BARRE, VT – Northfield stock car racer Chip Grenier became just the second rookie competitor in 48
years to win the Times Argus Mid-Season Championship at Barre’s Thunder Road.  Grenier’s 50-lap double-points score was his second feature win of the season.

       “This night always bit us when we raced in the Tiger Sportsman division,” said Grenier in victory
lane.  “So many times we came into the double-points race in contention for the championship and left
outside the Top 10.  This year we came in inside the Top 10 and capitalized with a win.”        Grenier was quick to credit his spotter, Keith Williams, in keeping his focus.    “I kept asking Keith, ‘Is Jamie (Fisher) back there?’”  Grenier explained.  “Keith just said ‘No names, no numbers, we’re here to do a job and win the race.’  It was what I needed to win.”

       Eric Williams of Hyde Park crossed the finish line in second place after a spirited battle with
Fisher, but was penalized one lap for running an unapproved tire.  The tire on Williams’ car was purchased at an event at Oxford Plains (ME) Speedway one week ago.  While the tire was unaltered, it was not approved for competition at the Times Argus Mid-Season Championship.  Williams was officially moved to 20th position, the first car off the lead lap.  Fisher inherited the runner-up position.  Phil Scott of Middlesex, Cris Michaud of Williamstown, Joey Becker of Jeffersonville rounded out the top five finishers. Dennis Demers, Trampas Demers, Dave Pembroke, Rich Lowrey, and Jerry Lesage completed the top ten in order.
   

    Grenier was not the only freshman driver tasting success at the Times Argus Mid-Season Championship event.  Craftsbury rookie Joel Hodgdon continued the winning trend in the NAPA Tiger Sportsman division, earning his first career win over fellow first-year driver Eric Badore of Milton.  Hodgdon remained relatively unchallenged after taking the early lead in the 35-lap feature, but Badore came out on top after a fierce battle with veteran Mark Barnier of Essex Junction.  Tommy Therrien of Hinesburg and Craig Bushey of Cambridge rounded out the unofficial top five finishers.
 

     Veteran racer “Dancin’ Dave” Allen of North Troy earned his 12th career Allen Lumber Street Stock
win after passing early leader Tiffany Tucker with just a handful of laps remaining in the 25-lap Times
Argus Mid-Season Championship event.  Tucker, 17, held off a furious charge from a host of competitors
before giving way to Allen late in the going.  Williamstown rookie Mike Ziter and Lloyd Blakely of Barre
snuck in front of Tucker to finish second and third, respectively.  Tucker held off Morrisville’s Billy
Hennequin for fourth place.
 

     Jeff Martin, Jr. of Moretown was the winner of the 15-lap Power Shift Junkyard Warrior feature.
Hometown driver Scott Weston was the runner-up ahead of Montpelier’s James Dopp.  Mike Ducey of
Williamstown and Travis Payette of Barre rounded out the top five.
   

    Thunder Road’s 48th season of exciting stock car racing continues on Sunday, July 29 with the M&M
Beverage Enduro 200, a survival-of-the fittest amateur race paying $2,000 to the winner.  Special events
for the Allen Lumber Street Stocks and Power Shift Junkyard Warriors are also on the card.  Post time is
scheduled for 6:30pm.  General admission is $9 for adults, $3 for kids, and only $18 for a family of four. For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Times Argus Mid-Season Championships
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl – Barre, VT – Thursday, July 26, 2007

Pos.-Car No.-Driver-Hometown
(# by name indicates rookie driver)

Late Models
1. 9 #Chip Grenier, Northfield
2. 18 Jamie Fisher, Shelburne
3. 14 Phil Scott, Middlesex
4. 6 Cris Michaud, Williamstown
5. 16 Joey Becker, Jeffersonville
6. 86 Dennis Demers, Shelburne
7. 85 Trampas Demers, South Burlington
8. 44 Dave Pembroke, Montpelier
9. 8 Rich Lowrey, Charlotte
10. 74 Jerry Lesage, Winooski

NAPA Tiger Sportsmen
1. 36 #Joel Hodgdon, Craftsbury
2. 04 #Eric Badore, Milton
3. 0 Mark Barnier, Essex Jct.
4. 48 Tommy Therrien, Hinesburg
5. 05 Craig Bushey, Cambridge
6. 50 Nick Sweet, Barre
7. 15 Joey Laquerre, East Montpelier
8. 49 Kris Grout, Waterbury
9. 55 Brian Delphia, Duxbury
10. 00 Joe Steffen, Essex Jct.

Allen Lumber Street Stocks
1. 11 David Allen, North Troy
2. 26 #Mike Ziter, Williamstown
3. 30 Lloyd Blakely, Barre
4. 69 Tiffany Tucker, Orange
5. 47 Billy Hennequin, Morrisville

Power Shift Junkyard Warriors
1. Jeff Martin, Jr., Moretown
2. Scott Weston, Barre
3. James Dopp, Montpelier
4. Mike Ducey, Williamstown
5. Travis Payette, Barre

NEXT EVENT: Sunday, July 29 – M&M Beverage Enduro 200 PLUS Allen Lumber Street Stock 50 and Power Shift
Junkyard Warrior Monza Event – Post time 6:30pm.