by Jay | Feb 4, 2016 | New, Thunder Road, Vermont
Barre, VT – Excitement is quickly growing for the return of youth Go-Kart racing at Barre, VT’s Thunder Road in 2016. An informational meeting held on Tuesday, January 19 for the Junior Champ Kart division drew attendance and interest from more than 20 youth competitors and their families throughout Vermont and New Hampshire.
“Everyone at the meeting seemed pretty excited about it,” Thunder Road Race Director Cris Michaud said. “People are really interested in the way that we’re doing it. There won’t be any points awarded, so people can just come out and enjoy racing without the pressure of worrying about points. We think that’s the best way to keep things fun for young competitors.” (more…)
by Jay | Jan 2, 2016 | New, Thunder Road, Vermont
Kart Racing Set to Return to Thunder Road in 2016
Barre, VT – Thunder Road has announced the formation of a new weekly Go-Kart racing series for the 2016 season. The Junior Champ Kart youth division for competitors ages 6 to 14 will run on Tuesday nights throughout the summer, marking the first time since 2010 that weekly Kart racing will be held on the Barre high banks.
The 10-race series begins on Tuesday, June 21 and will run weekly through Tuesday, August 23, with a one-week holiday break on July 5. The gates will open at 4:30pm for all Tuesday events with racing beginning at 6:00pm.
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by Jay | Nov 29, 2015 | Thunder Road, Vermont
Thunder Road Announces 2016 Schedule of Events
Barre, VT – Thunder Road officials have announced the release of the 2016 Thunder Road schedule of events. The 18-event schedule for the 57th season of racing at the “Nation’s Site of Excitement” begins with the 18th Annual Merchants Bank 150 season opener featuring the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) on Saturday/Sunday, April 30/May 1 and runs through the 54th Annual Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl on Saturday/Sunday, October 1 & 2.
A special weekly event Sunday, May 22 will kick off the 2016 Late Model “King of the Road” chase. The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models will then return for the 54th Annual Mekkelsen Memorial Day Classic on Sunday, May 29 as part of a doubleheader with the Thunder Road Late Models.
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by Jay | Nov 28, 2015 | Thunder Road, Vermont
Barre, VT – Thunder Road International Speedbowl honored its 2015 Champions with the annual Banquet of Champions at the Barre Elks Club on Saturday, November 14. Derrick O’Donnell received the top honors for the third consecutive season in the Thunder Road Late Model division, while Brendan Moodie and Jamie Davis earned their first Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen and Allen Lumber Street Stock championships, respectively.
North Haverhill, NH’s O’Donnell became the second driver in Thunder Road history to win three straight “King of the Road” crowns, joining Chuck Beede’s run from 1992-1994. O’Donnell’s championships came in his first three years in the division. He earned a career-high four wins in 2015, giving him a total of seven for his career. Among the victories was his second Memorial Day Classic triumph as well as a win in the Times Argus Mid-Season Championships. O’Donnell also finished second in the Milk Bowl and third in the Vermont Governor’s Cup.
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by Jay | Oct 13, 2015 | Thunder Road, Vermont
Richard Casey photo
Defending Milk Bowl champion Eddie MacDonald’s quest to repeat ended with a hard crash into the front stretch wall at Thunder Road in Barre, Vermont after only two laps in the second segment. The 53rd running of the Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl attracted 47 Late Models on Saturday and Sunday October 10 and 11 all vying for the converted 30 starting positions.
Eddie Mac qualified Saturday for the event while posting a third place finish in the first of three qualifying races. The Rowley, Mass. Veteran missed qualifying on speed when he posted the fourth fastest time of the day. The top three cars automatically received starting positions in the race commonly called the “toughest short track race in the country.” With the third place run Eddie Mac, driving the Exit Realty/Hancock Electric Chevy, earned the tenth starting position for the Sunday feature before a packed stadium. (more…)
by Jay | Oct 13, 2015 | ACT, Thunder Road, Touring Series News, Vermont
Alan Ward/Big Al’s Photos photo
Barre, VT – Local hero Nick Sweet added to his growing legend on Sunday, October 11, slicing through the field in the final laps to win the final segment and capture his second career Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl win in the 2015 Thunder Road season finale.
The multi-time Thunder Road Late Model Champion entered the final segment trailing rival and three-time defending “King of the Road” Derrick O’Donnell by five points in the overall tally and was running seventh to O’Donnell’s eleventh when the first of three caution flags flew on lap 37 of the 50-lap segment. Seeing the Milk Bowl within his grasp, Sweet seized the moment, needing just seven more laps to charge to the lead.
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