Pembroke, Masse split Memorial Day Doubleheader at Thunder Road

By Phil Whipple

            BARRE, Vermont — Veteran short track driver Dave Pembroke and teenage modified hotshoe Stephen Masse earned wins in their respective divisions Sunday, as Mekkelsen RV presented the 47^th annual Memorial Day Classic at Thunder Road International Speedbowl.

            Pembroke, of Montpelier, inherited the lead on lap 83 of the 100-lap American-Canadian Tour (ACT) feature and drove away to notch his second career win in this event. Pembroke took over the lead when Joey Polewarczyk drifted high going into Turn 3 and spun off the banking. Scott Payea and Brian Hoar battled for second in the closing laps, with Hoar getting the spot with a last-lap surge. Cris Michaud and Randy Potter completed the top five.

            Masse, 19 (LG Products/Northeast Race Cars) , of Bellingham, Mass., notched his first career victory in a crash-filled (12 cautions, 1 red flag) feature for the True Value Modified Series. Chris Pasteryak led the first 86 circuits before Masse slipped by on lap 87. Rowan Pennink drove up from sixth on the grid to finish second, while defending race winner Kirk Alexander was third. Eddie Dachenhausen and veteran modified ace Jack Bateman completed

the top five.

            Pembroke (VSECU/Cabot Chevrolet) becomes the sixth driver to earn a spot in the inaugural ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 19. Pembroke joins Brad Leighton (Lee); Eric Williams (Thunder Road); Scott Payea (Airborne); Patrick Laperle (St. Eustache) and Polewarczyk (Oxford) on the list of qualified drivers.

            “Joey was unbelievable today,” an elated Pembroke said in Victory Lane. “I had a great race with him and was shocked to see him lose control. My crew made some great changes to our car after qualifying, and it ran just perfectly. This is great, we’re going to Loudon!”

            Ever since it was first announced, the opportunity to race on the famed Magic Mile in front of NASCAR’s elite has every Late Model driver in the entire northeast perked up. Pembroke can now showcase his immense talent on the big stage alongside other deserving racers from across the region. 

            Hoar (Goss Dodge/RPM Racing Engines Dodge) kept the huge holiday crowd cheering right to the end with his late-race battle with Payea. The five-time ACT champion from Williston was on a tear, and just might have had something for Pembroke had this been a 150-lap contest.

            “This is fantastic,” Hoar said. “Scott (Payea) ran me clean the whole time we were together. I have to thank Rick Paya (team owner) for the chance to drive this car. We didn’t have the results we wanted the first few races, but today the car was excellent. It feels good to run up front at Thunder Road and we’re happy.”  

            Finishing sixth through 10th in the ACT feature was Jean-Paul Cyr, Eric Williams,  John Donahue (who won this race in 2008), Joe Becker and Chip Grenier. Four cautions slowed the pace, one for a multi-car crash on lap 64. Polewarczyk’s spin brought out the final caution at lap 82. The race took just under 46 minutes (45:52) to run on the high-banked 1/4-mile.

            Along with the ACT and True Value Modified Series features, Thunder Road’s Tiger Sportsman, Allen Lumber Street Stock and Powershift Junkyard Warrior divisions also saw action Sunday. Brendan Moodie, of Wolcott, earned his fifth career victory in the Tiger feature; Bruce Melendy of Danville won the SS/Warrior tilt; while Dave Whitcomb came out on top in a wild SS/JYW Reserve Feature over Travis   Hull and Jamie Davis.

            The ACT Late Model tour will now enjoy a two-week break before Round 6 at Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford, Connecticut on Saturday, June 13. Next up for the True Value  Modified Racing Series (TVMRS) is a 100-lap battle at Twin State Speedway in Claremont, NH, on Saturday, June 5. Thunder Road will kick off its regular Thursday night program on June 11.