Marcel Gravel Takes Career Defining, Emotional Win in 62nd Vermont Milk Bowl

Following the annual pomp and circumstance of the annual season ending classic, the brave drivers of the American-Canadian Tour took on the first of three Segments in the 62nd Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank. Polesitter Gabe Brown jumped ahead to lead the pack early while collecting the first lap money of the event along with Marcel Gravel in second and Jimmy Hebert in third. Driving hard on the outside lane, Gravel launched to lead lap nine with Hebert and previous Milk Bowl winners Jason Corliss and Chris Pelkey in tow. A trio of mid-race, quick cycle cautions slowed the segment for heart-pounding restarts before Marcel Gravel claimed the opening segment win with Jason Corliss, Brown, Hebert and Pelkey rounding out the top five.

Following the first slam-bang segment for the Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors that saw Tyler Wheatley lead the 20-lap dash flag to flag, the rk Miles Street Stocks took the field for their second and final segment in their Mini Milk Bowl. After suffering mechanical woes in Saturday’s first segment, Connor Rueda went to work and led segment two as Zach Audet, Josh Lovely and Virginia-based long-hauler Cameron Ruggles poured the pressure on.

Lovely and Ruggles went to war, beating and banging over third-place with Ryan Foster trying to round that fight for a chance at the Mini Milk Bowl win. Meanwhile the battle for the overall was between Derek Farnham and Kyler Davis in the back half of the top-ten. Davis was pulling the reins on the inside groove but in the final laps Farnham took over spots on the outside lane to claim the Mini Milk Bowl prize by a lone point over Kyler Davis on the tally!

Segment #2 for the Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank saw Scott Dragon take off from the pole position as outside polesitter Joel Hodgdon fell under attack from Taylor Hoar and Brandon Lanphear. With Dragon holding a straightaway lead, Lanphear began having to fend off Justin Prescott and hard-charging ACT campaigner Erick Sands. Taylor Hoar’s run evaporated with a blown right front after a scrape-up with the wall to call out the lap 26 caution. On the lone restart, Scott Dragon went lights out on the field and took the segment two win with Lanphear, Sands, Justin Prescott and Patrick Laperle rounded out the top-five.

Starting at the back of the pack, Saturday’s frontrunners in the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers found themselves mired in traffic while Mike MacAskill and Cam Gadue in the Jimmy Spencer-inspired throwback scheme showed the way. Brendan Moodie, Brandon Gray and Logan Powers continued to swap the overall lead with every inch won or lost in tight side-by-side traffic. The first caution flag would fly on lap 24 as Rookie of the Year Logan Farrell made hard contact with the turn one wall just before pit road. With the restart jumble, Shawn Fleury and Mike Martin also made their way into the running with each lap.

Although officials were frantically scoring and rescoring with every lap, the overall finish came down to the final lap across the line with Logan Powers and Brandon Gray tied at ten points with Powers’ highest finish in the final segment breaking the tie and earning the Middlesex driver his second career Mini Milk Bowl in the famed Flying Tiger division. A true highlight of Sunday’s show saw famed multi-generational hero Jean-Paul Cabana making a run to victory lane to celebrate with Powers who piloted a 1980s throwback scheme dedicated to the Quebec racer.

The final segment for the Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors saw a continued battle for the top spot between Neal Foster, Danny Doyle and segment one winner Tyler Wheatley. Two quick spin cautions slowed the run on lap 1 and 2 while Dan Garrett took off on the return to green before the lap 7 caution for metal in turn three. Tyler Wheatley methodically made his way through the field to lead the final three laps remaining to sweep the Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warrior Mini Milk Bowl on Northfield Savings Bank Sunday.

The third and final segment in the 62nd Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank wrapped up the afternoon’s racing action with Brian Hoar and Gabe Brown leading the field to green. As the field stretched out and settled in, Jason Corliss, trying to solidify a run on his fourth Milk Bowl victory he tracked down Hoar before the lap 27 caution for Brandon Gray’s spin and Chip Grenier’s stalled ride atop turn four. 2024 King of the Road Kaiden Fisher made his presence known late in the game, battling Corliss for second in a three generation top-three.

While Brian Hoar took down his eleventh career Milk Bowl segment win, Marcel Gravel’s seventh place finish finalized an 18-point total and his first career Vermont Milk Bowl victory on the Barre highbanks. A career-defining win, Marcel Gravel’s name is now etched in the Thunder Road granite monuments for the first time with an emotional victory lane full of friends, family and crew members after Gravel climbed the fence in turn four. Jason Corliss took second with Jimmy Hebert taking third overall in the 62nd Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank.

Year 65 has been officially completed at Thunder Road International Speedbowl with only the 2024 Banquet of Champions left on the schedule for the weekly warriors of the Nation’s Site of Excitement on Saturday, November 9 at the Barre Elks Club.

For more information, contact the Thunder Road offices at (802) 244-6963, media@thunderroadvt.com, or visit www.thunderroadvt.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ThunderRoadVT.

-Thunder Road International Speedbowl Press Release
-Photo credit: Alan Ward

Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl – Barre, VT
Sunday, October 6, 2024
62nd Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Banks
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

American-Canadian Tour / Maplefields-Irving Late Models –
62nd Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank
(Finish, Start, Car #, Driver, Hometown, (Seg #1, Seg #2, Seg #3, Overall))

1. 3 86VT Marcel J. Gravel Wolcott, VT (1, 10, 7 – 18)
2. 7 66VT Jason Corliss Barre, VT (2, 20, 2 – 24)
3. 5 58VT Jimmy Hebert Williamstown, VT (4, 16, 6 - 26)
4. 15 18VT #Kaiden Fisher Shelburne, VT (13, 12, 4 - 29)
5. 10 77NH Bryan Wall Jr. E. Kingston, NH (14, 8, 8 - 30)
6. 1 78NH Gabe Brown Center Conway, NH (3, 25, 3 - 31)
7. 9 99VT Cody Blake Barre, VT (6, 11, 15 - 32)
8. 4 64VT Christopher Pelkey S. Barre, VT (5, 19, 9 - 33)
9. 8 46x Brian Hoar South Hero, VT (7, 26, 1 - 34)
10. 14 91QC Patrick Laperle St-Denis, QC (16, 5, 13 - 34)
11. 13 36NH Erick Sands Derry, NH (18, 3, 19 - 40)
12. 24 04VT DJ Shaw Center Conway, NH (19, 7, 14 - 40)
13. 17 68NH Tanner Woodard Waterbury Ctr., VT (15, 22, 5 - 42)
14. 12 68VT Brooks Clark Fayston, VT (11, 17, 18 - 46)
15. 11 16VT Brandon Lanphear Morrisville, VT (22, 2, 22 - 46)
16. 6 21QC Alexendre Tardif Notre Dame des Pins, QC (8, 13, 25 - 46)
17. 16 7AK Derek Gluchacki Dartmouth, MA (10, 6, 31 - 47)
18. 21 0VT Scott Dragon Milton, VT (26, 1, 21 - 48)
19. 20 04NY Justin Prescott Fairfax, VT (20, 4, 24 - 48)
20. 22 48QC Raphael Lessard St-Joseph, QC (23, 9, 17 - 49)
21. 26 36VT Joel Hodgdon Craftsbury Common, VT (25, 15, 10 - 50)
22. 27 8VT Chris Roberts Washington, VT (21, 18, 12 - 51)
23. 23 9VT Chip Grenier E. Barre, VT (12, 14, 28 - 54)
24. 29 71VT #Jesse Laquerre E. Montpelier, VT (27, 21, 11 - 59)
25. 2 17VT Darrell Morin Westford, VT (9, 27, 23 - 59)
26. 18 00VT Brandon Gray E. Thetford, VT (17, 24, 20 - 61)
27. 28 25NH Jesse Switser W. Burke, VT (28, 23, 16 - 67)
28. 19 48VT #Taylor Hoar South Hero, VT (24, 30, 27 - 81)
29. 30 41QC Jonathan Bouvrette Blainville, QC (30, 28, 26 - 84)
30. 25 01VT Stephen Martin Craftsbury Common, VT (29, 29, 31 – 89)

Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers – Mini Milk Bowl Finish
(Pos Car # Driver Hometown (Seg 1, Seg 2 - Total))

1. 5A Logan Powers Middlesex, VT (3, 7 – 10)
2. 5 Brandon Gray E. Thetford, VT (1, 9 – 10)
3. 20VT Robert Gordon Milton, VT (10, 3 – 13)
4. 15NH Brendan Moodie Wolcott, VT (2, 11 – 13)
5. 77VT Issac Spaulding Wolcott, VT (14, 2 – 16)
6. 45VT Adam Maynard Milton, VT (11, 5 – 16)
7. 36NH Jason Woodard Waterbury Ctr., VT (8, 8 - 16)
8. 01VT Michael Martin Craftsbury, Common, VT (6, 10 - 16)
9. 10ME Shawn Fleury Middlesex, VT (4, 12 – 16)
10. 26VT Luke Peters Groton, VT (12, 6 – 18)
11. 64VT Jason Pelkey Barre, VT (5, 13 – 18)
12. 23NY Cam Gadue Highgate, VT (15, 4 – 19)
13. 3VT Michael MacAskill Williamstown, VT (19, 1 – 20)
14. 90VT Cameron Ouellette Barre, VT (7, 14 – 21)
15. 13VT Ty Delphia Waterbury, VT (9, 15 – 24)
16. 9VT #Logan Farrell Barre, VT (13, 18 – 31)
17. 5VT Tyler Austin East Calais, VT (16, 17 – 33)
18. 5RI #Kyle Gravel Wolcott, VT (18, 16 – 34)
19. 92VT Jamon Perry Hardwick, VT (17, 20 – 37)
DNS 55VT Parker Gagne Fairfax, VT (20, 20 – 40)

rk Miles Street Stocks – Mini Milk Bowl Finish
(Pos Car # Driver Hometown (Seg 1, Seg 2 - Total))

1. 39 Derek Farnham Bethel, VT (2, 7 – 9)
2. 74 Kyler Davis Berlin, VT (1, 9 – 10)
3. 16NH Patrick Switser Woodsville, NH (5, 8 – 13)
4. 08 Ryan Foster Waterbury, VT (9, 5 – 14)
5. 16VT Nate Brien Williamstown, VT (3, 11 – 14)
6. 9 Zach Audet Johnson, VT (13, 2 – 15)
7. 24 Todd Raymo Swanton, VT (4, 12 – 16)
8. 99 #Fred Fleury Graniteville, VT (7, 10 – 17)
9. 17 Connor Rueda Orange, VT (18, 1 – 19)
10. 2VA Cameron Ruggles Richmond, VA (16, 3 – 19)
11. 54 Josh Lovely Williamstown, VT (17, 4 – 21)
12. 6NH Connor Charbonneau Groveton, NH (15, 6 – 21)
13. 2 Haidyn Pearce Chelsea, VT (8, 14 – 22)
14. 8 Paul Rocheleau Georgia, VT (6, 17 – 23)
15. 3 Michael Gay S. Burlington, VT (11, 13 – 24)
16. 6 Terry Pearce Jr Chelsea, VT (10, 16 – 26)
17. 04 Scott Weston Berlin, VT (12, 15 – 27)
18. 94 Trevor Rossi Northfield, VT (25, 18 – 43)
19. 5 Terry Pearce Sr. Berlin, VT (24, 19 – 43)
20. 13 Travis Gay S. Burlington, VT (14, 30 – 44)
21. 5BM Trevor Jaques Milton, VT (19, 30 – 49)
22. 17x Justin Blakely Graniteville, VT (20, 30 – 50)
23. 32 #Kylee Potter Marshfield, VT (21, 30 – 51)
24. 29 Gary Mullen Tunbridge, VT (22, 30 – 52)
25. 22 Thomas Smith Williamstown, VT (23, 30 – 53)
26. 18 #Walker Fitch Marshfield, VT (26, 30 – 56)
DNS 8NH Jaiden Del Toro Barre Town, VT (30, 30 – 60)
DNS 50 Adam Murray E. Calais, VT (30, 30 – 60)
DNS 69 Jeffrey Martin, Jr. Barre, VT (30, 30 – 60)

Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors – Mini Milk Bowl Finish
(Pos Car # Driver Hometown (Seg 1, Seg 2 - Total))

1. 31 Tyler Wheatley Brookfield, VT (1, 1 – 2)
2. 19 Neal Foster Moretown, VT (2, 3 – 5)
3. 19x Danny Doyle Northfield, VT (5, 2 – 7)
4. 71 Jason Kirby Milton, VT (3, 5 – 8)
5. 18 Cayden Green Marshfield, VT (6, 12 – 18)
6. 54 Dan Garrett, Jr. Berlin, VT (15, 4 – 19)
7. 14 Jed Whitcomb Williamstown, VT (13, 6 – 19)
8. 51 Caleb Cramer Georgia, VT (11, 9 – 20)
9. 77 Zachary Garvey Milton, VT (10, 10 – 20)
10. 97 Eddie Thompson Colchester, VT (14, 7 – 21)
11. 17x Jarvis Sottile Whitefield, NH (9, 13 – 22)
12. 76 Easton Garvey Milton, VT (4, 19 – 23)
13. 81 Mike Slingerland Milton, VT (8, 18 – 26)
14. 43 Anderson Boyd Berlin, VT (20, 8 – 28)
15. 3 Jason Ball Concord, VT (7, 21 – 28)
16. 96 Bill O'Connor S. Washington, VT (12, 17 – 29)
17. 15 Connor Dow Georgia, VT (19, 11 – 30)
18. 65 Luke Marcheski Boston, MA (16, 15 – 31)
19. 70 Mason Frazier E. Montpelier, VT (18, 14 – 32)
20. 65x Robert Welch (17, 16 – 33)
21. 6 Ty Heywood S. Ryegate, VT (21, 20 – 41)
22. 17 Brodie Frazier E. Montpelier, VT (22, 23 – 45)