BARRE, Vt. — Chip Grenier claimed the late model feature victory during the first Thursday night racing program of the season at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl.
Young second-generation drivers Chris Roberts and Cooper Bouchard got the Maplefields/Irving Late Models to a lightning start.
Grenier, Marcel Gravel and Brandon Lanphear joined the fray, with the majority of the field remaining side-by-side 10 laps in, battling hard for inches lost and gained on equal grooves.
After a spin for Phil Scott, and a later turn one-collection that took out Kyle Pembroke, the field returned to green with Roberts and Bouchard continuing to battle at the head of the pack.
Grenier took the helm with 11 laps remaining with Lanphear and Gravel trying to track him down in the late stages but time ran out. Grenier claimed the trophy with Brandon Lanphear and Marcel Gravel rounding out the podium.
Apparent third-place finisher Gravel was later disqualified in post-race technical inspection for being too wide giving third to Cooper Bouchard.
Sam Caron won the Flying Tiger feature and Trevor Jacques came home first in the street stock main event.