Cody Blake Announces Full Time, King of the Road Championship Run in 2023

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Barre, VT — After three seasons of an outlaw schedule of sorts that saw his team make sparse appearances at the Nation’s Site of Excitement, Barre’s Cody Blake has announced a return to weekly racing at Thunder Road International Speedbowl for 2023. In his announcement, Blake made a point to confirm his intentions to run for the King of the Road title and dethrone 2022 champion Christopher Pelkey.

When asked, Blake confirmed that all the pieces are coming together for a title run in 2023. “(My Wife) Michelle and I were building our home the past couple years which took a lot of time and money. Now that we are living comfortably at home, and before my crew starts getting busy with families of their own, we figured we’d give it another shot.”

Blake also alluded to a friendly rivalry with his team’s goal to take over the King of the Road. “(Chris) Pelkey and I do a lot together, snowmobile, dinners with the wives, golf…so I figured I’d start a friendly rivalry a little early, it’ll only make us better,” said Blake. “If we can get back to being a championship contending team, and Chris is as good as this year as he was last, it’s going to be a lot of fun!”

Was reigning champion Christopher Pelkey concerned? “Cody is one of my best friends so I look forward to having him back at the track full time,” said Pelkey. “I think everyone wants the championship…so I look forward to the challenge of defending our title this coming season.”

Alan Ward Photo

Both Blake and Pelkey begin their quest for the 2023 ‘King of the Road’ track championship on Sunday, May 28th with the 60th annual Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic. Fellow stars Kyle Pembroke, Scott Dragon, Stephen Donahue, Marcel Gravel and more will also look to start their title run strong at the 125-lap Classic for the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models. Along with the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series Granite City 100, the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic will also host the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, rk Miles Street Stocks and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors.

The weekly Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model warriors are also expected to defend their home turf against the American-Canadian Tour stars in the 25th Community Bank 150 on Sunday, May 7th. The new epic opening weekend will feature the annual Car Show plus the all-new Pro All Stars Series Opener featuring the PASS Super Late Models, PASS Modifieds and R&R Race Parts Street Stock Open Series on Saturday, May 6th.

For more information, contact the Thunder Road offices at (802) 244-6963, media@thunderroadvt.com, or visit www.thunderroadvt.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ThunderRoadVT.