Jeffrey Martin celebrates his second Street Stock win of the season on Casella Waste Systems Night. (Alan Ward photo)
Jeffrey Martin celebrates his second Street Stock win of the season on Casella Waste Systems Night. (Alan Ward photo)

Martin Beats The Rain At Thunder Road

BARRE, Vt. – Jeffrey Martin won a thriller in the Allen Lumber Street Stock feature on Casella Waste Systems Night Friday at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl before rain cut the rest of the program short.

Martin got the advantage on Jamie Davis during a green-white-checkered shootout and edged him in a photo-finish for his second win of the season.

The Street Stock feature was the only one completed in the second attempt to run the Casella event. After rain had threatened throughout the night, the foul weather arrived in earnest with 19 laps completed in the 40-lap Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tiger feature. The Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model feature was also remaining to be run. The make-up date(s) for both races will be announced on Monday.

Before the rain settled over the speedway, the Street Stocks put on a barnburner in their 25-lap feature. Tom Campbell started on the pole and led the first 15 laps. However, Davis was all over him after getting the second spot on lap 10, and the third caution of the event on lap 15 gave him the chance to get to Campbell’s outside.

Davis made it work with a Talladega-style assist from Martin, taking the top spot on the restart. Martin followed him around for second and was putting the pressure on for the lead himself when the fourth yellow came out with just two laps to go for a turn-four crash involving Hunter King and J.T. Blanchard.

When the green fell, Martin and Davis locked horns, running hard but clean in their bid for the win. Martin had the edge when the white flag flew and was able to edge Davis out at the checkered flag as well.

Dean Switser finished third after Campbell shut down during the final caution. Tommy Smith took fourth with Juan Marshall fifth.