Teams Ready to Return to Thunder Road for First Responders Appreciation Night
Barre, VT — Thunder Road officials, drivers and fans are ready to return to racing at the Barre Speedbowl with the newly announced First Responders Appreciation Night this coming Thursday, July 20th. In the wake of Monday’s severe flooding throughout Central Vermont, Thunder Road is offering Free Admission to all First Responders and both State and Local highway employees for their efforts to get Vermont back on track! It will be two weeks since these racers have seen the track, many of whom are coming off one of the hottest Times Argus Midseason Championships in recent memory.
After stealing away the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model point lead with his first career Midseason Championship at Thunder Road, Stephen Donahue sits 18-points above two-time King of the Road Nick Sweet and 32-points over defending champion Christopher Pelkey. Cody Blake and Marcel Gravel continue to stand in a dead heat in fourth on the chart, each looking to take the upper hand over the other. There has yet to be a repeat winner in the ultra-competitive Late Model class with Blake and Gravel looking to join the club.
Midseason Championships broke the stalemate between Sam Caron and Jason Pelkey at the top spot with defending champion Caron breaking away to lead the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers. Meanwhile, two more top-10 ties are bound as everyone in the fan-favorite division scratches for every last inch whenever they hit the Thunder Road asphalt. Adam Maynard showed strong footing on his launch to Times Argus victory lane last time out, as did Matt Ballard with the best race of his career and a second-place finish.
Sophomore racer Cam Powers continues his drive for the rk Miles Street Stock championship. Continuing to lead the standings through Midseason Championships, Powers has shown time and time again his ability to drive up through the field en route to consistent top-10 finishes. Josh Lovely and Taylor Hoar were the class of the field last time out with Lovely using only the paint on his bumper-cover to claim the Midseason Championship over Hoar after running neck-and-neck through to the end.
The Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors also return to the Nation’s Site of Excitement. It’s been six different winners in as many races so far in 2023 for the entry-level division of madcap pilots! Longtime drivers ‘Flyin’ Fred Fleury, Jason Kirby, Nate ‘Tater’ Brien and Taylor Sayers have toured around the quarter-mile with the checkers while Ryan Sayers turned a tough year around to win and Benjamin Bushey took his first victory last time out. This wild and wacky division is sure to put on a show come Thursday.
Thursday, July 20th brings the new First Responders Appreciation Night with all four divisions back in action to celebrate Vermont’s First Responders and both State and Local Highway Workers! The Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, rk Miles Street Stocks, and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors to return to the Nation’s Site of Excitement as the championship chase kicks in!
As a thank you for their efforts, Thunder Road officials are excited to offer FREE ADMISSION to all First Responders and both State and Local highway employees for all their hard work and dedication as they continue to work through the devastation of Monday’s unprecedented natural disaster. Individuals must present proof of employment and/or an I.D. badge in order to receive their admission.
For more information, contact the Thunder Road offices at (802) 244-6963, media@thunderroadvt.com, or visit www.thunderroadvt.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ThunderRoadVT.
Sources: Cale King/Thunder Road Speedbowl PR
(IMG_0582.jpg): Teams are ready to return to Barre’s Thunder Road with the ultra-competitive Late Models showing the way with six winners in as many events as more look to join the exclusive club! (Alan Ward photo)