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THUNDER ROAD'S 48TH SEASON POINT BATTLES WIDE OPEN FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TR041307-1 Barre, VT -- Three of Thunder Road's weekly divisions will begin the hunt for this year's "King of the Road" titles on Sunday, May 6 when the ACT Late Model Tour hits town for the Merchants Bank 150. Each of the 2006 champions have moved to other divisions and will not return to defend their crowns which leaves the quest for the titles wide open. Montpelier, Vermont's Shawn Fleury, a two time NAPA Sportsman title holder (2005-2006) has been tagged to drive a Late Model owned by Scott Fearn of Springfield, MA. The car will be maintained by veteran crew chief Jeff Laquerre of East Montpelier, VT. Fleury could take advantage of the ACT Tours upcoming early event at the high banked, quarter-mile oval and make his Late Model debut in the Merchants Bank 150. If Fleury and team opt out of the track opener theyll use the Casella Mothers Day event on Sunday, May 13 as the springboard for their season. With the multi-time champions departure the list of contenders is lengthy. As the runner-up to Fleury, Matt White of Northfield, VT has to be atop the list as an heir apparent. The second generation racer reportedly contemplated moving to the Late Model division for 2007 but has recently confirmed that hell chase the NAPA Sportsman crown in 2007. Brendan Moodie of N. Wolcott, VT had a break-out season in 06 even though he did not crack the winners circle with a career best third place finish in the standings. In spite of his age, the 21 year-old racer is a veteran runner on the Barre highbanks having come up through the ranks. Also on the short list as championship contenders are veterans Pete Ainsworth and Chris Gendreau, past champion, Joe Steffen, as well as former rookie of the year, Nick Sweet, and young guns, Justin Hart, and Tom Therrien, to name a few. A sizeable rookie class is taking shape with several experienced Allen Lumber Street Stock competitors making the jump. Also, multi-time Sportsman Series champion, Craig Bushey will return to the division after taking a couple of years off and could be a serious threat for the title. Ainsworth, a 30 year-old veteran, posted one win in 2006 to finish fourth in the tally. The Middlesex, VT resident also led the points following the double-point Times Argus Mid-Season Championship. Chris Gendreau of N. Middlesex was kept out of victory lane last year but pushed to sixth in the standings. His smooth, patient style kept him among the constant threats. Steffen, the 2002 King of the Road scored a win early in the year en route to a respectable fifth at the end of the season. Among the divisions young guns is Sweet, 21. The sophomore competitor started strong but a bout of the sophomore jinx during mid-season derailed the youngster's quest for the title. He rebounded and finished off the year with a win. Williamstown, Vermont's Hart, winner of the Dr. G.R. Nielsen Rookie Award as the outstanding freshman driver in 2000, has steadily climbed the point ladder since moving from the Allen Lumber Street Stock division. Hinesburg, Vermonts Tom Therrien is another of the young veterans. The 20 year-old racer posted a pair of wins last year. The Allen Lumber Street Stock and the PowerShift Warrior classes will crown new "Kings of the Road" in 2007 as the reigning champions will each reportedly compete in a new division. Eric Badore of Milton, VT continued his towns hold on the Street Stock title when he succeeded 2004-2005 champ, Joe Small who is also from the northern Chittenden Country community. Badore has filed an application to be considered as a Rookie of the Year contender in the NAPA Tiger Sportsman class and will not defend his title. Several of last years top Allen Lumber Street Stock runners including Joel Hodgdon, Tim Potter, Travis Ingerson, and Shawn Sicard will be joining Badore as freshman campaigner in the Sportsman division, which further opens the door for those returning to the 4-cylinder class. Maynard Bartlett Jr, of Wolcott, VT, winner of the PowerShift Warrior crown last season has registered as a rookie driver in the Allen Lumber Street Stock class for the coming year. Since its inception in 2003, the virtually street-legal division has not had a repeat champion. Instead the division has become a successful proving ground and stepping stone for many competitors. The Merchants Bank 150, as the first of 14-races on the 2007 ACT Late Model Tour, will not award points towards Thunder Road's Late Model championship. The quest for the title in the track's top division begins on Sunday, May 13 in the Casella Waste Management Mothers Day event. -30- Contact: Marjorie Mulligan Fay 802-244-6963 marjorieatact@aol.com
