(Press release from Thunder Road International Speedbowl)
Switser Survives Chaotic 50-Lap Special, Post-Race Tech, for Street Stock Win
Finally greeted by a beautiful day of weather, Thunder Road opened its gates Sunday to an overflow crowd of fans ready to witness the greatest spectacle in auto racing; The 39th annual Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro 200. ‘The People’s Race’ was far from disappointing with ninety of the most ridiculous looking machines in the Green Mountain State each looking to tackle the Thunder Road highbanks for 200 laps. When it was all said and done, after many years of trying, a deserving Bay State driver finally made his mark on the Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro history books.
As is tradition, Sunday began with the all-important rk Miles Street Stock Special with the most competitive four-cylinder division in New England going for a long fifty-lap distance. Following the single round of heat race qualifying and their introductions before the capacity crowd on hand, Thomas Peck and Kyle Gravel led the thirty-four-car field to green. Trouble brewed early as point leader Cameron Powers tangled with Trevor Jaques, Justin Blakely and Eric Johnson in turn three. Jumping pit-side, the Powers crew jumped under the hood to replace a lower tie-rod and get him back on track.
While nearly finished the field returned to green only to slam the brakes once more as Peck and Jamie Davis flew sideways across the incoming onslaught of cars. Jeffrey Martin was unable to return with a destroyed rear-end as several others followed him into the pits to knock out fenders, tape down hoods and change flat tires. Gravel and Juan ‘Paco’ Marshall would restart the field as Josh Lovely and Dean Switser Jr. followed Gravel on the high side around Paco.
Lovely took command at the line on lap 13 before the lap 16 caution for an overheating, and spinning, Derek Farnham slowed the field once more. Powers was awarded the Lucky Dog in the special event and placed back on the lead lap at the tail of the field. Josh Lovely rocketed off with the lead on the final restart and sliced his way through lap traffic to the bitter end of the 50-lap main event. The race was for second between Gravel and Switser until Gravel got tangled with lap-car Robert Audet on the backstretch and Switser got the outside jump to take second. At the line, Lovely took the win followed by Switer and Gravel but post-race technical inspection changed that. An unapproved exhaust on the Lovely machine disqualified him from the win, giving Dean Switser, Jr. the victory followed by Kyle Gravel and James Dopp.
With ninety cars on the grid for the Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro 200, it’s truly anyone’s game. Around the halfway point, front-runners begin to shine through the carnage of the first 100 laps of metal-crunching thrills. Brandon Gray’s #023, Nick DeBlois’ 97VT, the car-show-winning Frog Car of Kyle Botela, Chris LaForest’s #15 and Adam Gray’s #23 Buick Regal were all beginning to catch the eye of onlookers. Perhaps no-one shared more cheers than Highgate’s Dalton LaPlante. Although many laps down, his patriotic #114 made more spin-stop-go cycles than anyone and a late race collision with the turn one tire barrier only to back out and pound the throttle once more brought the pit grandstands to their feet! Unfortunately, LaPlant would bring out the final of four red-flag stoppages for a smoldering fire in his right-rear fender well.
Another heartbreaker came just a few laps into the return to green-flag racing with a blown engine under Brandon Gray’s hood stalling him out in turn three, ruining a seven-lap lead and a second Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro 200 win. Nick DeBlois and Adam Gray started to make those laps up as they raced out the final circuits among both stationery and rolling roadblocks ahead. After many years of making the trek from Granby, Massachuestts, Adam Gray would take down the 39th annual Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro 200 and the $3,000 check over DeBlois and former champion Kyle Botela.
Thunder Road is back in action this Thursday, August 10th for the 5th annual Road Warrior 50-lap Challenge on Nolato GW Night. Along with the Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warrior special, the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers and rk Miles Street Stocks return to championship-defining action with the Streets ready for Round #2 of their three-in-a-row Triple Crown Series before Saturday, August 12th championship finale.
For more information, contact the Thunder Road offices at (802) 244-6963, [email protected], or visit www.thunderroadvt.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ThunderRoadVT.
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl – Barre, VT
39th annual Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro 200
Sunday, August 6, 2023
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
Bolduc Metal Recycling Street Stock Special – (50 Laps)
1. 16 Dean Switser, Jr. Waterford, VT
2. 5 Kyle Gravel Wolcott, VT
3. 0 James Dopp Northfield, VT
4. 2 Haidyn Pearce Chelsea, VT
5. 20 Eric Johnson Randolph, VT
6. 57 Trevor Jaques Milton, VT
7. 9 #Logan Farrell Barre, VT
8. 68 Kyler Davis Berlin, VT
9. 30 Cameron Powers E. Montpelier, VT
10. 79 Juan ‘Paco’ Marshall Pittsfield, VT
11. 48 Taylor Hoar South Hero, VT
12. 7 Kyle MacAskill Williamstown, VT
13. 24 Todd Raymo Swanton, VT
14. 55 Parker Gagne Fairfax, VT
15. 33 Curtis Franks Topsham, VT
16. 3 Michael Gay S. Burlington, VT
17. 34 Patrick Tibbetts Plainfield, VT
18. 88 #Paul Rocheleau Georgia, VT
19. 71 Jesse Laquerre Berlin, VT
20. 74 Tyler Whittemore Barre, VT
21. 04 Scott Weston Berlin, VT
22. 96 Thomas Peck Waterbury, VT
23. 66 Robert Audet Morrisville, VT
24. 43 Jamie Davis Johnson, VT
25. 08 #Ryan Foster Waterbury, VT
26. 12 Mekaylah Bowen Morrisville, VT
27. 39 Derek Farnham Bethel, VT
28. 8 Jeffery Martin Barre, VT
29. 98 Kasey Collins Berlin, VT
30. 13 #Travis Gay S. Burlington, VT
31. 17 Justin Blakely Graniteville, VT
32. 50 Eric MacLaughlin Milton, VT
DNS 22 Thomas Smith Williamstown, VT
DSQ 54 Josh Lovely Williamstown, VT
Disqualified for Unapproved Exhaust
39th annual Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro – (200 Laps)
1. 23 Adam Gray Granby, MA 200
2. 97VT Nicholas Deblois Barre, VT 200
3. 55 Kyle Botela Grand Isle, VT 195
4. 24 Caleb Bedard Milton, VT 192
5. 12 Brian Rogers Jr. Milton, VT 188
6. 023 Brandon Grey Thetford, VT 185
7. 00 TJ Bohannon Wolcott, VT 179
8. 21 Andy Benoit Barre, VT 178
9. 171 Brodie Frazier Barre, VT 177
10. 16 Chris Laforest Barre, VT 176
11. 007 James Corr Newport, VT 170
12. 315 Alec Lemieux Orange, VT 166
13. 43 Kyle Willis Derby Line, VT 161
14. 51 Danny Doyle Northfield, VT 156
15. 35 Carson Desrealeau Milton, VT 148
16. 186 Levi Jackson Milton, VT 125
17. 13 Kira Jennings Milton, VT 123
18. 517 Richie Turner Highgate, VT 121
19. 114 Dalton LaPlant Highgate, VT 110
20. 113 Bill Davis Monson, MA 103
21. 46 Peter Perkins Worcester, VT 100
22. 05 Jeffrey DeGrasse Sunapee, NH 93
23. 11 Andrew Botala Grand Isle, VT 89
24. 303 Cameron Comstock Orange, VT 84
25. 87 Matt Raboin Newport, VT 79
26. 73 Tim Cookson Johnson, VT 78
27. 14 Kyle Johnson S. Hadley, MA 78
28. 222 Bradley Duke Marshfield, VT 76
29. 66 J.T. Blanchard Georgia, VT 73
30. 226 Tracy Gaudette Milton, VT 73
31. 20 Kyle Bedard Milton, VT 71
32. 40 Justin Langlois Northfield, VT 71
33. 006 Dylan Palmer Northumberland, NH 70
34. 42 Cole Boutah Alburgh, VT 68
35. 714 Jeremiah Hathaway Georgia, VT 62
36. 74 Ryan Benoit Milton, VT 61
37. 310 Josh Kennett E. Barre, VT 60
38. 53 Justin Town Washington, VT 56
39. 03 Dylan MacRitchie Williamstown, VT 55
40. 126 Cole Gaudette Milton, VT 54
41. 643 Eric Godin Milton, VT 54
42. 25 Gene Salvador Monson, MA 52
43. 199 Austin Jacobs Orange, VT 52
44. 185 John Drown Littleton, NH 47
45. 32 Taylor Sayers Barre, VT 47
46. 995 Colin Kelley Sheffield, VT 46
47. 41 Bobby Bell Danville, VT 44
48. 911 Jay Mason Palmer, MA 43
49. 6 Andrew Lopes Swanton, VT 43
50. 10 Jerry Davis Cambridge, MA 42
51. 522 Kasey Beattie St. Johnsbury, VT 42
52. 22 Nick Cain Milton, VT 41
53. 71 Braden Mathieu 41
54. 30 Travis Collins Newport, VT 41
55. 110 Gavin McGinnis St. Johnsbury, VT 39
56. 19 Steven Corbett Williamstown, VT 39
57. 111 Davy Dragon Franklin, VT 39
58. 2 Matthew Kelley Barre, VT 39
59. 28 Jared Blakely Barre, VT 38
60. 44 Keith Benoit Colchester, VT 37
61. 50 John Gay Barre, VT 36
62. 133 Brayden Murphy Barre, VT 35
63. 27 Jordan Matte Winooski, VT 34
64. 02A Wendell Davis W. Berlin, VT 33
65. 77 Josh Adams Plattsburgh, NY 29
66. 117 Warren Morgan Northfield, VT 22
67. 49 Hunter Garduno Marshfield, VT 22
68. 7 Dillon Botala Grand Isle, VT 20
69. 01 Slade MacAuley Barre, VT 20
70. 108 Robert Langlois Randolph, VT 17
71. 118 Wesley Stedt Palmer, MA 13
72. 31VT Amber Rich Graniteville, VT 11
73. 78 Craig Jennings Milton, VT 4
74. 069 Jason Vezina N. Hero, VT 4
75. 29 Allen Botala Grand Isle, VT 2
76. 062 Gregory Davis Randolph, VT 1
77. 50 John Gay Barre, VT 36
78. 133 Brayden Murphy Barre, VT 35
79. 27 Jordan Matte Winooski, VT 34
80. 02A Wendell Davis W. Berlin, VT 33
81. 77 Josh Adams Plattsburgh, NY 29
82. 117 Warren Morgan Northfield, VT 22
83. 49 Hunter Garduno Marshfield, VT 22
84. 7 Dillon Botala Grand Isle, VT 20
85. 01 Slade MacAuley Barre, VT 20
* 4 Zach Wood Georgia, VT
* 79 Ethan Johnson Corinth, VT
* 96 Nick Curro IV Biddeford, VT
* 214 Aiden Cuddy N. Thetford, VT
* 722 Kyle Perry Hardwick, VT *No Scorecard Submitted
Hard to believe that an Enduro race pays more than his weekly racing division. Have to give him credit going for the gold.
“Finally greeted by a beautiful day of weather, Thunder Road opened its gates Sunday to an overflow crowd of fans ready to witness the greatest spectacle in auto racing; The 39th annual Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro 200. ”
Tell you what, Enduro’s are under exploited revenue steams for local tracks. Clearly a strong crowd at Thunder Road, that’s been the case at Riverhead as well. Isn’t the Speedbowl Smacktoberfest always well attended?
It’s the peoples racing with roots in how racing started in the first place. Where accessibility and affordability trumped professionalism and structure.
The crowds flowed in mainly because everyone knew someone in the race.
Used to be Enduro’s were one and done then off to the junk yard for most. Now they race them over and over and have fan followings.
Listen to the Stafford announcers and they’ll say over and over and over again, “everyone says” Stafford has the best racing in the country. I doubt anyone has the breadth of knowledge to know that’s true but it could be. But it’s about what people want to see. In my view Stafford and other tracks as well as the NWMT itself are professionalizing themselves out of a new generation of racing fans. Inadvertently creating barriers between the actual racers that autograph sessions can help but not replace the intimate knowledge of the guys in town preparing and Enduro.
Shut up Doug you talk too much
Hey Just Saying, are you being forced to read Doug’s comments? Lighten up man!!
“Shut up Doug you talk too much”
Not to put too fine a point on it, it’s writing too much, not talking but I feel your pain. The bad news for you is for now I don’t anticipate any change but you never know. On reflecting, my feelings really may be hurt by your harsh judgement so we’ll see. Or write a private email to Mr. Courchesne complaining and if he gets enough he’ll let me know and put a cork in me.
This is an article that pertains to an Enduro race. My comment was about Enduor’s actually supporting them. Consider weighing in of the topic if you feel so inclined I’d like to read your thoughts.
See I can’t even lash out at you in response briefly I’m incorrigible.