Thunder Road Welcoming Many New Sponsors for 61st Season

When the green flag flies on the 61st season of competition at Barre’s Thunder Road, some new names will help present the action. Track officials have announced a mix of first-time sponsors and backers returning from hiatus to support stock car racing at the “Nation’s Site of Excitement.”

Throughout the offseason, local and regional companies have been jumping at the chance to be involved with the historic track. This eagerness, along with the vocal backing of teams and fans, has officials looking forward to the arrival of the 2020 season.

“Without the support of teams, fans, and sponsors, you don’t have a racetrack,” Thunder Road managing partner Cris Michaud said. “Having so many companies wanting to be a part of Thunder Road, along with the growing lists of registered drivers, has kept us optimistic about what’s to come. We’re looking forwards to working with everyone who’s involved to build long-lasting relationships in the name of great short track racing.”

Optical Expressions of Berlin, which has sponsored multiple Late Model drivers at Thunder Road over the years, is adding an event entitlement in 2020. The family-owned eye care practice will present the 42nd Labor Day Classic featuring the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) that’s set for September 6.

Efficiency Vermont is also joining the list of event entitlement sponsors. The July 9 event will be known as Efficiency Vermont Night and feature the second round of the Myers Container Service Triple Crown Series. While previous event sponsor Passumpsic Bank is not returning in that role in 2020, they will remain involved at Thunder Road and at New Hampshire’s White Mountain Motorsports Park.

This year, an exciting new program is being added for the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models. Nelson Ace Hardware and Milwaukee Tool are teaming up to present the weekly Crew Chief Award. At each event, the crew chief of the winning Late Model team will collect a $50 gift certificate to Nelson Ace Hardware, which previously was an event sponsor for many years. At season’s end, the person with the most weekly awards will be named the Crew Chief of the Year and given a complete Milwaukee power tool kit.

Earlier this offseason, it was announced that New England Racing Fuel and Sunoco Race Fuels have been named the Official Fuel of Thunder Road. As part of this, they are also the new sponsor of the Hard Charger Award for the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers. In each Flying Tiger feature, the driver that gains the most spots will receive a five-gallon pail of Sunoco standard 110 octane fuel. If two or more drivers tie for most positions gained, the award goes to the driver with the best finishing position.

Fans and teams can also expect to see a number of new billboards and signs springing up around the facility. New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Novello Furniture & Ashley HomeStore, Noyle W. Johnson Insurance, White's Heating, and Pete's Equipment Sales & Service have all signed multi-year deals for billboard placements. Several companies that already sponsor events at Thunder Road will now have billboards as well, including Northfield Savings Bank, Vermont Tire & Service, Capitol City Auto Mart, and Cody Chevrolet-Cadillac.

Pending other developments, Thunder Road is scheduled to open its 2020 racing season with the 58th Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic on Sunday, May 24 at 1:30pm. The event includes 125 green-flag laps for the Maplewood/Irving Late Models along with a 100 lap event for the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers who will be running their first event of the Myers Container Triple Crown Series, Allen Lumber Street Stocks, and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors.