Michaud wins Ford's first race
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John Lambert of Northfield, right, and Brendan Moodie of North Wolcott tangle after crossing the finish line during the Tiger Sportsman “B” Feature at Thunder Road on Thursday night. Jeb Wallace-Brodeur/Times Argus |
Toolbox
By TOM HERZIG CORRESPONDENT - Published: July 24, 2009
BARRE — Oh my Ford!
Cris Michaud of East Montpelier chased down Doug Murphy, took the lead with four laps to go and won the Casella Night Late Model feature at Thunder Road Thursday. It was the first win of the year for the former track champion and the first ever for the fledgling Ford crate motor program.
Michaud's Merchants Bank No. 6 wasn't quick enough to sweep around Murphy on its own, but it was able to cut down Murphy's avenue of escape around a lapped car in the low lane. When Murphy reached the backmarker, Michaud was leaving him behind.
"When I saw the lapped car ahead, I thought I had a shot," Michaud said. "Doug gave me the lane to race. Without the backmarker, I had nothing for him."
"I had a very good car for most of the race, but I got really loose towards the end and backed up to Michaud a bit," Murphy said.
It was the second straight top-three finish for the Tunbridge veteran. Reno Gervais of Island Pond was a stout third just ahead of Trampas Demers. A dozen car-lengths back, Jerry Lesage held off Phil Scott for fifth.
Only one caution came out during the 50-lap battle. Murphy started third and used the high groove to take the lead from Lesage on lap 13. He then dropped down and ran the bottom. The first two lapped cars he encountered were no problem, but Michaud had arrived when the next trailing car came into play.
Jean-Paul Cyr unofficially retained the point lead over Dave Pembroke. Cyr finished 13th. Pembroke was 10th. Positions seven through nine went to Nick Sweet, Jamie Fisher and Joe Becker.
Eric Badore of Milton became the first two-time winner of the season in the NAPA Tiger Sportsman division by holding off Ray Stearns (2nd) and Shawn Fleury. That trio broke away from the pack early and ran nose to tail for over 20 laps. When Stearns and Fleury brushed together in turn one with five laps left, Badore got the daylight he needed. Pete Ainsworth raced his way into fourth place and unofficially, the point lead. Brian Delphia, David Finck, Ricky Roberts Neal Foster, Mike Billado and Joey Laquerre completed the top ten.
Tucker Williams passed Jeff Martin on the backstretch with two laps left and went on to his third win in the Allen Lumber Street Stock feature. Jason Allen, Martin Ingram and Tro Gray were next in line.
In a combination event that included several laps of racing backwards before realigning and racing conventionally, John Prentice of Northfield won the Junkyard Warrior feature. Lindsey Christman of Cabot gently flipped onto her roof at the top of turn four to add some frivolity to the event in the first race of her career.
1) Cris Michaud, East Monpelier (9)
2) Doug Murphy, Tunbridge (4)
3) Reno Gervais, Island Pond (7)
4) Trampas Demers So. Burlington (11)
5)Jerry Lesage, Winooski (2)
6)Phil Scott, Montpelier (15)
7)Nick Sweet, Barre (14)
8)Jamie Fisher, Shelburne (12)
9)Joe Becker, Jeffersonville (10)
10)Dave Pembroke, Montpelier (18)
11)Craig Bushey, Cambridge (13)
12)Mike Bailey, Barre (4)
13)Jean-Paul Cyr Milton (16)
14)Brooks Clark, Fayston (5)
15)Eric Chase, Milton (20)
16)Matt White, Northfield (8)
17)John Donahue, Graniteville (19)
18)Dylan Smith, Randolph (21)
19)Grant Folsom, Waitsfield (6)
20)Dave Whitcomb, Essex Jct (17)
21)Rich Lowrey, Charlotte (24)
22)Steve Fisher, Shelburne (1)
23)Kyle Caron, Colchester (23)
24)Tony Andrews, Northfield (22)