by | Apr 30, 2014 | Thunder Road, Vermont
Becomes Official Soft Drink of Thunder Road
Barre, VT – Thunder Road International Speedbowl is proud to announce Coca-Cola as the new official soft drink of the ¼-mile speedway and the headlining sponsor for the prestigious Labor Day Classic. Thunder Road will now sell a variety of bottled Coke products in their concession stands.
The “Nation’s Site of Excitement” is thrilled to add the Coca-Cola name to one of its premier events on the schedule. This season will see the 36th running of the Coca-Cola Labor Day Classic 200, which has built a lot of history over the years.
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by | Apr 30, 2014 | ACT, Thunder Road, Touring Series News, Vermont
Podium finish for Packard at Thunder Road in Merchants Bank 150
Patience; that’s what was stressed to Emily Packard during the 16th Annual Merchants Bank 150 this past Sunday April 27tt and did it ever pay off. In only the second race of the American Canadian Tour season, Packard took her time, picking her way through the field and drove her 9X Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels sponsored car to a third place finish.
“The race went absolutely awesome, I couldn’t ask for a better day,” said Packard on her podium finish. “To be able to be racing up front with these guys that I have looked up for so long was amazing. I just tried to stay calm, cool and collected and keep us up front. “ Earlier in the day Packard started second in the first ACT heat and comfortably maintained that position, getting herself into the race so that the team could focus on preparing the car for the race.
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by Jay | Apr 28, 2014 | ACT, New England, Thunder Road, Touring Series News, Vermont
Wayne Helliwell, Jr. Wheels His Way to Merchants Bank Win
Barre, VT – Wayne Helliwell, Jr. of Dover, NH used a cross over move on Jimmy Hebert with about 15 laps to go to claim his first career Thunder Road win in the 16th annual Merchants Bank 150 on Sunday, April 27. Hebert held on for second while 17 year old Emily Packard came home third.
Hebert led for the majority of the event after taking the lead on lap 26 from his third place starting position. He held off two former Thunder Road Late Model Champions in Nick Sweet and Derrick O’Donnell in a fierce battle, while protecting the low lane. With just under 20 laps to go, Sweet and O’Donnell made hard contact on the backstretch, bringing out the ninth caution of the event. Sweet would be done to the day with front end damage, while O’Donnell returned after changing a flat. (more…)
by | Dec 1, 2013 | ACT, Thunder Road, Touring Series News, Vermont
Barre, VT – Thunder Road International Speedbowl honored its 2013 Champions with the annual Banquet of Champions at the Barre Elks Club on Saturday, November 30. Rookie Derrick O’Donnell received the top honors in the Late Model division, while Shawn Fleury and Bunker Hodgdon claimed the Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen and Allen Lumber Street Stock Championships respectively.
O’Donnell of North Haverhill, NH was dominant in his first season behind the wheel of a Late Model at the “Nation’s Site of Excitement.” He claimed his first career Late Model win in the first point counting event of the season on Memorial Day weekend. He took home another victory just a few weeks later. And to cap it off, the former Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen Champion became the first rookie driver to claim a Late Model “King of the Road” title.
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by | Nov 2, 2013 | Thunder Road, Vermont
Barre, VT – Thunder Road International Speedbowl has released its 2014 stock car racing schedule. The schedule features 18 events from the end of April through the beginning of October, as is tradition at the “Nation’s Site of Excitement.” The biggest change for 2014 is the switch from Sunday “Twilight” events in early June to the return of the traditional June Thursday night events.
The season will kick off with the 16th Annual Merchants Bank 150 on the weekend of Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27. The Merchants Bank event will be the only American Canadian Tour races at the ¼-mile in 2014.
The 52nd Annual Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic will be on Sunday, May 25. This event will be the first of the 2014 Vermont State Championship events. The season will be highlighted by big Thursday nights. The Governor’s Cup 150, the second of Thunder Road’s VT State Championship events, will be on June 26 with the Northfield Savings Bank Holiday Fireworks night the following week on July 3.
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by | Oct 18, 2013 | Thunder Road, Vermont
Becker Posts Best Career Finish In Season-Ending Event
SOUTH PARIS, Maine – As a rookie in the Late Model division at Thunder Road International Speedbowl, Brett Gervais learned all there was to learn about the ups and downs that come with racing one of the northeast’s most demanding tracks.
For Gervais, though, there was light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a Top-10 finish in the 51st annual People’s United Bank Milk Bowl on Sunday, October 6. Gervais finished inside the Top-12 in each of the three segments to place eighth overall in his first Milk Bowl start.
“That’s the fastest car we’ve had all year there,” said Gervais, who’s father, Reno Gervais, was a regular in the division for years. “It obviously makes it a lot easier for you when the car’s going good like that. I was very impressed with how it went, and we finished in front of guys that have been racing in the Milk Bowl for quite a while.
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