) Bobby Therrien ( 04VT ) , Hinesburg, VT , 198 Laps
16. ( 17 ) #Christopher Pelkey ( 41VT ) , South Barre, VT , 198 Laps
17. ( 14 ) Tyler Cahoon ( 38VT ) , Danville, VT , 197 Laps
18. ( 21 ) #Dylan Payea ( 7NH ) , Milton, VT , 196 Laps
19. ( 13 ) Corey Mason ( 1NH ) , Groveton, NH , 195 Laps
20. ( 25 ) Claude Leclerc ( 11QC ) , Lanoraie, QC , 148 Laps
21. ( 23 ) Mike Ziter ( 54VT ) , Barre, VT , 147 Laps
22. ( 9 ) Darrell Morin ( 17VT ) , Richmond, VT , 130 Laps
23. ( 19 ) Brian Tagg ( 9MA ) , Oxford, MA , 129 Laps
24. ( 4 ) #Brendan Moodie ( 94VT ) , Wolcott, VT , 124 Laps
25. ( 26 ) #Evan Hallstrom ( 1VT ) , Northfield, VT , 56 Laps
26. ( 12 ) Eric Chase ( 40VT ) , Milton, VT , 0 Laps
LENNY’S SHOE & APPAREL FLYING TIGERS
Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown
1. Matthew Potter ( 23 ) Marshfield, VT
2. Kyle Streeter ( 37 ) Waterbury Ctr., VT
3. Michael MacAskill ( 33 ) Williamstown, VT
4. Michael Martin ( 01 ) Craftsbury Common, VT
5. #Kelsea Woodard ( 55 ) Waterbury Ctr., VT
6. Jason Woodard ( 90 ) Waterbury Ctr., VT
7. #Cooper Bouchard ( 7 ) Hinesburg, VT
8. Tyler Austin ( 5 ) East Calias, VT
9. #Kevin Streeter ( 67 ) Waitsfield, VT
10. Joe Steffen ( 00 ) Grand Isle, VT
11. #Brandon Lanphear ( 11 ) Morrisville, VT
12. Jason Pelkey ( 64 ) Barre, VT
13. Brian Delphia ( 25 ) Duxbury, VT
14. Colin Cornell ( 54 ) E. Burke, VT
15. Brett Wood ( 29 ) Georgia, VT
16. Adam Maynard ( 57 ) Milton, VT
17. Robert Gordon ( 20 ) Milton, VT
18. Sid Sweet Jr. ( 51 ) Williamstown, VT
19. Mike Potter ( 28 ) Marshfield, VT
20. Michael Martin ( 01 ) Craftsbury Common, VT
21. #Jeff Murray ( 35 ) Georgia, VT
22. Mike Billado ( 8 ) Essex, VT
23. Kevin Dodge ( 88 ) Barre, VT
24. M.C. Ingram ( 02 ) Essex Jct., VT
25. Joel Hodgdon ( 36 ) Craftsbury Common, VT
26. Dwayne Lanphear ( 40 ) Morrisville, VT
STREET STOCKS
Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown
1. William Hennequin ( 47 ) Hardwick, VT
2. Matthew Smith ( 44 ) Essex Jct., VT
3. #Juan Marshall ( 79 ) Pittsfield, VT
4. Jeffrey Martin ( 8 ) Barre, VT
5. Tim Hunt ( 93 ) Derby, VT
6. Stephen Martin ( 01 ) Craftsbury Common, VT
7. Dean Switser Jr. ( 16 ) Lyndonville, VT
8. Logan Powers ( 31 ) Middlesex, VT
9. #Tyler Pepin ( 78 ) Barre, VT
10. #Bryan P. Wall ( 77 ) E. Kingston, NH
11. Jamie Davis ( 43 ) Wolcott, VT
12. Brandon Gray ( 00 ) E. Thetford, VT
13. Kasey Beattie ( 45 ) St. Johnsbury, VT
14. #Royce Lussier ( 95 ) Berlin, VT
15. Issac Spaulding ( 9 ) Waterbury Ctr., VT
16. Tom Smith ( 50 ) Williamstown, VT
17. Gary Mullen ( 29 ) Tunbridge, VT
18. Alan Birch ( 7 ) St. Johnsbury, VT
19. #Shawn M. Teague ( 24 ) Enosburg Falls, VT
20. Patrick Tibbetts ( 48 ) Barre, VT
21. Scott Weston ( 04 ) Berlin, VT
22. #Trevor Rossi ( 54 ) Washington, VT
23. Dean Switser Jr. ( 16 ) Lyndonville, VT
24. Tanner Woodard ( 68 ) Waterbury Ctr., VT
25. Justin Blakely ( 17 ) Graniteville, VT
26. Thomas Peck ( 96 ) Barre, VT
27. Jacob Roy ( 11 ) Danville, VT
28. Steve LaFountain Sr. ( 61 ) Barre, VT
29. Michael Gay ( 3 ) So. Burlington, VT
BURNETT SCRAP METALS ROAD WARRIORS
Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown
1. Jayme Lee ( 18 ) Williamstown, VT
2. Frank Putney ( 88 ) Graniteville, VT
3. James Dopp ( 0 ) Northfield, VT
4. Eric Chase ( 13 ) Berlin, VT
5. Josh Vilbrin ( 77 ) Northfield, VT
6. Fred Fleury ( 98 ) Graniteville, VT
7. Mike Mitchell ( 1 ) Essex, VT
8. Jacob Hall-Larson ( 42 ) Northfield, VT
9. Brian Putney ( 87 ) E. Corinth, VT
10. Michael Stearns ( 3 ) Johnson, VT
11. Haidyn Pearce ( 4 ) Berlin, VT
12. Chris Davis ( 69 ) Berlin, VT
13. Rodney Campbell ( 10 ) Worcester, VT
14. Patrick Lacasse ( 96 ) Wolcott, VT
15. Ethan Howes ( 24 ) Fayston, VT
16. Jacob Roy ( 11 ) Danville, VT
17. Brodie Frazier ( 17 ) E. Montpelier, VT
18. Nate Brien ( 16 ) Brookfield, VT
NEW ENGLAND DWARF CARS
Pos., Driver, Car #, Hometown
1. Jason Wyman ( 88 ) Franconia, NH
2. Jeff Ainsworth ( 41 ) Bethlehem, NH
3. Colby Bourgeois ( 98 ) St. Johnsbury, VT
4. Jarred Ainsworth ( 94 ) Bethlehem, NH
5. Chad Dufour ( 52 ) Littleton, NH
6. Tim Sherman ( 68 ) Berlin, VT
7. Ethan Tyrrell ( 23 ) Worcester, VT
8. Howie Switser ( 36 ) West Burke, VT
9. Jeremy Lebrecque ( 21 ) Canaan, VT
10. Andy Hill ( 8 ) Lower Waterford, VT
Sources: Michael R. Stridsberg/American-Canadian Tour/Thunder Road Speedbowl PR
Daniel Holben photo