Barre, VT – Barre’s Thunder Road is about to rev up for a big month of racing to close out a great 2019 season. “High-Stakes September” begins with two days of action on the Barre high banks on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1. The Coca-Cola Labor Day Classic weekend is just the start of a month-long stretch that sends off the 60th season of racing with three of the biggest events of the year.
The focus right now is on a holiday weekend that includes two major Northeast touring series and the biggest stars of weekly racing. But there’s plenty more action planned for the Barre high banks in the coming month. The track champions will be crowned during a special 60th-season celebration on Saturday, September 14. Then, on the final weekend of September, the 57th Vermont Milk Bowl takes the stage. A minimum $10,000 is again guaranteed to whomever triumphs in “The Toughest Short-Track Stock Car Race in North America”.
“There’s no reason not to show up and see the action,” Barre’s Jason Corliss said. “September’s going to be a huge month for Thunder Road. If you like short track racing, you like excitement, and maybe even some entry-level action with the four cylinder divisions this Saturday, it’s going to be phenomenal racing. The Labor Day Classic is always one of the best races of the year, especially being a race where you can change tires, which adds some strategy elements. It’s just good old-fashioned stock car racing. If I wasn’t driving, I’d be sitting up in the stands watching. I’m definitely looking forward to this month as a driver, and I’m sure the fans are going to get their money’s worth.”
The month of non-stop action opens with Four Cylinder Saturday on August 31 at 6:00pm and the 41st Labor Day Classic on Sunday, September 1 at 1:30pm. The Saturday card includes the third-ever visit to Thunder Road from the North East Mini Stock Tour. Their 50-lap event is supported by added-distance features for the Allen Lumber Street Stocks and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors. At just $10 for adult admission, the price is right to see three four-cylinder divisions that are never short on excitement.
The American-Canadian Tour (ACT) takes center stage Sunday with the 200-lap Classic. The biggest traveling stars such as Rich Dubeau, Jimmy Hebert, Scott Payea, Ryan Kuhn, and Dylan Payea will take on many of Thunder Road’s Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model weekly standouts in an event that has roots going back to the track’s inaugural season. The Road Warriors complete their doubleheader with the first-ever Road Warrior Challenge, a 50-lap, $500-to-win event that is the biggest in the division’s history. The long-heralded Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers also have a 50-lap feature.
“We’re going to treat (the Classic) the same way and prepare the same way as a Thursday night race, and ultimately, it’s the same goal,” defending Labor Day Classic winner Corliss said. “We’re there to try and win the race and do the best job we can with the car we bring. It’ll be nice to have a race where we can maybe try a couple different things and almost use it as a mini-test session for the championship. But don’t get me wrong – we’re 100 percent focused on Labor Day first and trying to win another Labor Day Classic.”
After a week off to catch its breath, Thunder Road wraps up the point-counting season with Barre Granite Association Championship Night on Saturday, September 14. The 60th-season celebration includes twin 60-lap features for the Late Models and Flying Tigers plus twin 30-lap features for the Street Stocks and Road Warriors. All division champions will be crowned at race’s end, including the “King of the Road”. Following the racing, the fun continues with a post-race pit party featuring the 40th U.S. Army Band Iron Sights.
All this is a lead-up to the 57th Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank on Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29. The two-day event includes the three-segment Milk Bowl on Sunday and a 150-lap event for the Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models on Saturday as part of Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Qualifying Day. Along the way, there will also be “Mini Milk Bowls” for the Flying Tigers, Street Stocks, Road Warriors, and New England Dwarf Cars.
This fantastic month of short track racing begins at 6:00pm on Saturday, August 31 with Four Cylinder Saturday. The North East Mini Stock Tour, Allen Lumber Street Stocks, and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors have a trio of four-cylinder showdowns. The pits open at 3:00pm and the front gates open at 4:15pm. Admission is just $10 for adults and $3 for kids age 6-12.
The Labor Day doubleheader continues Sunday, September 1 at 1:30pm with the 41st Coca-Cola Labor Day Classic. The ACT Late Model Tour goes 200 green-flag laps while the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors each have 50-lap features. The pits open at 8:30am and the front gates open at 10:30am. Admission is $25 for adults and free for kids ages 12 and under.
-Source: Michael R. Stridsberg/Thunder Road Speedbowl Media Director