Austin Wins One for Lil Joey at Thunder Road
Posted By Tj Ingerson On May 3, 2015
Categories: Thunder Road
PHOTO: Tyler Austin, driving a similarly designed car to that of Joey M. Laquerre, scored the win on Sunday in the Allen Lumber Street Stock feature in honor of his late friend. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo)
Pelkey dominates Tiger Sportsmen feature
--by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor
BARRE -- Tyler Austin wrote his own storybook ending on Sunday at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl.
Driving a tribute car to his friend, Joey M. Laquerre, less than six months after his death in an ATV accident, Austin dominated the 25-lap Allen Lumber Street Stock feature and captured his second career win.
“That’s for Joey right there,” Austin stated in victory lane.
It was Austin’s first race in his car painted just like “Lil Joey’s”.
Austin took the lead on lap seven and held on through two ensuing restarts to score the emotional win. The East Calais driver was joined in victory lane by Joey’s younger brother, Jarrett, who was the first to meet Austin in victory lane before he climbed from his car.
Patrick Tibbetts of Plainfield scored the runner-up finish after he led the first six laps. Former Street Stock champion Gary Mullen of Tunbridge completed the podium finishers.
Jamon Perry of Hardwick finished fourth while East Thetford’s Brandon Gray finished fifth. Jaden Perry, Donnie Yates, Dave Whitcomb, Chris LaForest, and Al Maynard finished sixth through tenth, respectively.
Hometown driver Chris Pelkey dominated the 35-lap Bond Auto Parts Tiger Sportsmen feature event to collect his fifth career victory.
“The right front kind of changed the whole game,” Pelkey said in victory lane, “but we kind of came into our own.”
Pelkey claimed the lead from the pole position and never relinquished it despite multiple restarts during the event.
Former Tiger champion Joe Steffen of Grand Isle finished in the runner-up spot while Craftsbury Common’s Mike Martin finished third. Barre drivers Cameron Ouellette and Doug Crowningsheld completed the top-five.
Positions sixth through tenth went to Caleb Nelson, Dylan Payea, Eric Johnson, defending champion Jason Woodard, and Stephen Donahue.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Merchants Bank Event
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl, Barre, Vt.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Bond Auto Parts Tiger Sportsmen (35 laps)
1. Chris Pelkey, South Barre
2. Joe Steffen, Grand Isle
3. Mike Martin, Cratsbury Common
4. Cameron Ouellette, Barre
5. Doug Crowningshield, Barre
6. Caleb Nelson, Moretown
7. Dylan Payea, Milton
8. Eric Johnson, Randolph
9. Jason Woodard, Waterbury Center
10. Stephen Donahue
Allen Lumber Street Stocks (25 laps)
1. Tyler Austin, East Calais
2. Patrick Tibbett, Plainfield
3. Gary Mullen, Tunbridge
4. Jamon Perry, Hardwick
5. Brandon Gray, East Thetford
6. Jaden Perry, Hardwick
7. Donnie Yates, North Montpelier
8. Dave Whitcomb, Morrisville
9. Chris LaForest, Barre
10. Al Maynard, Fairfax