Thunder Road Features Twin 100’s in Memorial Day Classic
Mekkelsen RV will present the 48th annual Memorial Day Classic at Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, VT this Sunday, May 30. For the third year the Modified Racing Series (MRS), presented by Bob Valenti AutoMall, will join the American Canadian Tour (ACT) Thunder Road Late Models in the twin bill. Each division will race 100 lap features.
The Memorial Day tradition has been going on at the high-banked oval for nearly half a century. Beginning in 1961, the list of winners is a great tribute to some of the men who helped build stock car racing in the northeast. That tradition continues this Memorial weekend.
A favorite to repeat his win from last season’s Memorial Day Classic is David Pembroke from Middlesex, Vermont. “I guess we have some momentum after our win at Devil’s Bowl last weekend, but this Memorial Day race is really a tough one to win. There are so many capable teams that run in championship form at Thunder Road, and they all want to be on that granite monument behind the tower,” said two-time winner Pembroke.
The modern day defending champions of the Memorial Day Classic tells much of the story. Entered in this year’s Late Model half of the Classic along with Pembroke include: Phil Scott, Cris Michaud, Joey Laquerre, Joey Becker, Brent Dragon and 2008 winner John Donahue. Over 30 Late Model teams will be joined by Thunder Road Bond Auto Sportsmen and Allen Lumber Street Stocks and Warriors.
For the third straight year, the popular Modified Racing Series will return to make up the second half of the doubleheader. Returning to the high banks at Thunder Road are both past winners, three-time Series Champion Kirk Alexander from Swanzey, NH, and young modified star Stephen Masse of Bellingham, MA. Masse will try and defend his first-ever win on the series, which took place at last year’s Thunder Road 100 lap event.
The MRS will appear at a dozen different tracks in 2010, and veterans like Dwight Jarvis from Ascutney, VT, Les Hinckly from Windsor Locks, CT, and Jack Bateman from Lebanon, NH have all attended every event at Thunder Road. The young crop of Modified teams is also impressive, with rookie contender Joey Jarvis, son of veteran Peter Jarvis from Ascutney, VT leading the young delegation charge to the ‘Nation’s Site of Excitement’.
Post time for the Mekkelsen Memorial Day Double Header is 1:30 this Sunday. Gates will open at 8:00 in the pits and 10:00 o’clock for general admission. Admission for the Classic twin 100’s is only $18. A family pass will be offered with two kids being admitted free with two adult tickets.
Sources: ACT PR
MEMORIAL DAY CLASSIC SCHEDULE
CAMPING
Friday, May 28 – Tuesday, May 31
Noon Friday Grounds open for camping
Noon Tuesday All Campers must be off property
CAMPING $15 [Due to vandalism on opening weekend, Thunder Road has increased the camping fee to cover cost of additional security needed. Please respect the property and fellow campers]
Saturday, May 29
NO RACING OR PRACTICE
Any transporters can be put in pits from noon until 6:00 — MRS haulers from Airborne are asked to stage in the FRONT ENTRANCE PARKING LOT if they plan on returning to TR after the Airborne event.
Sunday, May 30
7:30 OFFICIALS MEETING TECH TRAILER
8:00 Pits Open [LM & MRS TEAMS ONLY]
8:15 Tire Draw and Compound Open
8:30 TR Sportsman and Street/Warriors pit registration (please line up in front parking lot until called to back lot)
8:30 OPEN LM TECH
9:15 Drivers Meeting ALL TR DIVISIONS
PRACTICE:
10:00 TS
10:15 SS/JYW
10:25 LM
10:45 MRS
11:00 TS
11:15 SS/JYW
11:25 LM
11:45 MRS
Noon TS Final
12:20 SS/JYW Final
12:35 LM Final
12:55 MRS Final
1:10 CLOSE TRACK
1:22 Post Parade (#88VT, #16TS, #3SS, #34SS, #04JYW, #4JYW)
1:30 LM HEATS
SPORTSMAN HEATS
MRS HEATS
LM CONSI /B
SS HEATS
WARRIOR HEAT
SPORTSMAN CONSI
MRS CONSI
SPORTSMAN “B” FEATURE TBA
INTERMISSION
LM Memorial Day Classic 100
Victory Lane
MRS Memorial Day Classic 100
Victory Lane
SS/JYW ‘RESERVE’ FEATURE 25 LAPS
SPORTSMAN FEATURE 35 Laps
SS/JYW FEATURE 25 LAPS
6:00 CLOSE TRACK
Schedule subject to change