Barre, VT – Thunder Road teams, fans, and officials are now in overdrive getting ready for the start of the 61st season of competition this Thursday, June 18. Although the offseason has lasted far longer than anyone would like, and cast the season opener in an unusual light, racers of all stripes are ready to finally hit the high banks with full-scale, door-to-door competition.
All four Thunder Road divisions are on the card for Thursday’s opener. In many ways, it will look like a normal action-packed Thursday night of racing, with the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, Allen Lumber Street Stocks, and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors all looking forward to a season of racing.
The only thing that will be missing is fans in the stands. Due to state health and safety restrictions related to the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak, spectator attendance at Vermont racing events is not permitted for the time being.
N. Woodstock, NH – Williamstown, VT’s Jimmy Hebert showed that fortune favors the bold by capturing the 45th Spring Green 120 at White Mountain Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 13. Hebert made a three-wide move to swipe the lead following a lap-93 restart before holding off American-Canadian Tour ACT) champions Wayne Helliwell Jr. and Joey Polewarczyk Jr. down the stretch in the ACT season opener presented by C&S NAPA Auto Parts of Littleton/Whitefield and Sanel NAPA.
Barre, VT – Following weeks of anticipation, the start of the 2020 Thunder Road stock car racing season is now set. Track officials have announced the “Nation’s Site of Excitement” will hold a pay-per-view-only event Thursday, June 18 at 7:00pm on the Northeast Sports Network (NSN).
Under an agreement reached with the state of Vermont, spectator attendance will not be permitted at the event in compliance with state health and safety guidelines related to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, fans around the world can still experience the thrill of the Barre high banks thanks to NSN, which recently also broadcast a doubleheader event at New Hampshire’s White Mountain Motorsports Park.
The event will be available at www.NSNsports.net as well as on most mobile and smart TV platforms. For just $15 — the cost of one adult and one child ticket at a regular Thursday event — the entire family can watch every lap of qualifying and feature action from the comfort of their own homes.
Barre, VT – Thunder Road officials have announced the postponement of the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic that was scheduled for Sunday, May 24. The decision was made due to ongoing health and safety regulations in place related to the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak.
While the state of Vermont has gradually been reopening in recent weeks, large gatherings for non-essential businesses and events remain prohibited by the recently-extended Stay Home, Stay Safe order. The current restrictions would limit the number of teams that could race in the event and would also prevent fans from attending.
Barre, VT – Thunder Road and American-Canadian Tour (ACT) officials have officially postponed the Community Bank N.A. 150 that was scheduled for Sunday, May 3. The Annual Thunder Road Car Show that was set for Saturday, May 2 has also been postponed.
The decision to push back each event was made after the Vermont “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order was extended to May 15. This order limits gathering sizes and business operations to help combat the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak.
Make-up dates for the Community Bank N.A. 150 and Car Show have not been set at this time. Instead, Thunder Road and ACT will wait to reschedule them until a clearer picture emerges of when the 2020 racing season can begin. While no further event postponements have officially been determined, officials acknowledged that such actions may ultimately prove necessary if it is still not healthy and safe to hold racing events.
“These are uncertain times, and we’re working to make the best of them just like our teams and fans are,” Thunder Road managing partner Cris Michaud said. “At this point, we’re only sure of two things: we won’t be racing on the first weekend of May, and we’ll do everything we can to eventually get the full season in as long as it’s safe and prudent to do so. To that end, we’re taking guidance directly from state officials and health experts, and we’ll continue to monitor the situation and act accordingly.”
Barre, VT – As the summer draws closer, excitement continues to build for the 61st season of racing at Barre’s Thunder Road. A huge schedule is planned for 2020, and with growing fields of drivers expected for the weekly wars, the action is expected to be hotter than ever.
The 2020 campaign has been anticipated since before the final checkered flag even dropped on the 2019 season. With five full months of racing planned – which includes the track’s 1,000th event in early July – Quarry Hill will be the place to find the best racing in the Northeast.
