Fisher Ends Near Four Year Drought at Thunder Road
Posted By Tj Ingerson On July 19, 2013
Categories: Thunder Road
PHOTO: Jamie Fisher celebrates his first Late Model win at Thunder Road in nearly four years with his son in victory lane. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo)
Freshmen Ouellette, Elwood score wins
--by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor
BARRE -- Jamie Fisher has been a stalwart competitor in Thunder Road’s Late Model division for many years, but had been unable to find victory lane in recent years.
That changed on Thursday night as the Shelburne driver captured his 14th career win, and his first since August of 2009.
“It’s big; it’s been a while,” Fisher said. “(My crew) keeps working hard and don’t give up, but some days, it’s just so tough here. Hell, there are 15 different people who can win here.
“It feels really good to come back here and win again.”
Fisher started eighth in the 50-lap feature event on Safelite Auto Glass Night and had worked his way into the top-five by lap 15. Fisher then rolled up the inside and nabbed the second and third positions from Dave Whitcomb and Joey M. Laquerre, respectively.
A restart on lap 24 put Fisher to the outside of leader Jason Corliss, but Corliss sped away, which forced Fisher to fend off the wily veteran Joey Laquerre. Fisher would battle side-by-side with Laquerre over numerous laps, but Corliss’ car started to fade. Fisher continued his momentum on the topside around Corliss and to the lead on lap 32. The No. 18 SDI Concrete Chevrolet led the rest of the way and claimed his first checkered flag since 2009.
“You just have to get away and go as quick as you can,” Fisher said. “You just have to get a little bit of distance and then you can start saving it. We just got far enough away from Joey and held on to it.”
Fisher’s first win came without his biggest supporter, his father, at the track, which caused him to choke back tears in victory lane.
“My dad stayed and worked tonight,” Fisher said. “He’s been to every race. I can’t believe he wasn’t here.”
Laquerre, of East Montpelier, finished second, while the freshman racer Corliss, of Barre, finished third. Another rookie, Derrick O’Donnell, raced his way from the 18th place starting position to finish fourth. Unofficially, The Bradford native O’Donnell will lead the Late Model standings headed into the double point counting Times Argus Mid-Season track championships next Thursday night. Brooks Clark of Fayston completed the top-five.
Jean-Paul Cyr, Dave Pembroke, Mike Bailey, Boomer Morris, and the Governor’s Cup winner, Cody Blake, completed the top-ten.
Hometown racer Cameron Ouellette captured his second Bond Auto Tiger Sportsman feature win of the season on Thursday night.
The freshman racer also picked up the division’s Triple Crown as he won his heat race, the bonus point semi-feature, and main feature event.
Ouellette started on the outside pole position and went wire-to-wire to score the win.
“That was the longest race I’ve ever had,” Ouellette said in victory lane.
Past division champion Joe Steffen of Grand Isle finished second with Tucker Williams of Hyde Park third. Randy Gonyaw, Jason Woodard, John Lambert, Jason Allen, Eric Badore, Mike Billado, and Jeff Bousquet completed the top-ten finishers.
Morrisville’s Tommy Elwood went wire-to-wire in the caution free Allen Lumber Street Stock feature to capture his first career win.
The freshman racer benefitted from a tight battle for the runner-up spot with no less than six drivers, which allowed him to extend his lead.
“It’s a long time coming,” Elwood said in victory lane about his win. “I have had a lot a back luck.”
Dean Switser, Jr., of Lyndonville broke free of the second place battle to finish in that spot. Hardwick’s Greg Adams entered the event with three straight wins, but settled for third. William Hennequin and Bunker Hodgdon completed the top-five.
Jamie Davis, Jaden Perry, Jen Getty, Tommy Smith, and Kevin Dodge completed the top-ten.
Driver education teacher Paul Dudley of Waitsfield scored the win in the Rough Riders division in his Student Driver car. Alan Derrington and Chris LaForest completed the podium.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS -- Safelite Auto Glass Night
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl, Barre, Vt.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Pos.-Driver-Hometown
(# -- denotes rookie)
ACT Late Models (50 laps)
1. Jamie Fisher, Shelburne
2. Joey Laquerre, East Montpelier
3. # Jason Corliss, Barre
4. # Derrick O’Donnell, Bradford
5. Brooks Clark, Fayston
6. Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton
7. Dave Pembroke, Middlesex
8. Mike Bailey, South Barre
9. Boomer Morris, Barre
10. Cody Blake, Barre
Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen (35 laps)
1. # Cameron Ouellette, Barre
2. Joe Steffen, Grand Isle
3. Tucker Williams, Hyde Park
4. Randy Gonyaw, South Barre
5. Jason Woodard, Waterbury Center
6. John Lambert, Northfield
7. Jason Allen, Barre
8. Eric Badore, Milton
9. Mike Billado, Essex
10. Jeff Bousquet, Worcester
Allen Lumber Street Stocks (25 laps)
1. # Tommy Elwood, Morrisville
2. Dean Switser, Jr., Lyndonville
3. Greg Adams, Hardwick
4. Will Hennequin, Morrisville
5. Bunker Hodgdon, Wolcott
6. Jamie Davis, Wolcott
7. Jaden Perry, Hardwick
8. Jen Getty, Cambridge
9. Tommy Smith, Williamstown
10. Kevin Dodge, Barre