Adam Maynard Nabs First Flying Tiger Win in 20+ Year Career on Preston’s Kia Night at Thunder Road
Christopher Pelkey, Jamie Davis, and Frank Putney Return to Victory Lane
Barre, VT — Over 90 cars in four separate classes entered the Thunder Road pit area on Sunday to help Preston’s Kia mark the Independence Day holiday. Just four of those drivers left the gates, following yet another fantastic display of fireworks courtesy of East Montpelier’s Northstar, victors among their competitors with all putting on a stellar show for the capacity crowd and those at home watching on FloRacing.
The Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models were hot to trot in their 50-lap main event. Led to point by Waterford’s Andy Hill and Westford’s Darrell Morin, the two underdogs battled hard for the top spot until the first caution at lap 20. Hill went around in turn two leaving Rookie Keegan Lamson with nowhere to go but up and over the hood of Hill’s machine.
Morrisville’s Brandon Lanphear took over the top spot from Morin on Lap 26 using the outside lane with his fresh Hoosier rubber. Unfortunately, a broken right front wheel sent Lanphear into the turn four wall on lap 31, ending his strong run. On the restart, Graniteville’s Christopher Pelkey took the top spot from Morin as Barre’s Nick Sweet and Wolcott’s Marcel Gravel followed the jet-black, bad-fast #64VT. Pelkey would win the feature followed by Gravel who just barely edged Sweet, sub-driver for car owner Eric Chase, at the line.
Getting the grand introductions in front of the near capacity Fourth of July weekend crowd, the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers started off rough when an accordion effect sent several back markers into the infield. Following a quick reshuffle, the collection of Vermont’s wildest drivers went for 28 green flag laps, until the spinning Phil Potvin called up the second caution of the feature.
Right from the onset, Milton’s Adam Maynard set the pace, holding off Barre’s Cam Ouellette and West Burke’s Colin Cornell until the very end. Having driven Flying Tigers at Thunder Road since 1999, Adam Maynard took down his first win as part of the Preston’s Kia Independence Day Spectacular much to the joy of the capacity crowd and Thunder Road announcer, his brother, Aaron Maynard. Ouellette and Cornell rounded out the podium.
The rk Miles Street Stocks went flag-to-flag for the Preston’s Kia Independence Day Spectacular. Led to green by former champion Jamie Davis and longtime racer Thomas Peck, the 25-lap feature event zoomed along. Kyle Gravel made his way alongside Davis before taking over the top spot. Gravel would cross the finish line first followed by Davis and Barre’s Tyler Whittemore. Post-race inspection found an illegal A-Frame in the right front of his #5 Ford Mustang giving Davis the win, Whittemore second and bumping up rookie Cameron Powers for third.
The always popular Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors put on quite the show for America’s Birthday. Just after the halfway mark, the #21 piloted by Jeremiah Little got a little loose coming off turn four in his first Thunder Road attempt, moving up frequent flyer Tayler Sayers into the tire barrier in turn one. Just after the restart, Robert Catchapaw took his Dukes of Hazzard-inspired ride for a ride, right through the oncoming pack and into the grass. In the end, Graniteville’s ‘Barbie Boy’ Frank Putney took the win followed by ‘Flyin’ Fred Fleury and Ryan Sayers.
Thunder Road returns to Thursday Night racing this Thursday, July 7th for the second round of the Myers Container Service Flying Tiger Triple Crown Series. The Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers go green on their second extra-distance event of 2022 alongside regular feature action for the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models, rk Miles Street Stocks and Burnett Scrap Metal Road Warriors. Post Time is set for the usual 7:00pm start time. Full race day schedule and ticketing information will be available online in the coming days.
Preston’s Kia is located on Gallison Hill Road in Montpelier, Vermont, and provides the best customer service for all your automotive needs. From specializing in Kia products to sales and service of nearly every make and model, Preston’s Kia’s experienced staff will help you with every step along the way. Give Preston’s the chance to serve all your automotive needs and experience all the reasons they have so many loyal customers. 855-964-4447 is the only number you’ll ever need visit them on the web at www.prestonskia.com.
For more information, contact the Thunder Road offices at (802) 244-6963, media@thunderroadvt.com, or visit www.thunderroadvt.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ThunderRoadVT.
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl – Barre, VT
Preston’s Kia Independence Day Spectacular
Sunday, July 3, 2022
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models – 50 Laps
- 64VT Chris Pelkey Graniteville, VT
- 86VT Marcel J. Gravel Wolcott, VT
- 40VT Nick Sweet Barre, VT
- 0VT Scott Dragon Milton, VT
- 2VT Stephen Donahue Graniteville, VT
- 17VT Darrell Morin Westford, VT
- 27VT Kyle Pembroke Montpelier, VT
- 01VT #Stephen Martin Craftsbury Common, VT
- 38VT Tyler Cahoon Danville, VT
- 3VT Chris Roberts Washington, VT
- 42VT Matt White Northfield, VT
- 9VT Chip Grenier E. Barre, VT
- 8VT Anthony Hill Waterford, VT
- 7VT Cooper Bouchard Hinesburg, VT
- 04VT Matt Smith Fairfax, VT
- 55VT #Keegan Lamson Berlin, VT
- 67MA Jared Curtis Rutland, MA
- 14VT Phil Scott
- 16VT Brandon Lanphear Morrisville, VT
DNS 88MA Chase Curtis Rutland, MA
Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers – 40 Laps
- 45VT Adam Maynard Milton, VT
- 90VT Cameron Ouellette Barre, VT
- 35VT Colin Cornell E. Burke, VT
- 01VT Michael Martin Craftsbury, Common, VT
- 68NH Tanner Woodard Waterbury Ctr., VT
- 20VT Robert Gordon Milton, VT
- 67VT Kevin Streeter Waitsfield, VT
- 15VT Derrick Calkins Hinesburg, VT
- 07VT Sam Caron Milton, VT
- 36VT Joel Hodgdon Craftsbury Common, VT
- 44VT Justin Prescott Williston, VT
- 64VT Jason Pelkey Barre, VT
- 3VT Michael MacAskill Williamstown, VT
- 56VT Chris Laforest Barre, VT
- 5VT Tyler Austin East Calais, VT
- 8VT Mike Billado Grand Isle, VT
- 18VT #Kaiden Fisher Shelburne, VT
- 25VT Kevin Boutin Jr. Fairfax, VT
- 2VT Eric Johnson Randolph, VT
- 33VT #Matt Ballard Williamstown, VT
- 92VT Jaden Perry Hardwick, VT
- 08VT Phil Potvin Underhill, VT
- 11VT #Jacob Roy Danville, VT
DNS 31VT Logan Powers Middlesex, VT
rk Miles Street Stocks – 25 Laps
- 43 Jaime Davis Johnson, VT
- 74 Tyler Whittemore Barre, VT
- 30 #Cameron Powers E. Montpelier, VT
- 47 William Hennequin Morrisville, VT
- 68 Kyler Davis Berlin, VT
- 26 Luke Peters Groton, VT
- 16 Dean Switser, Jr. Waterford, VT
- 7 Kyle MacAskill Williamstown, VT
- 3 Michael Gay S. Burlington, VT
- 8 Jeffery Martin Barre, VT
- 17 Justin Blakely Graniteville, VT
- 48 Taylor Hoar South Hero, VT
- 0 James Dopp Northfield, VT
- 96 Thomas Peck Waterbury, VT
- 34 Patrick Tibbetts Plainfield, VT
- 9 #Zachary Audet Morrisville, VT
- 79 Juan ‘Paco’ Marshall Pittsfield, VT
- 71 Jesse Laquerre Berlin, VT
- 29 Gary Mullen Tunbridge, VT
- 68 Kyler Davis Berlin, VT
- 24 Todd Raymo Swanton, VT
- 6 Eric MacLaughlin Milton, VT
- 11 #Mark Beaulieu Essex Jct., VT
- 33 #Curtis Franks Williamstown, VT
- 73 #Paige Whittemore Graniteville, VT
- 57 Trevor Jaques Milton, VT
- 2 Haidyn Pearce Chelsea, VT
- 1 Jaime Laquerre E. Montpelier, VT
- 54 Josh Lovely Williamstown, VT
30 04 Scott Weston Berlin, VT
DSQ 5 Kyle Gravel Wolcott, VT
Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors – 20 Laps
- 88 Frank Putney Graniteville, VT
- 99 Fred Fleury Graniteville, VT
- 94 Ryan Sayers Barre, VT
- 8 Ryan Foster Waterbury, VT
- 19 Neal Foster Moretown, VT
- 44 Chris Couture Barre, VT
- 77 Josh Vilbrin Northfield, VT
- 95 Taylor Sayers Barre, VT
- 10 Rodney Campbell Worcester, VT
- 50 Nick Copping Barre, VT
- 14 Brian Preston Montpelier, VT
- 38 Jamie Buick E. Barre, VT
- 96 Bill O’Connor S. Washington, VT
- R2R Kevin Hansley
- 16 Nate Brien Williamstown, VT
- 21 Jeremiah Little Hardwick, VT
- 03 Robert Catchapaw Waterbury, VT
DNS 44VT Jessie Bundy Hinesburg, VT
Sources: Cale King/Thunder Road Speedbowl PR
(IMG_4893): Adam Maynard FINALLY gets that first win feeling after over 20 years in the Thunder Road Flying Tiger division.
(IMG_4901): One more of Maynard because it has to feel amazing to get that monkey off his back – Congratulations!
(IMG_4830): Christopher Pelkey took down his first Late Model win of 2022 in grand style, overtaking several top dogs after starting from 13th.
(IMG_4779): Former rk Miles Street Stock champion Jamie Davis received the feature win after apparent first place winner Kyle Gravel was disqualified for an A-Frame infraction in the right front of his Ford Mustang.
(IMG_4819): Burnett Scrap Metal Road Warrior Victory Lane on Preston’s Kia night (L-R) Sayers, Putney, Fleury. (Alan Ward photos)