Defending ACT Champion Jean-Paul Cyr Serves Notice at T-Road : Raceway Media

Barre, VT - - Defending ACT New England Dodge Tour champion Jean-Paul Cyr of Milton, VT took the lead from Chad Wheeler on lap 112 and went on to win the Merchants Bank Freedom Lynx 150, Thunder Road’s 45th season opener Sunday. The event kicked off the 2004 ACT New England Dodge Tour.

The race ran under green for 130 laps before its first and only restart put Cyr and Wheeler side by side. As Cyr powered away to rebuild his lead, Brent Dragon worked underneath Wheeler and took over second place for good. Wheeler finished third, followed by Eric Williams and Cris Michaud.

Cyr, who led the Late Model tour with four wins, while capturing the 2003 title, earned $2,500 for his eleventh ACT career win. "Tire management and patience were key." said Cyr. "When the lapped traffic slowed Wheeler up a little, it gave me a chance to go after him." Cyr started eighth in the 26-car field and moved into second place on lap 94.

"I thought when Cyr got up outside me early (lap 33), that it was a mistake that might hurt me later," said Dragon. "I got everybody else, but he pretty much left me on the restart."

Pole sitter Joe Becker led the first twenty-two laps before giving way to Dave Whitcomb. Wheeler took over second two laps later, then quickly began to pressure Whitcomb. Once Wheeler gained the point, he and Whitcomb began to draw away. When the lead pair hit heavy traffic on lap, the group fighting for third, Becker, Cris Michaud, Cyr, Trampas Demers and Dragon, closed in and Cyr began to work the high side. On lap 93, after brushing doors with Whitcomb, Cyr was second. He was at Wheeler’s rear deck ten laps later and took the lead on lap 113.

Positions 6-10 went to Dave Whitcomb, Trampas Demers, Pete Fecteau, Patrick Laperle (from 17th) and Todd Stone.

Thirty-nine Late Models were in the Thunder Road pits. Thunder Road track champion Jamie Fisher had engine problems and failed to qualify for the event. The ACT New England Dodge Tour travels to Airborne Raceway in Plattsburgh, NH Saturday, May 8 for the 29th Ehler’s RV Spring Green 100.

ACT NE Dodge Tour
Merchants Bank Freedom Lynx 150
Thunder Road, Barre, VT

start position in parentheses

1. Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT (8)
2. Brent Dragon, Milton, VT (7)
3. Chad Wheeler, Waterbury, VT (3)
4. Eric Williams, Hyde Park, VT (10)
5. Cris Michaud, Northfield, VT (4)
6. Dave Whitcomb, Essex Jct, VT (2)
7. Trampas Demers, Shelburne, VT (5)
8. Pete Fecteau, Morrisville, VT (6)
9. Patrick Laperle, St Denis, Que (17)
10.Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT (9)
11.Joe Becker, Jeffersonville, VT (1)
12.David Avery, Lincoln, NH (13)
13.Dave Pembroke, Montpelier, VT (21)
14.Phil Scott, Montpelier, VT (18)
15.Dennis Demers, Shelburne, VT (20)
16.Joey Laquerre, E. Montpelier, VT (22)
17.Mark Lamberton, Mooers Forks, NY (24)
18.Ron Henry, New Gloucester, ME (19)
19.Steve Fisher, Shelburne, VT (26)
20.Eric Chase, Milton, VT (25)
21.Tom Fearn, E. Longmeadow, MA (14)
22.Cooper MacRitchie, W’mstown, VT (23)
23.Dale Shaw, Center Conway, NH (15)
24.BJ Pierkarski, Nashua, NH (16)
25.Mike Olsen, N. Haverhill, NH (11)
26.Derek Ming, Island Pond, VT (12)

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