Sweet Inching Closer to First Sportsman Title at Thunder Road

For Immediate Release                                    TR-081407-1

    BARRE, VT Hometown stock car racer Nick Sweet has been a dominant force in the NAPA Auto Parts Tiger
Sportsman division at Barres Thunder Road this summer, and has been making strides toward winning his first Track
Championship at the historic 48 year-old speedway.  Just a few weeks away from his 23rd birthday, Sweet is part of
Thunder Roads new breed of young, talented racers.  Entering the next-to-last Thursday night event, the VT ACE
Hardware Dealers Trophy Dash this Thursday, Sweet leads veteran East Montpelier racer Joey Laquerre by a
comfortable margin in the Sportsman point standings, 801-692.
    Were doing pretty well right now, but the goal is to just keep finishing races, said Sweet.  If the
race goes smoothly, we usually are able to move up and finish in the Top 10.
    Sweet has ten Top 10 finishes in a dozen events this season, including a pair of feature victories.  His only missteps were an 18th-place result
in early July, and when he failed to qualify his Fortiers Community Care Home/SymQuest Group Chevrolet for the
main event on June 28.  As the Sportsman division routinely sees 40 or more cars attempting to qualify for 26
starting positions, only two drivers feature winner Tom Therrien of Hinesburg and former NAPA Sportsman champion
Joe Steffen of Essex Junction have made all 12 feature races this year.
    The car has been driving well, and a lot of that is thanks to my dad, Shayne, Sweet explained.  Hes
doing a great job paying attention to the suspension of the car.  I try to pick up on things he does, but hes a
master at it.  Were enjoying our time together as a team this year more than ever.
    Sweet, Laquerre, Therrien, Steffen, and top drivers Craig Bushey of Cambridge, Matt White of Northfield,
and rookie Joel Hodgdon of Craftsbury will continue their weekly battles on Thursday at VT ACE Hardware Dealers
Night at Thunder Road.  Jamie Fisher of Shelburne leads the American-Canadian Tour Late Model division, while
Hinesburg rookie sensation Bobby Therrien (younger brother of Sportsman racer Tom) tops the Allen Lumber Street
Stock standings.  Hardwicks Bunker Hodgdon leads the Power Shift Online Junkyard Warriors.
    Green flag qualifying action for the Street Stocks and Warriors begins at 6:30pm on VT ACE Hardware
Dealers Night this Thursday.  General admission is $9 for adults, $3 for kids (6-12), and just $18 for a family
ticket for any two adults and any two children.  For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit
www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.
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Contact: Justin St. Louis                            Phone: (802) 244-6963
Email: media@acttour.com                            Fax: (802) 244-1616