Thunder Road Sponsor Spotlights: Contingency Sponsors, Part 2

Today, we have Part 2 of our Contingency Sponsor spotlight. Here’s the rest of the companies whose logos proudly grace Thunder Road race cars and offer great rewards for our teams! (Note: contingencies are listed in alphabetical order.)

Nelson ACE Hardware/Milwaukee Tool

Supporter of the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models

The 2021 season sees the return of a longtime Thunder Road supporter. Nelson ACE Hardware, which was an event sponsor for many years, now enters the year of a new Late Model contingency program aimed at the crews who help get the cars on the track. (The program was originally slated to debut in 2020 but was pushed back a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.) Each week, the crew chief of the Late Model feature winner receives a $50 gift certificate to Nelson ACE Hardware. At season’s end, the crew chief with the most weekly awards will receive a complete Milwaukee Tool power tool kit as the Crew Chief of the Year. Nelson ACE also has signage in the main bathroom area at the track.

For more than 100 years, the Nelson family has been serving Central Vermonters. The Nelson ACE Hardware store was founded in 1983 by Carroll, Sarah, and Bob Nelson; Bob still owns and operates the business to this day. Based on Main Street in Barre, VT, Nelson’s “Specializes in Special Orders”. In addition to a full selection of hardware and tools for everyday projects, they also sell portable appliances, giftware, housewares, and kitchen products. The store was named the Vermont Family-Owned Small Business of the Year in 2013. You can learn more about them at www.nelsonacehardware.com.

Milwaukee Tool is nearing a century of excellence serving DIYers and professionals. Since 1924, they have been a leading developer of innovative power tools that are productive and durable. The company is based in Brookfield, WI and owned by Techtronic Industries. Learn about their latest power tools at www.milwaukeetool.com.

NES Enterprise

Supporter of the rk Miles Street Stocks

For four years now, NES Enterprise has been helping four-cylinder racers at ACT-sanctioned tracks. Throughout the coming season, the winner of each rk Miles Street Stock and Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini feature will receive a $20 NES product certificate. The Street Stock points champion gets a $200 merchandise certificate while the Strictly Stock Mini champion receives a $100 certificate.

NES Enterprise has quickly become one of the most trusted stock car racing parts suppliers in Central Vermont. Owned by multi-time Thunder Road and ACT champion Nick Sweet, they stock a wide assortment of parts for everything from Street Stocks to Super Late Models. The NES Enterprise parts trailer can be found at Thunder Road every week helping racers get the parts they need for urgent repairs at fair prices. Contact them by calling (802) 505-1442 or visiting www.facebook.com/sweetparts/.

New England Racing Fuel/Sunoco Race Fuels

Supporter of the ACT Late Model Tour, Thunder Road Speedbowl, and White Mountain Motorsports Park

For many years, New England Racing Fuel and Sunoco Race Fuels has been the official supplier of White Mountain Motorsports Park. In 2020, they joined the ACT and Thunder Road families, too. Each week, racers can purchase Sunoco 110 spec fuel directly at each track at a great price.

NERF and Sunoco also sponsor multiple contingency awards — most notably the “Sunoco Hard Charger” program. At all ACT Tour point-counting events, a five-gallon pail of Sunoco 110 fuel (est. value $65) is awarded to the driver who A) gains the most spots from their scheduled starting position, and B) has not won an ACT Tour feature during the calendar year. The Thunder Road and White Mountain Flying Tigers also have a 5-gallon Sunoco Hard Charger award at each feature, but with no limits based on wins. At season’s end, the ACT champion will receive certificates for three 54-gallon drums of Sunoco spec fuel, with an additional drum raffled off by blind draw. The track Flying Tiger champions each get a certificate for one drum of Sunoco fuel. Certificates can be redeemed at any authorized Sunoco distributor or dealer.

New England Racing Fuel is an official distributor of Sunoco Race Fuels. They ship industrial drums of fuel to tracks throughout the region and also offer consumer-level quantities for purchase at their Burlington, CT headquarters. Product information is available at www.nerfinc.com along with company apparel, flags, and other swag.

Sunoco Race Fuels is the official fuel of numerous North American motorsports series and sanctioning bodies, including NASCAR, Grand-Am, AMA Pro Road Racing, ARCA, IZOD Indy Car, the Indy Light Series, NHRA, and Trans-Am. They opened their first gas station in 1920 in Ardmore, PA and are now an international refiner of petroleum products. Sunoco developed its first high-octane blends (260 and 280) in 1956 and entered motorsports in 1966 with Roger Penske Racing’s Trans-Am team. Since then, they have become the world’s largest manufacturer of racing gasoline. Learn more at www.sunocoracefuels.com.

Port City Racecars/Crazy Horse Racing

Supporter of the New England Late Model Challenge Cup

Port City Racecars and Crazy Horse Racing return to the ACT fold in 2021 with a contingency raffle for the inaugural Late Model Challenge Cup. (The award was originally planned for 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the Challenge Cup for a year.) Crazy Horse, which was previously an ACT Tour partner, will award a complete Port City Racecars chassis to one Challenge Cup driver at season’s end — giving them a big-time jump on the 2022 season. To be eligible for the raffle, drivers must register for the NELMCC by the April 5 deadline and compete in at least 10 eligible events.

Crazy Horse Racing of South Paris, ME is a leading Northeast manufacturer and dealer of auto racing chassis, engines, and high-performance parts. Owners Mitch and Judy Green work with tracks, series, and drivers throughout the region. In August 2019, Crazy Horse became the exclusive dealer of Port City Racecars chassis in the Northeastern U.S. and Canada’s East Coast. Learn more at www.crazyhorseracecars.com.

Port City Racecars of Mooresville, NC has been providing championship-winning chassis, suspension parts, and technical support since 1978. Founded by Harley Boeve and now run by Gary Crooks, the company serves racers throughout North America in divisions ranging from template Late Models to pavement Modifieds. Learn more at www.portcityracecars.com.

QA1 Precision Products, Inc.

Supporter of the ACT Late Model Tour, Thunder Road Speedbowl, and White Mountain Motorsports Park

In 2019, ACT Late Model competitors were given another option when purchasing shocks. That year, the QA1 63 Series non-rebuildable 9-inch shock was approved for ACT Tour and weekly Late Model competition. Since then, QA1 has provided three sets of 63 series shocks (approx. value $800 per set) — one each for the ACT, Thunder Road, and White Mountain banquets. One set each is awarded via blind draw to a competitor who competed in 100% of the point-counting events for their division or series.

QA1 has operated since 1993 following a simple principle: vehicles are meant to be driven. This Lakeville, MN–based company specializes in suspension components, drive shafts, and rod ends for an assortment of vehicles. QA1 products can be found everywhere from high-level circle track and drag racing cars to restored muscle cars. The parts look just as impressive to make your ride a real showstopper. Visit www.qa1.net to learn about the latest shocks, carbon fiber driveshafts, ball joints, springs, and other components.

Tilton Racing

Supporter of the ACT Late Model Tour, Thunder Road Speedbowl, and White Mountain Motorsports Park

Tilton is one of the newest members of the ACT racing family. Their decals first adorned ACT Late Model Tour cars in 2019; now, the Tilton program extends to the Thunder Road and White Mountain weekly Late Model classes. The 3rd-place finisher in all point-counting Late Model features — nearly 50 in total between the three divisions — receives a $25 Tilton merchandise certificate. The 3rd-place points finishers will each be awarded a $100 product certificate.

As part of Tilton Engineering, the Tilton Racing division produces a wide range of performance driveline and brake parts, in-cockpit controls and starter motors. Tilton Racing was founded in 1972 in El Segundo, CA by McLane “Mac” and Adelle Tilton. Prior to launching his company, Mac was the crew chief for Brock Racing Enterprises when they won the 1971 and 1972 Trans-Am championships. Their selection of products includes clutches, flywheels, bell housings, master brake cylinders, and pedals. Tilton developed the first carbon/carbon clutch used in Formula 1 and is responsible for many other innovations that are now considered commonplace among racers. View their full line of racing components at www.tiltonracing.com.