Offseason Spotlight: Road Warriors Keep Bringing the Fun to Thunder Road

Barre, VT – Ask any group of race fans what division they like best at a racetrack, and you’re likely to get a different answer from each of them. For many people at Thunder Road, though, the Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors are what make a night at the track worthwhile. The Road Warriors had another successful and fun season in 2019, showing why they’re one of the most popular entry-level divisions in the Northeast.

The Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors returned to the high banks in the middle of the 2017 season after previously competing from 2003 to 2011 (as the Junkyard Warriors). And what a ride it’s been. Thunder Road has long been known for its “ladder system”, where drivers work their way up from division to division. In fact, most drivers of the Flying Tigers, Late Models, and American-Canadian Tour first gained their experience at the lower-level classes.

Every ladder needs a strong bottom rung – and the Warriors have been exactly that. It’s a division where young and inexperienced racers learn how to race, and where more people can afford to get involved in racing. Some from both the old and new versions of the Warriors have made the rise through the ranks, such as reigning Flying Tiger champion Jason Woodard and Street Stock champion Jeffrey Martin. But fun is first and foremost in the Warriors. The commitment Thunder Road made when it brought the Warriors back was simple: keep things fun.

In that respect, the 2019 season was one of the best in the Warrior division’s history. The racing itself was great in their partial schedule. There was door-to-door action throughout the field and seven first-time winners in just 12 events. It’s more than that, though. Simply put, nobody at Thunder Road has more fun than the Road Warriors. The community and friendship in the Warrior pits is as strong as any Thunder Road has seen in recent memory.

Over the past year, fans and teams throughout the pits saw racers building cars to get their friends on the track – and then shaking their hands after they get beat by them. They saw race winners giving their trophies away to little kids they just met a few minutes before. They also saw nearly the entire division coming out with American Flags to be introduced on Four Cylinder Saturday. When they did knock each other around on the track a little – which is going to happen from time to time in an entry-level division – they quickly put it behind them and got back to having fun.

In other words, the Warriors have more than done their part to make Thunder Road the action-packed, family-friendly, and yes, fun place to spend a night at the races. They were rewarded for their efforts and attitude with the inaugural 50-lap Road Warrior Challenge at the Labor Day Classic. A second edition of the event has already been announced for 2020.

The Warriors are a non-point division at Thunder Road, racing for trophies and pride. However, Thunder Road still elected to honor them with trophies for the 2019 season. All drivers who attended at least 80 percent of the Warrior events as well as the Banquet of Champions received a trophy and got to walk the stage as their season was celebrated. The division also got together on its own and decided to crown Northfield’s James Dopp as the unofficial “champion” following the season finale. Dopp posted a victory and a division-leading six podium finishes in his 11 events.

“I’ve had a really great season of fun, and I was able to do it with the greatest bunch of guys,” Dopp said on Facebook following the season. (Note: comments have been slightly edited for clarity.) “Made some new racing friends in the process. I can tell anyone now, don’t ever give up, never back down, and sometimes you just can’t lift. LOL. I was wanting to move up, but I just can’t afford it, so I’m hoping most of you will accept me back for another year.”