While keeping an eye on the weather throughout Sunday, June 21, Thunder Road International Speedbowl delivered one of its strongest short-track programs in recent memory.
Twenty-four Maplefields/Irving Late Models took to the track for the 63rd Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic 125 on Father’s Day Sunday, with Kaiden Fisher earning the pole position in Plus/Minus qualifying. Fisher showed the way early as last Thursday’s winner, Chris Pelkey, ran second, followed by Brandon Gray, Bobby Therrien and Justin Prescott running nose-to-tail in the opening laps.
While Fisher appeared unstoppable, Gray began to close in before a lap 100 caution for Stephen Donahue’s disabled car in turn one. On the restart, Gray worked around Fisher to take the lead, but the hood pins of the S.D. Ireland Concrete machine stayed glued to the bumper of the C.W. Gray Auctioneers Chevrolet.
The two traded lanes as the battle intensified and, with five laps remaining, the lapped car of Mike Rubalcaba added another wrinkle. With the gap erased between the front-runners, they swapped lanes again, with Gray leading all but the final lap as Fisher edged him at the line by 0.036 seconds in the inside groove.
Pelkey maintained third at the finish, followed by Therrien and Prescott to round out the top five.
The rk Miles Street Stocks started 33 strong on Sunday’s Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic makeup date, with former track champion Jamie Davis driving around front-row starters Paul Rocheleau and Paige Whittemore.
Davis continued to lead while Rocheleau stayed close after a lap five caution for Hayden Morris’ spin in turn one. Derek Farnham later produced one of the saves of the afternoon after a blown right-front tire, narrowly avoiding the turn three wall while bringing out the caution on lap 18.
In the closing circuits, Davis led to the checkered flag with Rocheleau and Whittemore completing the podium.
Chris LaForest and Cam Gadue led the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tiger field to green in Round 1 of the Myers Container Service Triple Crown.
The pair maintained the advantage through heavy traffic in the opening stages until a lap 20 restart saw Gadue shuffled back on the outside groove as Jason Pelkey, Eric Messier and Logan Powers took control of the bottom lane.
Pelkey moved to the outside and led lap 34 ahead of LaForest, with former Myers Triple Crown champion Derrick Calkins following on the high side. By lap 38, Calkins had taken command while Pelkey and Powers battled side-by-side for third.
The storyline remained unchanged following a lap 53 pileup that ended the day for Eric Chase, Karsen Murphy and Rich Lowrey as Calkins went on to claim the 75-lap victory over Jason Pelkey and Logan Powers.
“No-Look” Nick Copping led the Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors to green Sunday afternoon for their first feature since opening day after weather disrupted the early-season schedule.
While Copping led early, opening-day winner Taylor Sayers charged from 10th to take the lead at halfway and never looked back for the win. “Fast” Eddie Thompson finished second, with Copping holding on for third.
The Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Division made its season debut on Mekkelsen RV Sunday with 13 drivers on the grid in the first of five events for the division this season.
A spirited battle developed between Kiptyn Aldrich and Kaden Wimble before Chloe Doyle and Gracen Gorham moved into contention by halfway. Wimble, Doyle and Gorham ran nose-to-tail around the Thunder Road high banks until Doyle lost control exiting turn four and collected Clayton Houghton with three laps remaining.
The contact did not slow Houghton, who remained in the fight, but it was Kaiden Wimble who secured the win. 2025 Mini Milk Bowl winner Evan Folsom finished second, and Houghton edged Madison Potter by inches for third at the line.
Thunder Road returns Thursday, June 25, with Community College of Vermont Double Feature Night featuring the Maplefields/Irving Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, rk Miles Street Stocks and the Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Division. Post time is 6:30 p.m.
CCV Night will also include the annual Kids Rides event prior to practice.
