BARRE, VT – Six stock car drivers from Barre’s Thunder Road will enjoy post-season bonuses from Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel as part of the 2008 “Hot Shoe Challenge.”  American-Canadian Tour Late Model driver Cris Michaud posted a season-high four Thunder Road wins to become the Lenny’s “Hottest Shoe” for his division, while veteran Joey Laquerre and young gun Brendan Moodie will share the prize for the NAPA Tiger Sportsman class.  Veteran race Tommy “Thunder” Smith, sophomore competitor Vern Woodard, and rookie Bunker Hodgdon will split the Allen Lumber Street Stock award.

      Michaud, of Northfield, took a $150 Lenny’s “Hot Shoe Challenge” bonus after his first Late Model victory of the season on Sanel Parts Plus Night on June 19, then grabbed the Lenny’s “Double Dip” $75 bonus a week later for his CARQUEST Vermont Governor’s Cup 100 win.  Win number three came at the Time Argus Mid-Season Championship in July, followed by a VT ACE Hardware Dealers win in August.  The Lenny’s “Hottest Shoe” award for Michaud’s four total victories will be $500.
  

     Michaud was joined as a winner of the Lenny’s “Hot Shoe Challenge” throughout the season by Scott Payea, John Donahue, Trampas Demers, Chip Grenier, Robbie Crouch, Mike Bailey, Jamie Fisher, Dave Whitcomb, Brad Leighton, Patrick Laperle Thunder Road Rookie of the Year Matt White.

       Laquerre and Moodie each won a pair of NAPA Tiger Sportsman events during the season, with East
Montpelier’s Laquerre leading off at the Harvest Equipment Mother’s Day Special on May 11.  His second win came at the Time Argus Mid-Season Championship.  North Wolcott driver Moodie used a breathtaking last-lap move to win his first race of the year at the CARQUEST Vermont Governor’s Cup event, and evened the score with Laquerre in the season finale at the Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl.  Laquerre and Moodie will split the Lenny’s “Hottest Shoe” bonus of $250.

       Other Sportsman drivers taking a Lenny’s “Hot Shoe Challenge” bonus of $100 for winning a Thunder Road feature race were Scott Coburn, Rick Garand, Sean McCarthy, Ricky Roberts, Lance Allen, rookie Mike Ziter, Josh Lovely, Matt Potter, Shawn Sicard, Chris Chambers, Pete Ainsworth, Rookie of the Year Bobby Therrien, and NAPA Tiger Sportsman Champion Craig Bushey.

       Like his Late Model and Sportsman counterparts, Smith, of Williamstown, earned an Allen Lumber Street Stock win at the Times Argus Mid-Season Championship event, backing up his victory at the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic in May.  Bolton driver Woodard posted the first two wins of his career at the Sanel Parts Plus and Charter Communications events, while Hardwick’s Hodgdon won on Fisher/Federated Auto Parts Night in July and Kinney Drugs Night in August.  The trio will split the Lenny’s “Hottest Shoe” bonus of $100.

       Also collecting a $50 Lenny’s “Hot Shoe Challenge” bonus for Street Stock feature victories during the year were Dave LaFleche, William Hennequin, rookie Brett Pierce, Greg Adams, Jr., Steve Mandigo, Erik Steel, Tim Campbell, David Greenslit, Donat Premont, Rookie of the Year Mike MacAskill, and Allen Lumber Street Stock Champion Jason Corliss.

       Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel has three convenient storefront locations in Barre, St. Albans, and Williston, as well as its all-inclusive online store at www.lennyshoe.com.  For more information on Thunder Road, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.