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A Stunning Day for Thunder Road's Season Opener and the 8th Annual Merchants Bank 150

MB 150 LogoSunday, April 31, 2006

Terry Bessette (Branch President, Barre) and her team put on another first class show to a big throng of race fans on Sunday. Thunder Road—the Nation's Site of Excitement—lived up to its billing. The weather was incredible and the atmosphere was thick with anticipation.

Class Day saw all of the 110 race teams assembled for the day paraded onto the quarter mile oval and infield. Given the honors of the first lap of the season, arriving at the start/finish line to a standing ovation by the big crowd, was reigning “King of the Road” - 2005 track champion Cris Michaud in the Merchants Bank # 6 Ford. Later, following some terrific qualifying action in all four divisions, the big ACT Late Model feature was set to go. As Bank President Mike Tuttle led us down the main straight for the driver introductions, the Canadian and American national anthems played, and the command to “Start your engines!” ensued, there was electricity in the air.

Milton's Jean Paul Cyr, the only two-time MB 150 winner coming into the day, put another jewel in his trophy case to make it a triple crown. Having mastered the event in 2002 and 2004, Cyr once again demonstrated his command of even-numbered years. After back and forth lead changes with 2005 runner-up # 55 Brent Dragon through the first half of the race, # 32 Cyr took over on lap 66 and never yielded his position again. Second year driver # 89 Scott Payea, also of Milton, did challenge Cyr through a series of yellow flag cautions and restarts, putting on an impressive display after Dragon fell back with some tire issues. The cagy veteran Cyr showed his skill as the hungry sophomore nipped at his bumper over the final 75 laps. A great race for third place emerged, and was taken by senior statesman # 75 Pete Fecteau of Morrisville.

The Merchants Bank # 6 of Cris Michaud passed more cars than any other on the day, moving from the back of the field twice (due to pit visits on caution) to finish a very respectable 8th. Cris showed his skill in qualifying for the event, again starting down in the pack in the qualifying heats and climbing to get his car into the feature. A number of big names in a crowded qualifying field did not make the cut yesterday, including 1999 MB 150 winner Phil Scott and last year's Milk Bowl champion Patrick Laperle.

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