Thunder Road has officially released the 2019 racing schedule for the 60th season of competition at “The Nation’s Site of Excitement”. The 19-event season includes many events the track is known for along with new additions that promise even more thrills.

As has been tradition for much of the past two decades, Thunder Road will open its season with the 21st Community Bank N.A. 150 on Sunday, April 28. The Downtown Barre Car Show will be held the day before on Saturday, April 27 followed by an open practice for all divisions.

The Community Bank N.A. 150 will once again be the first of two visits for the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) as they take on Thunder Road’s weekly Maplewood/Irving Late Model stars. The ACT Late Model Tour returns on Sunday, September 1 for the 41st Coca-Cola Labor Day Classic 200.

The biggest change to the 2019 schedule is when and how the champions are decided. A special Championship Night on Saturday, September 14 will crown champions for the Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, and Allen Lumber Street Stocks. The event also features the “Rumble in the Quarry 125” for tour-type Modifieds and the “Rumble in the Quarry 35” for the U.S. Legend Cars. More details on both races will be announced at a later date.

Between Opening Day and Championship Night, a slew of events will showcase the best short track racers in the region. The 57th Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic on Sunday, May 26 kicks off the championship season for the Thunder Road Late Models. The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models will also be on hand for 150 laps in their first of two visits in 2019.

Weekly racing will once again open with a special Friday night event on June 7. Capitol City Auto Mart Night includes the opener of the Myers Container Service Triple Crown Series for the Flying Tigers along with the annual Kids Rides. Rounds two and three of the Triple Crown will be Thursday, July 11 on Consolidated Communications Night and Thursday, August 8 on Cody Chevrolet-Cadillac Night.

The Thursday night racing season begins June 13 with Casella Waste Management Night and the New England Antique Racers. The summer will feature many events familiar to Thunder Road fans, including the Aubuchon Hardware Holiday Spectacular on Thursday, July 4; the VP Racing Fuels Vermont Governor’s Cup on Thursday, July 18; the Mid-Season Championships on Thursday, July 25; and the Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro 200 and Street Stock Special on Sunday, August 4. Thursday racing concludes with Jet Service Envelope/Accura Printing Night on Thursday, August 23 featuring the annual Run-What-U-Brung spectator races.

After Championship Night, attention turns to Vermont Milk Bowl Weekend. The season finale returns to a two-day racing format in 2019. Saturday, September 28 is Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Milk Bowl Qualifying Day along with the 150-lap PASS Super Late Model event that was held on Friday in 2018. The Thunder Road racing season wraps up on Sunday, September 29 with the 57th Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank.

The Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors will return to Thunder Road in 2019 with a 10-event schedule. These dates will be available at https://www.thunderroadvt.com/schedule/.

Thunder Road has also released the Late Models along with license application forms, team registration forms, and season pass order forms. These forms are all available at www.thunderroadvt.com and at the Thunder Road offices in Waterbury. The rules for the Flying Tigers, Street Stocks, and Road Warriors are expected to be finalized by the end of November.

2019 Thunder Road Schedule of Events

# DAY DATE TIME EVENT

-- Sat Apr 27 9:00am Downtown Barre Car Show & Practice Session

1 Sun Apr 28 1:30pm 21st Community Bank N.A. 150 – ACT Late Model Tour

2 Sun May 26 1:30pm 57th Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic 100 – PASS 150

3 Fri Jun 7 7:00pm Capital City Auto Mart Night – Flying Tiger Triple Crown #1 and Kid’s Rides

4 Thu Jun 13 7:00pm Casella Waste Management Night – New England Antique Racers

5 Thu Jun 20 7:00pm North Country Federal Credit Union – Scout Night

6 Thu Jun 27 7:00pm Community College of Vermont Night – Vermont Brewer’s Cup

7 Thu Jul 4 7:00pm Aubuchon Hardware Holiday Spectacular/Fireworks

8 Thu Jul 11 7:00pm Consolidated Communications Night – Flying Tiger Triple Crown #2

9 Thu Jul 18 6:30pm 40th VP Racing Fuels Vermont Governor’s Cup 150