by Jay | Apr 28, 2013 | Thunder Road, Vermont
Over 80 cars line up on Main Street in Barre, VT for the Annual Thunder Road Car Show. The Car Show and optional practice precede the 15th Annual Merchants Bank 150 which will be run tomorrow (Sunday, April 27) at Thunder Road.
Pit Notes for Saturday, April 27 Practice
The stars of the American Canadian Tour and Thunder Road’s local divisions lit up Barre, VT for the annual Car Show on Saturday, April 27 before heading to The Nation’s Site of Excitement for a practice in preparation for the 15th Annual Merchants Bank 150 on Sunday, April 28.
Over 80 stock cars were displayed on Main Street in Barre, VT for Thunder Road’s Annual Car Show. A large gathering of fans were treated to blue skies, driver autographs and pictures, remote-controlled cars, Troy Kingsbury’s Race to Read program, and WDEV Radio. The annual Pit Stop contest featured last year’s champions battling to see who could complete the fastest two-tire change. 2012 Bond Auto Tiger Sportsman Champion Bobby Therrien stole the show with a fast time of 32.93.
When the festivities concluded, the Catamount Pipe Band led the Champions of Thunder Road and ACT down the street to prepare for the historic parade up Quarry Hill. When noon struck, the streets lined with fans and the field came to life to begin their one-mile march towards the Nation’s Site of Excitement.
Over 40 ACT Late Model Championship Cars were on hand for the optional practice day. Northfield, VT’s Matt White led the initial practice, while Shelburne, VT’s Trampas Demers paced the second. 2011 Bond Auto Tiger Sportsman Champion Derrick O’Donnell showed the way in the third practice, but it was Milton, VT’s Eric Chase who set the fastest time of the day in the fourth practice with a blistering time of 13.042. Demers was also the fastest car in the fifth session. Other fast cars included Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Jean-Paul Cyr, Travis Stearns, and Nick Sweet.
Shawn Fleury, Mike Ziter, Tucker Williams, and Eric Badore led the Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen in practice, while Greg Adams, Bunker Hodgdon, and Alan Maynard ran the fastest times in the Allen Lumber Street Stocks. No accidents occurred during the 5 hour practice session.
The 15th Annual Merchants Bank 150 will begin with the opening Class Day activities. The Champions will be honored in front of their peers with the raising of their flags, and the top three Car Show winners from each division will be announced. Post time is set for 1pm, front gates will open at 10am. Tickets are $20 for Adults, children 12 and under are free.
by Jay | Apr 26, 2013 | ACT, Thunder Road, Touring Series News, Vermont
Barre, VT – Eddie MacDonald, a two-time New Hampshire Motor Speedway winner with the American Canadian Tour (ACT), has entered the Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road this Sunday, April 28, adding to a star-studded entry list for Thunder Road’s season opening event.
MacDonald, who finished third at the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup ACT season opener, has a long racing resume in New England. He currently races on the K&N East Tour as well as ACT.
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by | Apr 25, 2013 | Thunder Road, Vermont
ACT Late Model Tour: Brian Hoar
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl Race Preview
THE STORY
GEORGIA, Vt. – Eight-time ACT Late Model Tour champion Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., will try and add to his impressive resume when the Tour heads to the Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt., on Sunday, April 28. Hoar won the most recent ACT Late Model Tour event at the historic quarter-mile, having won the Labor Day Classic 200 at Thunder Road last September. The driver of the RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge Charger has won every major Thunder Road event in his career – the Merchants Bank 150, the Memorial Day Classic, the Labor Day Classic and the Milk Bowl – and he is the defending champion of the Merchants Bank 150. Hoar owns a record 37 career ACT Late Model Tour victories, and two of his four wins in 2012 came at Thunder Road.
THE FACTS
WHO: Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt.
TEAM: RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge Charger
CREW CHIEF: Rick Paya, Georgia, Vt.
BEST CAREER THUNDER ROAD SPEEDBOWL FINISH: 1st (most recent, September 2012)
LAST RACE AT THUNDER ROAD SPEEDBOWL: 1st (September 2012)
WHAT: ACT Late Model Tour Merchants Bank 150 (more…)
by | Apr 12, 2013 | Thunder Road
The field splits to avoid a multi-car accident in last year’s Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road. The stars of the American Canadian Tour will be in town on April 27/28 to kick off the 2013 season at The Nation’s Site of Excitement. (Photo Credit: Leif Tillotson)
Merchants Bank 150 Opens 54th Season At Thunder Road
Car Show Returns to Barre
Barre, VT – The snow is finally melting as race teams and fans prepare for the first real sign of springtime: The 15th Annual Merchants Bank 150 at Barre’s Thunder Road on the weekend of April 27/28.
The race serves as the opening point-counting event for the Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen and Allen Lumber Street Stocks, but will also bring in the stars of the American Canadian Tour to challenge the local Late Model division. Last season fans saw 8-time ACT Champion Brian Hoar pick up his second win of the season at the Nation’s Site of Excitement, with eventual ACT champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr. on his tail. Helliwell will be looking to score the victory at his home track, but he joins a long list of favorites to steal the opening event.
7-time ACT Champion Jean-Paul Cyr knows the toils of the Merchants Bank event all too well.
“Last year I thought we had it won before a mis-communication on pit road,” said Cyr, referring to when he pitted late in a caution, giving up the lead and starting at the back of the field mid-race. “I love Thunder Road, so I’m ready to go out and win it this time around,” he finished. (more…)
by | Mar 20, 2013 | Devils Bowl, Thunder Road, Vermont
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Devil’s Bowl Modifieds To Make Thunder Road Debut
Dirt-style Modifieds to run at Memorial Day Classic
BARRE, VT – The ground-pounding Bond Auto Parts Modified stock car division from Devil’s Bowl Speedway will be hitting “The Road” this year – Thunder Road International Speedbowl, that is. The legendary Barre, VT bullring has invited the dirt-style, center-seat Modifieds to compete in a 50-lap event during the 51st Annual Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic on Sunday, May 26 at 1:30pm.
The site of the famous People’s United Bank Milk Bowl, Thunder Road has hosted a variety of open-wheel events throughout its history, but never with the “dirt on asphalt” Modified rules package that has been so popular at Devil’s Bowl in recent years. The race will be held as a companion event to the traditional 100-lap Late Model event at the Memorial Day Classic, along with Thunder Road’s regular Tiger Sportsman and Street Stock divisions.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway drivers are excited about the creation of the Thunder Road event. Two-time defending Devil’s Bowl champion Ron Proctor will make the long haul from Charlton, NY to compete. (more…)
by | Mar 20, 2013 | Thunder Road, Vermont
Thunder Road Schedule Announced
Devil’s Bowl Dirt Modifieds To Run At Memorial Day Classic
Barre, VT– Thunder Road officials have put the final touches on the schedule for the Nation’s Site of Excitement for the 2013 season, kicking off the year with the Merchants Bank 150 on April 27th and 28th and closing out with the 51st running of the Vermont Milk Bowl on October 5/6.
The schedule will include 18 overall events at the Barre highbanks, with 14 of them counting towards the Late Model Track Title. The stars of the American Canadian Tour will start the year at the Merchants Bank 150 on April 27/28, and the chase to become the next King of the Road will begin with the 51st Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic on Sunday, May 26. The Devil’s Bowl Bond Auto Parts Dirt Modifieds will make their first Thunder Road appearance to run a 50-lap feature before the Late Model’s 100-lap classic. (more…)
