BARRE, Vt – When it comes to describing the Thunder Road International Speedbowl green is a word that certainly would come to mind quickly. Green dominates the color scheme and track logo and all the views of mountains beyond the picturesque historic bullring.
Green also could describe much of the field for the first Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series field when it came to experience at the quarter-mile oval.
Chase Dowling had never turned a lap at the track before Sunday, but he hardly looked like a rookie at the track.
Dowling dominated out front over the second half of the event to win the 100-lap Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series feature Sunday, which was part of the 59th Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic racing card.
Dowling, of Roxbury, scored a $10,000 payday for the victory in front of a packed crowd at Thunder Road.
“I just want to say, all you fans, this is badass,” Dowling said. “All you guys coming out on a Sunday for a Memorial Day, remember all the people that aren’t here. This is great to see a great crowd for Tri-Track. This facility is awesome. Hopefully we’re back next year.”
Anthony Nocella of Woburn, Mass. was second and Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. third.
Dowling got under Kirk Alexander off of turn four on lap 52 and went virtually unchallenged out front the rest of the way.
“I just can’t thank everybody enough,” Dowling said. “This car was on rails. The crew guys did an awesome job all day.”
Following a lap 80 restart Ronnie Williams got by Alexander for third with Hirschman following to fourth. Hirschman got by Williams for third on lap 96 but Dowling and Nocella were far checked out from him.
“Track position is pretty important and we used the cone restart at the end to gain some of those spots,” Hirschman said. “It looked like we had some speed at the end. I’m happy we were able to get to there. Prior to that we weren’t even close to really sniffing the front.
“You guys have got a great thing going here with this crowd up on the hill. … It’s a nice thing on Memorial Day weekend. Obviously remember those lost fighting for our freedom. Just a really nice thing here today. I’d like to win, but we move forward. Got third, got the wall a little bit, got some green paint to go home on the car. We’ll see if we come back we’ll see if we can do better next time.”
MMTTS Thunder Road 5/29/2022
Doug…..60,9ct,25,25nh, 06ma,6>>3+1+4+9+(15)+6=23
Big City..60, 9, 92, 25,06,25NH>>>3+1+2+4+(19)+9=19
Point Standings
Lapped traffic (2)…(16+31)=23.5
Big City(3) ( 30+38+19)=29
csg(5)….(21+56+20+20+31)=29.6
Earl(4)….(22+44+20+41) = 31.8
Eddie(5)…(37+41+29+15+37)=31.8
Doug(6)…(22+46+41+20+39+23)=31.8
KenL (2)…(32+32)=32
Robp(1)…(32)=32
Jake(5)…(17+70+21+19+34)=32.2
Bobf(4)…(28+47+20+50)=36.3
getserious(4)..(17+47+55+28)= 37
Viva race fan (3)… (75+20+29)=41
James(1)..(53)=53
Congratulations to the S&S Paving, Call Before You Dig 9ct of Chase Dowling. The first bright spot in an otherwise lackluster start to the 2022 season for the S&S Paving, Call Before You Dig 9ct of Chase Dowling. Dowling driving the S&S Paving, Call Before You Dig 9ct was down right effusive in victory lane responding to the track and robust crowd in attendance a rarity for the normally stoic driver of the S&S Paving, Call Before You Dig 9ct which was good to see.
Sometimes Hirschman is a victim of his own success and reputation. In the closing laps he took the high side of the cone to make up a few spots on a restart but had to do some really hard racing to get to 3rd the upper lane not exactly working that well for modifieds. The initial reaction didn’t seem to appreciate the fact he did some spiffy racing to get there.
Northern favorite Kirk Alexander was relevant for a good part of the race, finished in 5th which was nice to see. Woody reunited with Mertz finishing 6th and even Swanson back with the family car had good races as well.
The modified fan base blinded by the success of the event or the bright green on yellow background of the distinctive Thunder Road logo it’s hard to tell. There was a race you know and pretty good on the whole even though the high side did not work as well for the mods as one would have thought. Experience matters, the Flying Tigers and Late Models have no such problem. Tight racing using the entire track and less of the root and grind we see so often from full bodied cars down here. No wonder they love their fenders up there the racing first rate by any standard.