BARRE, Vt. — Christopher Pelkey used the outside groove at Thunder Road on Thursday to take down his second consecutive Times Argus Midseason Championship.
Rookie Kaiden Fisher (flying tigers) and veteran aces Josh Lovely (street stocks) and Frank Putney (road warriors) also triumphed on Midseason Championships night.
It was rookie versus the all time winner starting the front row of the Midseason Championship event for the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models. While multi-time track champion Phil Scott held his own against rookie Keegan Lamson at the beginning, he would eventually fade to the youth movement. Lamson would lead the early portions of the 75-lap main event followed by Chris Roberts and fellow rookie Stephen Martin. As this three-way battle for the podium commenced, Chip Grenier, Christopher Pelkey and Brandon Lanphear all gained real estate behind them, inching ever closer.Â
Following a lap 40 caution for the spinning Eric Chase, the two rookies were side by side, each splitting the lead on the next five laps until Lamson was back leading the race. Taking advantage of the slowing Martin, Pelkey made a daring move to the outside lane. As the field slowed for Lanphear’s spin in turn three, the restart allowed Pelkey to take advantage of the outside and power by the rookie with Grenier and Stephen Donahue in tow. With 15-to-go it was Pelkey leading Grenier, Donahue, Cooper Bouchard, Lamson and Scott Dragon moving into position.
Up front, Donahue began edging Grenier for second on the outside but the veteran didn’t give in, the constant two wide battle for second only allowing Pelkey to run farther away. Under the checkered flags Christopher Pelkey became the Times Argus Midseason Champion for the second consecutive season followed by Chip Grenier and Stephen Donahue. Dragon and Bouchard would round out the top five.Â
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