NEAR Nostalgia Opens Iconic Thursday Night Thunder Road Racing on Casella Night

Barre, VT — It’s an annual tradition on Quarry Hill to welcome in the iconic weekly Thursday Night racing at Thunder Road with the sights and sounds of yesteryear courtesy of the New England Antique Racers (NEAR). Celebrating the venerable oval’s 64th season of racing, the flathead coupes, vintage modifieds and hard-charging American muscle machines invoke the feeling of years gone by, showcasing a love of racing in Central Vermont that goes all the way back to 1960. Casella Waste Management Night on Thursday, June 15th will certainly get the blood pumping in race fans, drivers, crew members and officials alike as the championship battles begin to take shape for the Maplewood/Irving Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers and rk Miles Street Stocks. 

With just two events under their belts in the 2023 season, the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models have seen just three drivers make the top-10 in both outings so far. Back again after several outlaw, pick-and-choose seasons, Barre’s Cody Blake leads the standings over third-year Late Model campaigner Brandon Lanphear and defending champion Chris Pelkey. Of the three, Blake is the only one to take a trophy home after coming up just short of winner Darrell Morin last Friday, a stat both Lanphear and Pelkey are looking forward to changing.  

Alan Ward photo

After opening the Myers Container Service Triple Crown Series last Friday, the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers are looking forward to settling into their normal 40-lap feature on Thursday. The tightest battle of the three championship divisions, Jason Pelkey leads a tied Logan Powers and defending Tiger champion Sam Caron by a single point going into Casella Waste Management Night. All three have found great success on the Barre highbanks in the last few seasons, setting up for a preview of what’s to come this year. 

Although happily surprised and expecting the worst last Friday, fan-favorite Juan ‘Paco’ Marshall continues to lead the rk Miles Street Stocks standings over opening day winner James Dopp and the consistent Kyle MacAskill. Marshall has been consistent even through wholesale changes and adjustments to his Monkey Wrench Motorsports’ Dodge Neon but continues to hunt for his first win of the 2023 season.  

The Thunder and Lightning of Barre, Vermont’s Thunder Road returns to Thursday Night Racing on June 15th with Casella Waste Management Night. The New England Antique Racers (NEAR) return that nostalgic feeling of yesteryear to celebrate the 64th season of stock car racing on Quarry Hill along with the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers and rk Miles Street Stocks. Post Time is set for 7:00pm with the Grandstands open at 5:00pm. Adult General Admission tickets are available for $15 with kids 12-6 for $5 and children 5 and under free! The Family Four Pass is also available for two adults and two kids at $30. 

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. 

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