2022 Thunder Road Season: By the Numbers

Alan Ward photo

0.120 Seconds – The winning margin for D.J. Shaw over Shawn Swallow on the last lap pass to join his father, Dale Shaw, as a NEFCU Labor Day Classic winner on September 4th. 

2 – Woburn, Massachusetts’ Anthony Nocella took back-to-back 2nd-place finishes in two debuts of touring divisions at Thunder Road this season. First in the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series Granite City 100 in May and then in the New England Supermodified Series 75 in June.  

3 – Williamstown's Josh Lovely was the only driver to go three-for-three in 2022, earning 3 consecutive wins in the rk Miles Street Stocks during the month of July including his third Times Argus Midseason Championship.  

4 – Frank Putney was able to lead the wins list for 2022 with four wins in the Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors. Christopher Pelkey, Stephen Donahue, Tanner Woodard and Josh Lovely all followed Putney to rack up three wins at Thunder Road in 2022. 

7 – In his 7th event at Thunder Road, Massachusetts-native Ryan Kuhn took down the win in the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Milk Bowl Friday 150 with the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models. 

12.283 - Time, in seconds, that Christopher Pelkey turned to earn the Booth Bros./Hood Pole Award at the 60th Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank. 

15 years, 6 days - Shelburne, Vermont’s Kaiden Fisher started his first Vermont Milk Bowl at 15 years and 6 days old. To the tune of $3,000, ‘Tropical Storm’ was able to win his Triple 50 heat on Booth Bros/Hood Qualifying Day and finished with 28 points on Sunday to come home 6th overall. 

19 – Counting Touring Divisions, Thunder Road celebrated 19 first-time winners in Victory Lane this season, either at the track itself or within their respective division.  

26 Years, 13 Days – The length of time between Adam Maynard’s last Thunder Road win in the rk Miles Street Stocks on June 20, 1996 and his first win in the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers on July 3, 2022.  

31 – In the 31st year of the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models being the top Thunder Road Division, Christopher Pelkey became the 18th different Late Model King of the Road. 

35 – With his win on June 16th, Tommy ‘Thunder’ Smith increased his status as the all-time rk Miles Street Stock Wins Leader with 35 gold trophies sitting in his Williamstown garage.  

39 – Christopher Pelkey became the 39th different King of the Road Track Champion in Thunder Road’s 63rd season of stock car racing.   

58 – 58 different drivers took part in Late Model events at Thunder Road between weekly competition, ACT Tour events and the 60th Vermont Milk Bowl. 

58 – With D.J. Shaw’s Labor Day Classic victory in September, there are now 58 different drivers who have taken wins in American-Canadian Tour competition at Thunder Road since 1979. Robbie Crouch continues to lead the ACT wins list with 13 over Dave Dion’s 9 and Brian Hoar’s 8 wins.  

63 – Thunder Road International Speedbowl celebrated its 63rd Season in 2022, first opening its gates on Thursday, June 30, 1960.  

101 – Thunder Road had 101 different podium finishers standing in victory lane including all weekly events, touring divisions and special event winners. Burnett Scrap Metal Road Warrior driver ‘Flyin’ Fred Fleury took home 8 podium trophies in 2022 to top the charts.  

200 – After making various Late Model starts in the past several seasons, Barrington, New Hampshire’s Alby Ovitt was the only driver to finish all 200 laps en route to his first win at ‘The Road’ in the 38th Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro 200! 

$15,590 – Christopher Pelkey’s share of the $103,100 ACT-sanctioned Vermont Milk Bowl purse with the Booth Bros./Hood Pole Award, Triple 50 Heat Race Win, Milk Bowl Lap Money and the 60th Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank win.