Fleury Scores First Career Late Model Win at Thunder Road
Posted By Tj Ingerson On July 7, 2014
Categories: Thunder Road
PHOTO: Shawn Fleury celebrates his first career Late Model win at Thunder Road on Sunday night with his family and Hallstrom Motorsports team. (Alan Ward photo)
Steffen edges Coburn; Smith dedicates win to friend
--by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor
BARRE -- The third time was the charm for Shawn Fleury in the Late Model division.
In his third go in Thunder Road’s top division, Fleury finally put it all together and captured his first career win on Sunday night in the Northfield Savings Bank event.
“This is huge for me,” Fleury said. “The first two times, we really didn’t have the equipment to compete with these guys. I feel like we’re there now.
“That first one is the toughest to get. I couldn’t wait to get and I can’t believe I’m here.”
The Middlesex driver was tabbed to drive the No. 1 Hallstrom Motorsports car over the offseason, and in just their sixth Thunder Road Late Model point counting race together, the duo struck.
Fleury snagged the lead on a lap 14 restart over recent winner Brett Gervais and slowly inched his way out to an insurmountable lead.
“(This car) was pretty darn good,” Fleury said. “Brett seemed to be pretty tough on the outside and he hung in there. But once I got clear, my (spotter) came on the radio and told me ‘one car length, two car lengths’ and it seemed like we were checking out and I wasn’t lifting for nothing.
“It’s a great feeling (to know the gap to second place is growing). You just have to keep your head on and stay smart and hit your marks.”
Rookie driver Eric Badore of Milton claimed his second runner-up finish of the season after he was able to work past Gervais in the late stages of the race. Gervais, of Island Pond, held on for third while hometown racer Cody Blake finished fourth. Trampas Demers of South Burlington completed the top-five finishers.
Dave Pembroke seemed poised to challenge for the win through the midstage of the race, but late race contact forced the two-time track champion to settle for sixth. Phil Scott, Brooks Clark, Nick Sweet, and Boomer Morris completed the top-ten finishers.
Grand Isle’s Joe Steffen edged out Scott Coburn on the final lap in the 35-lap Bond Auto Tiger Sportsman feature to claim his 11th career win in the division.
The 2002 division champion Steffen and Coburn swapped the lead over the final laps of the event before Steffen was able to gain the advantage on the final circuit.
Coburn, of Barre, settled for second while fellow Barre driver Doug Crowningshield finished third. Jason Woodard of Waterbury Center and Brendan Moodie of Wolcott finished fourth and fifth, respectively, while Mike Billado, Cameron Ouellette, George May, rookie Caleb Nelson, and Tucker Williams completed the top-ten finishers.
Tommy Smith, of Williamstown, claimed his 28th career Allen Lumber Street Stock checkered flag in their 25-lap feature.
Smith became emotional in victory lane as he dedicated his win to friend and fellow competitor Marvin Johnson, who recently passed away.
Garry Bashaw of Lincoln chased Smith to the line to finish second while Bunker Hodgdon held off a stern challenge from Donny Yates to finished third. Jamie Davis, Al Maynard, Jamon Perry, Patrick Tibbetts, Jaden Perry, and Dave Whitcomb completed the top-ten finishers.
The LaForest brothers, Kevin and Chris, swept the top two spots in the Rough Rider two-segment event. Kevin and Chris finished with the same points, four, but Kevin’s win in the second segment netted him the overall win.
Thunder Road will welcome NASCAR star Clint Bowyer on Thursday, July 10 for the second straight year as the cars and stars of Thunder Road will race for 150 laps in the Vermont Governor’s Cup. Post time is 6:00pm.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS -- Northfield Savings Bank Night
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl, Barre, Vt.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
ACT Late Models (50 laps)
1. Shawn Fleury, Middlesex
2. # Eric Badore, Milton
3. Brett Gervais, Island Pond
4. Cody Blake, Barre
5. Trampas Demers, South Burlington
6. Dave Pembroke, Middlesex
7. Phil Scott, Middlesex
8. Brooks Clark, Fayston
9. Nick Sweet, Barre
10. Boomer Morris, Barre
Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen (35 laps)
1. Joe Steffen, Grand Isle
2. Scott Coburn, Barre
3. Doug Crowningshield, Barre
4. Jason Woodard, Waterbury Center
5. Brendan Moodie, Wolcott
6. Mike Billado, Essex
7. Cameron Ouellette, Barre
8. George May, Barre
9. # Caleb Nelson, Moretown
10. Tucker Williams, Hyde Park
Allen Lumber Street Stocks (25 laps)
1. Tommy Smith, Williamstown
2. Garry Bashaw, Lincoln
3. Bunker Hodgdon, Hardwick
4. Donny Yates, North Montpelier
5. Jamie Davis, Wolcott
6. Al Maynard, Fairfax
7. Jamon Perry, Hardwick
8. Patrick Tibbetts, Barre
9. Jaden Perry, Hardwick
10. Dave Whitcomb, Morrisville
Rough Rigers (2 x 8 laps)
1. Kevin LaForest, Barre -- 4 pts
2. Chris LaForest, Barre -- 4 pts
3. Dave Whitcomb, Morrisville -- 6 pts