Thunder Road 2013 Schedule Announced
Devil’s Bowl Dirt Modifieds to Run Memorial Day Classic
Thunder Road officials have put the final touches on the schedule for the Nation’s Site of Excitement for the 2013 season, kicking off the year with the Merchants Bank 150 on April 27th and 28th and closing out with the 51st running of the Vermont Milk Bowl on October 5/6.
The schedule will include 18 overall events at the Barre highbanks, with 14 of them counting towards the Late Model Track Title. The stars of the American Canadian Tour will start the year at the Merchants Bank 150 on April 27/28, and the chase to become the next King of the Road will begin with the 51st Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic on Sunday, May 26. The Devil’s Bowl Bond Auto Parts Dirt Modifieds will make their first Thunder Road appearance to run a 50-lap feature before the Late Model’s 100-lap classic.
Three-time Late Model King of the Road Phil Scott is excited to get the year started.
“It will be thrilling to see the Modifieds go door-to-door that day, but I’m excited to get back behind the wheel at the Memorial Day Classic,” said Scott. “Last year we finished second to Nick Sweet, but it’s a new year and we are ready. I think I’ve finished second enough,” he finished.
2012 Devil’s Bowl Modified Champion Ron Proctor will be at the 50-lap special event over Memorial day, and feels he is ready to tame The ‘Road.
“I’ve heard a lot of stories about how small and tight it is. It really makes you leery of how much contact there might be,” said Proctor. “But for now it’s all stories, and I can’t judge until I race it. I know I’ll have a lot of competition from Vince Quenneville, Jessey Mueller, Hunter Bates and those guys. Since I’ve never raced there it will be a clean slate of sorts, but I’m hoping I can find the adjustments a little quicker than them because of my racing experience,” he finished.
2012 runner-up to Proctor Vince Quenneville was equally excited to take on the highbanks.
“I’ve been a Vermonter all my life, so I’ve heard an awful lot about Thunder Road. I know some of the guys in NASCAR today have competed here, and when guys like Crouch, Cabana, the Dragons, Fadden, and Ricky Craven have raced there, it excites me even more,” said Quenneville. “My boss Todd Stone use to run an ACT Late Model up there, and he told me what a tough track it was to figure out. My father raced there in the 1970s with the old NASCAR North Tour, too. So I’m going to do a lot of asking around, and I think I can adjust faster than a lot of these guys. A win would mean a lot to me up there,” he finished.
Thunder Road will also host the New England Antique Racers on Sunday, June 9th, and the North East Mini Stock Tour on Sunday, June 16. The Vermont Lottery Commission Governor’s Cup 150 will return on Thursday, July 11th as will the 29th Annual M&M Beverage Enduro on Sunday, August 11. The American Canadian Tour will return for the Labor Day Classic on Sunday, September 1, and the season will come to a close on the weekend of October 5/6 with the 51st Annual Milk Bowl.
2013 Thunder Road Schedule
# DAY DATE EVENT NOTES
1. Sat/Sun Apr 27/28 15th Annual Merchants Bank 150 ACT
2. Sunday May 26 51st Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic D-Bowl Mods
3.Sunday June 9 Point Race NEAR
4.Sunday June 16 Point Race NEMST
5.Thursday June 20 Casella Waste Management Night
6.Thursday June 27 Fairpoint Communication Night
7.Thursday July 04 Northfield Savings Bank Night Fireworks
8.Sunday July 07 WLVB Night
9.Thursday July 11 Vermont Lottery Commission Governor’s Cup 150
10.Thursday July 18 Safelite AutoGlass Night
— Sat/Sun July 20/21 ACT Inaugural International 500 At Airborne
11.Thursday July 25 Times Argus Midseason Championships
12.Thursday Aug 01 VP Racing Fuels Night
13.Thursday Aug 08 WDEV/Calkins Night
14.Sunday Aug 11 29th Annual M&M Beverage Enduro SS Special
15.Thursday Aug 15 Point Race (Sponsor Rain Date)
16.Thursday Aug 22 Aubuchon Hardware LMS Championship Night
17.Sunday Sep. 01 35th Annual Labor Day Classic 200 ACT
18.Sat/Sun Oct. 5/6 51st Annual Milk Bowl
Sources: Thunder Road SpeedBowl PR