Double Features Pivotal for Williams in Thunder Road Late Model Championship

For Immediate Release                                        TR-081308-1

    BARRE, VT Eric Williams has a lot on the line at Thursdays Kinney Drugs stock car event at Thunder Road
in Barre.  Williams has a narrow lead in the Late Model divisions King of the Road championship chase, and is
chasing an elusive first title after more than a decade in the headline division; he finished second in points in
1999 and 2002, and third in 1996 and 2003.
    Only two more championship race dates remain on the regular season schedule, but with a twist the Kinney
Drugs event will see the Late Model division race two 50-lap features, as the Calkins Portables/WDEV Radio
feature, rained out on July 31, is made up in addition to the regular card.
    I dont lay awake at night thinking about the championship, but Id be lying if I said I didnt want to
win it, said Williams.  I just like to run good, and the fans pay good money to watch me and (second-place
driver) Cris Michaud and everyone else race hard.  If were putting on a show, thats all that matters.
    The former winner of the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 and Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl leads Northfield
driver Michaud by a mere 15 points (728-713) entering the double feature program on Thursday.  Michaud is seeking
a record fourth Late Model King of the Road crown.  Dave Pembroke of Middlesex sits third, 42 points behind
Williams, with Montpeliers Phil Scott fourth only 50 points back.  Pembroke is the defending Thunder Road
champion, while Scott, like Michaud, is a three-time title winner.
    Whoever wins this championship isnt going to do it by riding around, said Williams, theyll have to go
out and get it.  I thought I might take it easy in the first feature this Thursday and then hammer down in the
second, but thats no way to race.  Besides, those other guys arent going to wait around, either.
    Craig Bushey of Cambridge leads East Montpeliers Joey Laquerre by 11 points (710-699) in the NAPA Tiger
Sportsman division.  Shawn Sicard of Barre (678) sits third after his Casella Waste Management 100 win on Sunday. 
Granitevilles Lloyd Blakely leads Jason Corliss of Plainfield, 851-819, in the Allen Lumber Street Stock class,
while Travis Hull of Graniteville is in front of Wolcott driver Jamie Davis by just 15 points in the Power Shift
Online Junkyard Warrior division.
    Thunder Roads Kinney Drugs event begins at 6:30pm on Thursday, August 21.  In addition to the racing,
Thunder Roads annual Kids Poster Contest returns with three age groups 6 and under, 7-9, and 10-12.  Posters
must be hand-drawn with each participants favorite driver(s) or racecar(s) depicted.  General admission is $9.50
for adults, $3 for children (6-12), and just $20 for a family of any two adults and two kids.  Gates open at
5:00pm.  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