With all forecasts for Central Vermont pointing towards wet weather throughout the day Sunday, Thunder Road officials have made the decision to push the 63rd Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic to Monday, May 25.
All times from Sunday’s original schedule will be in place for Memorial Day Monday.
Gates will open Monday morning at 8:30am with grandstands opening promptly at 10:00am and racing action to begin at 1:30pm. The originally posted schedule of events will remain in the same order for Monday’s Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic rescheduled date.
“The forecast flipped back and forth all week and they all finally pointed to rain for Sunday,” said Thunder Road managing partner Cris Michaud. “We thankfully have this built in date for Memorial Day Monday and it only makes it that much more special.”
Thunder Road is back in action on Monday, May 25 for the 63rd running of the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic! The Maplefields/Irving Late Models begin their King of the Road track championship charge with 125 laps in Race #1 of the Squier Cup presented by Milton CAT. The Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, rk Miles Street Stocks, Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors, and Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Division join in for a stellar holiday spectacular with a 1:30pm Post Time on Monday, May 25.
Grandstands open at 10:15am on Monday with Adult General Admission set at $20, Kids 6-12 are $10 and children five and under are free! The Family Four Pack (two adults, two kids) will also be available for $50.
Week two of the 59th consecutive season of racing at the Ridge provided some wild action for the fans. Rob Williams gets his first win in the Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes, and Nick Fretto does the same in the Xtreme DIRTcar DMA Midgets.
The feature winners of the 59th consecutive season week two were Cody Gregoropoulos in the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds; Rob Williams in the Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes; Shawn King in the Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply Sportsman Modifieds Limited; Nick Fretto in the Xtreme DIRTcar DMA Midgets; Ryan Christian in the High Country Dispensary Late Models; Andrew Fitzgerald in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks; and Ryan Sayers in the Woodsville Power Equipment Bobcat Ridge Runners. For the visiting R.E. Hinkley Granite State Mini Sprints, Josh Ball is your winner in the 600cc and Jake Wolf in the 500cc.
The Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprints took center stage Saturday night at Devil’s Bowl Speedway with a “Mini Sprint Special,” on a picture-perfect evening for dirt track racing in the Green Mountain State. The competition was tightly contested in every division, making it a thrilling night for the fans.
The Mini Sprints raced three 10-lap segments, with the driver accumulating the best overall average earning the first-place trophy. Pittsford, Vermont’s Tyler Whittemore enjoyed the best night of his career as he claimed the checkered flag in two of the three segments to capture the top spot on the podium. Veteran Scott Bachand dominated the first segment with Carm Isabella second, John Smith third, Quinn Quenneville fourth, and Levi Cram fifth. A sixth-place run by Whittemore put him behind the eight ball, but he was not to be denied. Wins by Whittemore in segments two and three sparked his rally for the overall victory. Rounding out the event standings were Scott Bachand, Alex Reed, John Smith, and Trevor Jaques.
The Matt Bilodeau Memorial Race, also known as the “Matty B 32,” was held at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Sunday, May 10th, despite previous postponements due to inclement weather. Twenty-five of the top sportsman modified drivers in the Northeast signed in to vie for the $3,200 winner’s purse on Mother’s Day, putting on a show that won’t soon be forgotten. The track was in pristine condition with multiple grooves that made the competition in all six divisions thrilling for the fans.
In the main event, a 32-lap affair for the Sunoco Sportsman Modifieds, presented by Black Diamond Builders, veteran invader Brian Calabrese and rising local star AJ Munger battled tooth and nail over the final 12 laps, with the Brandon, Vermont campaigner using a dramatic late-race pass to collect the biggest win of his career.
Due to Saturday’s weather, officials at Devil’s Bowl Speedway have postponed the Matt Bilodeau Memorial Race and Fireworks to Sunday evening, with racing now set for 5:00 PM.
The Mother’s Day special event will honor the memory of Matt Bilodeau with the Sunoco Sportsman Modifieds battling in a 32-lap, $3,200-to-win feature event. The program will also include all weekly divisions, Crown Vics, and a fireworks show during the racing action.
Pit gates will open at 2:00 PM, with Grandstand and Infield gates opening at 4:00 PM.
Admission prices are: Grandstands $15, Infield $25, and Kids 12 & Under FREE.
Fans are encouraged to come early and be part of one of the most meaningful and exciting nights of the 2026 season. Track officials felt Sunday’s forecast gives teams and fans the best opportunity for a full night of racing and entertainment.
The 59th opening night at the Ridge is officially in the record books after two weeks.
Todd Buckwold wins in the Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds, and Keith Mansur holds on to win in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks.
It took two weeks to get it in, and mother nature almost won them both, but after a half time rebound on week two the home team charged hard and came home the winner. The afternoon rains made for a fast track and plenty of racing excitement for the die-hard fans who ventured out in the cold to be a part of the opening day of our 59th consecutive season of racing sponsored by FMS Auto Parts NAPA of Bradford.
