About Us

The Laquerre family has been winning stock car races for more than 75 years. Legendary in Vermont and around the Northeastern United States and Canada, the family’s racing story started with patriarch Armand Laquerre owning and preparing winning stock cars in the post-WWII era.

Armand’s son, Joey, began racing snowmobiles and drag cars as a teenager in 1959. Fifteen years later he was the most dominant Mini Stock driver in Vermont, New England, and Canada, and his transition into the Flying Tigers of the 1980s and the Late Models of the modern era only built upon his legacy. Joey’s 65-year career has seen him win more races (45) and championships (7) at Thunder Road than any other driver in history, more than 100 stock car races in total, and he has also been a track owner and promoter at both Hidden Valley Speedway in Vermont and Speedway 51 (currently Riverside Speedway) in New Hampshire. He was inducted into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2015.

Joey’s sons came along in the sport in the 1980s with immediate success. Jeff Laquerre was the 1989 Flying Tiger Rookie of the Year before becoming Thunder Road’s most accomplished crew chief, winning championships with Tracie Bellerose, Cris Michaud, Jean-Paul Cyr, Lance Ferno, and his late brother, Joey Laquerre Jr.; he also had success with his late son, “Little Joey.” Jay Laquerre was a star in the Flying Tigers and Late Models, winning the American-Canadian Tour’s Rookie of the Year title in 2000. Jamie Laquerre has been a pivotal part of many successful race teams as a crew member for many years and is now a car owner for his son, Jesse.

With 75 years of family history backing him up, 16-year-old Jesse Laquerre is now at the forefront. Winning in the four-cylinder Daredevil youth class at Riverside and the Street Stocks at Thunder Road gave him the confidence to jump into the top-tier Late Model division in 2024, and that proved to be the right move. Not only did Jesse make significant progress, he also claimed Rookie of the Year honors against high-profile competition and he very nearly won his first race after a lengthy battle against multi-time champions Nick Sweet and Phil Scott. Most importantly – he consistently proved that he belongs at the top level.