"Retired" Demers Wins First of '09 at Thunder Road

BARRE -- Veteran Late Model driver Dennis Demers of Shelburne dominated the 50-lap Harvest Equipment feature at Thunder Road on Friday night for his first win of the season, on a night when NASCAR legend Bobby Allison paid a visit the track to celebrate its 50th season. The event was pushed back a day by rains on Thursday, and was delayed again by weather early in the program on Friday.

Following a podium finish part-way through the 2008 season, Demers announced his retirement from the sport; he returned for two races later in the year, however, and has yet to miss an event at Thunder Road this season.

Polesitter Robbie Crouch finished second, while Phil Scott began to turn his frustrating season around with a third-place finish. Joey Becker and Trampas Demers, Dennis' son, finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Brooks Clark, Jean-Paul Cyr, Grant Folsom, Matt White, and Eric Chase completed the top ten in order, unofiicially.

Sophomore Tiger Sportsman competitor Mike Ziter of Williamstown was in the right place at the right time, as leader Ricky Roberts' car shut down with two laps remaining in the division's 35-lap feature. Ziter held off fellow second-year racer Bobby Therrien in a green-white-checkered finish with Tony Rossi a career-best third. Derrick O'Donnell and David Finck rounded out the top five.

Street Stock racer Michael Moore of East Haven survived a wild final lap in the Street Stock/Junkyard Warrior 'A' feature for his first win of the year. Tim Campbell and Joe Blais earned their first podium finishes of the season in second and third, ahead of Garry Bashaw and Bunker Hodgdon. Donny Yates of North Montpelier was the lone Warrior driver to qualify for the main event and was awarded the win for his division.

Street Stock driver Greg Adams, Jr. of Hardwick won his second-straight Street Stock/Junkyard Warrior 'reserve' feature, with rookie Jamie Davis, Shawn Cook, Dave LaFleche, and Warrior driver Ken Christman in tow.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS -- Harvest Equipment Night
Thunder Road Int'l Speedbowl, Barre, Vt.
Friday, June 19, 2009

Pos.-Driver-Hometown (# - denotes rookie)

Late Model Feature (50 laps)
1. Dennis Demers, Shelburne
2. Robbie Crouch, Tampa, Fla.
3. Phil Scott, Montpelier
4. Joey Becker, Jeffersonville
5. Trampas Demers, South Burlington
6. Brooks Clark, Fayston
7. Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton
8. Grant Folsom, Waitsfield
9. Matt White, Northfield
10. Eric Chase, Milton

Tiger Sportsman Feature (35 laps)
1. Mike Ziter, Williamstown
2. Bobby Therrien, Hinesburg
3. Tony Rossi, Barre
4. Derrick O'Donnell, Bradford
5. David Finck, Barre
6. Joey Roberts, Georgia
7. Jimmy Hebert, Williamstown
8. Matt Potter, Marshfield
9. Joey Laquerre, East Montpelier
10. Joel Hodgdon, Craftsbury

Street Stock/Junkyard Warrior 'A' Feature (25 laps)
1. Michael Moore, East Haven (SS winner)
2. Tim Campbell, West Topsham (SS)
3. Joe Blais, East Barre (SS)
4. Garry Bashaw, Lincoln (SS)
5. Bunker Hodgdon, Hardwick (SS)

20. Donny Yates, North Montpelier (JW winner)

Street Stock/Junkyard Warrior 'Reserve' Feature (25 laps)
1. Greg Adams, Jr., Hardwick (SS)
2. #Jamie Davis, Wolcott (SS)
3. Shawn Cook, Hyde Park (SS)
4. Dave LaFleche, Graniteville (SS)
5. Ken Christman, Cabot (JW)