BEGINS QUEST FOR RECORD TYING SEASONCourtesy Marjorie Mulligan FaySunday, at Barre, Vermont’s Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl, Milton, Vermont’s Jean-Paul Cyr made it an every other year habit of winning the American-Canadian Tour’s (ACT) season-opening Merchants Bank 150. Cyr had previous carried the checkers in the event in 2002 and 2004 and is the lone driver in the event’s eight year history to repeat a win. Scott Payea, the 2005 ACT Rookie of the Year, served notice he was not going to be the victim of the sophomore jinx by finishing second. Pete Fecteau, the 2001 ACT Tour Champion from Morrisville, VT was third. Completing the top five were Dave Whitcomb from Essex Jct, VT and Shelburne, VT’s Dennis Demers.Cyr started on the outside of the front row along side long-time racing nemesis and childhood friend Brent Dragon in Thunder Road’s 47th season opener. The veteran racers swapped the lead back and forth nine times in the first 62 circuits around the high banked, quarter-mile oval which kept the packed house on their feet. Cyr was able to pull ahead for good when the left rear tire on Dragon’s Dodge Charger lost air pressure which affected the handling of his car. Young Payea took advantage of Dragon’s misfortune and was able to pass him a few laps later. The 24 year-old racer set off in search of leader Cyr.
Several cautions, all for minor incidents kept the field close but Payea wasn’t able to seriously challenge Cyr. Then fact that Cyr was at and had qualified for the Merchants Bank 150 was a testament to his multi-time Championship winning team. During Saturday’s first ACT Late Model practice session Cyr was involved in an on-track incident which caused significant damage to his Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The crew packed up the pieces and returned to their Milton shop for repairs. Ironically, runner-up Payea was involved in the same practice crash. Unfortunately for the sophomore competitor and team, they were forced to burn the midnight oil to affect repairs.
“Today’s race was a lot of fun,” remarked Cyr in Victory Lane. The 40 year-old winner was complimentary of the youngster who chased him over the half of the race, “Scott (Payea) for a sophomore proved today that he is the real thing ? he really made mee work for my victory.”
Cyr’s win gives him a jump-start in his quest for Robbie Crouch’s record of six ACT Championships. Cyr, winner of the past three consecutive ACT Tour titles (as well those in 1994 and 1996), tied Brian Hoar’s record with the 2005 crown.
Defending Merchants Bank 150 winner, Dave Pembroke was sixth, 17 year-old New Hampshire resident, Joey Polewarczyk from Hudson was seventh, Cris Michaud, a three-time and defending Thunder Road Late Model Champion was eighth, Eric Williams and Dragon rounded out the top10.
Forty-five cars representing all six New England States, New York and Quebec attempted to qualify for the Merchants Bank 150. Among the notables not making the 26 car starting field were a pair of Quebec drivers, Patrick Laperle, winner of the ACT’s Milk Bowl at Thunder Road last October and Montreal’s Claude Lerclerc who had returned to the “Nation’s Site of Excitement” for the first time in over 10 years. Also, failing to qualify were Maine’s Ben Rowe, a multi-time Pro Stock Series Champion; former Thunder Road and ACT Tour Champion Phil Scott, last year’s runner-up at Thunder Road, Chad Wheeler from Waterbury Ctr, VT and former five-time ACT Champion, Brian Hoar.
The ACT Late Model Tour’s second event on the 12-race schedule is slated for Saturday, May 13 at the 5/8ths mile Circuit Ste-Croix near Quebec City. For many Tour of the current crop of drivers, it will be their first trip to the legendary Quebec speedplant since the Tour hasn’t raced there since 2003 when Brent Dragon was the winner.
In accompanying action, Doug Murphy won the NAPA Sportsman 35-lap feature, Steve Quenneville was victorious in the Allen Lumber Street Stocks and Jeff Martin claimed the PowerShift Warrior win.
Thunder Road’s weekly race season continues on Sunday, May 14 with the Casella Mother’s Day 100 for the Tiger Sportsman Series. Also in action will be the Late Models, Street Stocks and Warriors.
Unofficial finish of Sunday’s ACT Tour season opening Merchants Bank 150:1. (2) Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT, Chevrolet, 150
2. (8) Scott Payea, So. Burlington, VT, Ford, 150
3. (7) Pete Fecteau, Morrisville, VT, Pontiac, 150
4. (14) Dave Whitcomb, Essex Jct, VT, Chevrolet, 150
5. (13) Dennis Demers, Shelburne, VT, Chevrolet, 150
6. (12) Dave Pembroke, Montpelier, VT, Chevrolet, 150
7. (19) Joey Polewarczyk Jr, Hudson, NH, Chevrolet, 150
8. (20) Cris Michaud, Northfield, VT, Ford, 150
9. (9) Eric Williams, Hyde Park, VT, Chevrolet, 150
10. (1) Brent Dragon, Milton, VT, Dodge, 150
11. (15) John Donahue, Graniteville, VT, Dodge, 150
12. (23) Mark Lamberton, Mooers Forks, VT, Chevrolet, 150
13. (16) Rich Lowrey, Charlotte, VT, Dodge, 150
14. (3) Joey Becker, Jeffersonville, VT, Ford, 150
15. (10) Ron Henry, New Gloucester, ME, Chevrolet, 150
16. (24) Ryan Nolin, Georgia, VT, Chevrolet, 150
17. (18) Marcel Gravel, Wolcott, VT, Pontiac, 149
18. (5) Brett Wheeler, Waterbury Ctr, VT, Dodge, 148
19. (11) Steve Fisher, Shelburne, VT, Dodge, 147
20. (26) Kenny Dufour, Bethlehem, VT, Dodge, 138
21. (17) Fred LaGoy, Morrisonville, VT, Dodge, 111
22. (25) Trampas Demers, Shelburne, VT, Chevrolet, 80
23. (4) Ryan Vanasse, Warwick, RI, Chevrolet, 80
24. (6) Roger Brown, Lancaster, VT, Ford, 74
25. (21) Steve Reny, Boothbay Harbor, ME, Chevrolet, 67
26. (22) Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, VT, Chevrolet, 16
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