FairPoint to Open Thunder Road Thursday Night Racing

By admin June 2, 2014 ACT, Thunder Road

Barre, VT – Thunder Road International Speedbowl begins the traditional Thursday night racing on June 5, 2014. Beginning its 55th year of stock car racing, the “Nation’s Site of Excitement” will present the strongest field of American Canadian Tour Late Models in the 22-year history of the division.

“We had a tremendous transition from a year ago with several Bond Auto Tiger teams moving into Late Models for the 2014 season. These are high caliber teams with lots of Thunder Road high-bank experience. Earlier this month the 100-lap Mekkelsen Memorial Day Classic went the 100 lap distance without a caution, and that defines just how good the talent level is,” said Tom Curley, Promoter at Thunder Road.

The latest star to emerge from the famous Thunder Road Tiger division is Jason Corliss whose surprise win in the Memorial Day Classic might have sounded the alarm for Thunder Road’s favorite sons Nick Sweet, Phil Scott, Dave Pembroke, Dave Whitcomb and Jamie Fisher, all former “Kings of the Road”.

“You have to remember we all started there (Street Stock and Tiger divisions) at one time in our racing careers,” said Sweet, two-time Thunder Road Champion. Sweet was also a star in the four-cylinder Allen Lumber Street Stock division and Bond Auto Tigers. “The cars certainly are different, but learning how to be patient, taking the necessary time to complete passes and figuring out things like the ‘widow maker’ (turn 4 at T-Road) make the transition from a Tiger to an ACT Late Model car a lot easier,” explained Sweet.

This Thursday night will showcase the best balance of veteran and newcomers to race at one of the toughest weekly racing divisions in the country. With the ultimate goal of having your name put on the champion’s granite stone at the entrance to Thunder Road, the 2014 season is about to be one of the most interesting in the long history of one of America’s most famous short tracks.

Derrick O’Donnell from North Haverhill, NH is the defending champion. Jason Corliss won the Memorial Day Classic. Brooks Clark from Fayston, VT and Eric Chase from Milton, VT each won two races last year, and Cody Blake won the Vermont Governor’s Cup. Combine those credentials with all the champions’ pedigrees and the 2014 season at Thunder Road should prove to be one of the most exciting of all time.

Gates open at 5:00pm on Thursday, June 5 for FairPoint Communications Night. Admission for adults is just $12.00, kid’s admission for ages 6 to 12 is just $3.00. Kids under age 6 are free. A family ticket for two adults and two kids is just $25.00. Post Time is 6:30pm.

For more information contact the Thunder Road office at 802.244.6963 or media@acttour.com or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.

Sources: ACT PR