Thunder Road Releases Schedule of Events for Season
Road Warriors will contend a 16-race schedule in 2023 including the Road Warrior Challenge on August 10.
BARRE – Thunder Road Officials have finalized the 2023 schedule of events for the venerable Central Vermont speedbowl. Along with the silver anniversary of the Community Bank 150 and the diamond jubilee for the Memorial Day Classic, format changes for the bookending weekends of the 64th season of stock car racing have been created with fan-favorites.
Beginning with the annual Thunder Road Car Show on Saturday, May 6, an addition has been brought to the schedule. Following the car show and open practice for Thunder Road teams, an evening headlined by the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models will be the first feature event of 2023. The night will also include the eventful PASS Modifieds and the return of the R&R Race Parts NH Open Street Stock Series. The PASS Super Late Models will also return as part of Milk Bowl Qualifying Day on Saturday, September 30.
Sunday, May 7, brings the American-Canadian Tour back to their home track for the 25th Community Bank N.A. 150. The stars and cars of the ACT Tour will also return for the 45th Labor Day Classic on Sunday, Sept. 4. Both the silver anniversary of the Community Bank 150 and the $5,000-to-win Labor Day Classic will also feature the track championship implications for the Flying Tigers and Street Stocks along with the non-point Road Warriors.
Memorial Day weekend brings back the doubleheader of the 60th Memorial Day Classic 125 for the Late Models and the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series Granite City 100. Last year’s inaugural $10,000-to-win Granite City 100 was such a success for the tour-type modifieds, both track and series officials jumped on the opportunity for their return just one day after the spectacular showing.
Flying Tigers will continue in 2023, especially with the Triple Crown Series ready for contention on June 9, July 6 and August 3.
The weekly season starts in earnest with the annual Friday Night special on June 9 that includes the first round of the Flying Tiger Triple Crown Series. The Flying Tigers will also take center stage with Myers Container extra-distance competition on July 6, and the 100-lap championship round set for Cody Chevrolet-Cadillac Night on August 3.
June 15, brings the first Thursday-night racing of the season on Casella Waste Management Night. The New England Antique Racers (NEAR) and their mobile Hall of Fame, featuring many Thunder Road short track heroes, will be on hand to celebrate the 64th season of Thursday night action on Quarry Hill.
Community College of Vermont Night on July 22, will host the ninth annual First-Time Winners race for the Street Stocks with the annual Scouts Night and Kids Rides rounding out the month of June on Thursday the 29.
July kick-starts with the Fourth of July Spectacular on Sunday, July 2. Along with the on-track action, the holiday spectacular wouldn’t be complete without the biggest fireworks display in Central Vermont.
Thursday, July 13, hosts the 44th Vermont Governor’s Cup. The 150-lap spectacular is the longest points-counting event of the season for the Late Models with Flying Tigers and Street Stocks ready to show off for the big midsummer crowds expected on New England NASCAR weekend.
Street Stocks averaged over 30 cars per event in 2022 with their annual 50-lap Special set for Enduro 200 Sunday, Aug. 6, along with the First Time Winners Race on June 22.
July caps off with two iconic Thunder Road events starting off with the Midseason Championships on July 20. Double points are on the line for the championship chasers plus the first of two double purse nights. July 27 brings Portable Toilets Night with the fan-favorite Port-a-Potty Grand Prix as the top team in each division competes for the golden toilet seat.
After wrapping up the Triple Crown Series on August 3, Sunday, Aug. 6 brings the Enduro 200. The $3,000-to-win ‘People’s Race’ wouldn’t be complete without the annual 50-lap Street Stock Special.
August rolls off with a trio of special events starting with the Road Warriors Challenge on Thursday the 10, followed by Vermont Tire and Service Night on August 17, which will serve as the second double purse night along with the annual Kids Poster Contest.
The final Thursday event of the season on August 24, features the Run-What-U-Brung spectator drags where everyone’s favorite keyboard warriors put their money where their mouths are and tackle the Barre high banks.
Thunder Road championship night returns on Friday, September 8, with the Late Model King of the Road Track Champion crowned. The Flying Tiger and Street Stock track champions will also be awarded their season-long bounties as Thunder Road champions.
The Vermont Milk Bowl rounds out the 2023 Thunder Road season. The “Toughest Short Track Stock Car Race in North America: proved its namesake once again in 2022. With that in mind, officials have determined the same $100,000-plus purse will be in effect for 2023 as well and the Milk Bowl once again set as an American-Canadian Tour event.
With the 2023 Thunder Road schedule released, 2023 forms and paperwork have been posted online for teams to prepare for the upcoming year. Sponsorship opportunities are readily available for those wishing to join the Thunder Road family. Interested parties can contact Marketing Director Marvin Galarneau at mfg@thunderroadvt.com.
For more information, contact the Thunder Road offices at (802) 244-6963, media@thunderroadvt.com, or visit thunderroadvt.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ThunderRoadVT.
2023 Thunder Road Schedule of Events
(day, date, time, event)
Sat., May 6, 9 a.m., Thunder Road Car Show, Open Practice & PASS Spectacular
Sun., May 7, 1:30 p.m., Community Bank N.A. 150 – American-Canadian Tour
Sun., May 29, 1:30 p.m., Memorial Day Classic 125
Fri., June 9, 7 p.m., Triple Crown No. 1
Thur., June 15, 7 p.m., Casella Waste Systems Night with New England Antique Racers
Thur., June 22, 7 p.m., Community College of Vermont Night, Marvin Johnson Memorial
Thur., June 29, 7 p.m., Scout Night – Kids Rides
Sun., July 2, 7 p.m., Independence Day Spectacular – Fireworks Display
Thur., July 6, 7 p.m., Triple Crown No. 2
Thur., July 13, 6:30 p.m., Governor’s Cup 150
Thur., July 20, 7 p.m., Mid-Season Championships – Driver Autographs
Thur., July 27, 7 p.m., Portable Toilets – Port-a-Potty Grand Prix
Thur., Aug. 3, 7 p.m., Cody Chevrolet-Cadillac Night – Triple Crown No. 3 (100 laps)
Sun., Aug. 6, 6 p.m., Enduro 200 and Street Stock Special
Thur., Aug. 10, 7 p.m., Road Warrior Challenge
Thur., Aug. 17, 7 p.m., Vermont Tire and Service Night – Kid’s Poster Contest
Thur., Aug 24, 7 p.m., Run-What-U-Brung
Sun., Sept. 4, 1 p.m., Labor Day Classic 200
Fri., Sept. 8, 7 p.m., Championship Night for All Divisions
Sat,, Sept. 30, 1 p.m., Milk Bowl Qualifying Day plus PASS Super Late Models
Sun., Oct. 1, 12:15 p.m., Vermont Milk Bowl