Local Stars Looking to Make Some Noise at Thunder Road on Sunday
Barre, VT—With the 18th running of the Merchants Bank 150 rescheduled for Sunday May 8, there are plenty of local race teams with hopes of carrying the checkered flag around the high banked ¼ mile oval. The American Canadian Tour (ACT) race is expecting well over 40 Late Models trying to qualify for just 26 starting spots at the “Nation’s Site of Excitement”.
Hinesburg, VT’s Bobby Therrien currently holds the top spot in the ACT Points Championship race, with defending three-time Champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr. just 2 points behind. Barre’s Nick Sweet, Emily Packard of Berlin, VT and Jimmy Hebert of Williamstown, VT are all regular Competitors on the ACT Tour who started their racing careers at Thunder Road. Of this group, Sweet has had the most success earning the “King of the Road“ title in 2010, 2012, and finishing as the runner-up in 2015, to go along with his four feature victories last season. The 21 year-old Hebert has also won a track Championship on the high banks, claiming the Flying Tiger Sportsman Division in 2009, and the 19 year-old Packard who finished fourth in the ACT Points Championship last season would love to get her first ACT win at her home track.
There will be plenty of Thunder Road Late Model regulars looking to make their mark in the Merchants Bank 150. Barre’s Cody Blake, Jason Corliss, Trampas Demers and former track champion Lt. Governor Phil Scott all have tasted victory and have legitimate shots of doing so again on Sunday. Thunder Road Late Model Rookie of the Year contender Christopher Pelkey looks to get off to a great start in his initial campaign as well. The strong field of Thunder Road stars will be challenged by ACT Tour regulars. Therrien, Helliwell, and Eddie “The Outlaw” MacDonald of Rowley, Massachusetts, will all pressure the regular home-towners at the “Nation’s Site of Excitement” this Sunday afternoon.
The Bond Auto Tigers and Allen Lumber Street Stocks will join all the action on opening day at Thunder Road in Barre, VT. Post time for the Merchants Bank 150 on Sunday, May 8 is 2:00pm. Admission is $25 for adults with kids 12 and under admitted free.
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