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Post Info TOPIC: Thunder Road Memorial Day Event PR
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Thunder Road Memorial Day Event PR
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ACT TOUR and TRUE VALUE MODIFIEDS HEADED TO THUNDER ROAD

 

For Immediate Release -                                      ACT 051309-19

 

        Waterbury, VT Teams from all over New England will celebrate Memorial Day weekend at Thunder Road in Barre, Vermont for the traditional running of the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic Doubleheader. It is the only time in 2009 when fans can see the stars from both the American Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Models and the open wheel ground-pounding monsters from the True Value Modified Racing Series racing together on one card.

 

American Canadian Tour point leader Scott Payea watched the heavyweight fight between Randy Potter of Groveton, New Hampshire and Brad Leighton of Center Harbor, New Hampshire at Airborne last Sunday. Potter and Leighton punched and counter-punched for over 90 laps of what was a classic 35th Furniture World of Vermont Spring Green battle royal on the fast, newly renovated Airborne Speedway half mile.

 

I watched them swap leads, bang doors, beat on each other for most of the race. It was great! I had the best seat in the house, and should have bought a ticket. It really was like a pair of heavy-weight prizefighters softening each other up in the early rounds. I thought about watching the end of the fight to see who was going to win, but fortunately I had some car left to slide past them with 5 laps to go. Loved the new track, and for me, it was special to win at Airborne. Now I need one more spot than last year at Thunder Road in the Memorial Day Classic to keep my momentum going, said Payea. Payea finished second to John Donahue of Graniteville, VT in the Mekkelsen Memorial Day Classic one year ago.

 

Late Model and Modified champions from every state in New England and two provinces of Canada will converge on the Nations Site of Excitement for the second annual Memorial Day Classic Doubleheader. Kirk Alexander of Swanzy, NH, the multi-time True Value Modified Champion, was masterful in a late charge to take the inaugural event. The Jarvis brothers, Dwight and Peter from Ascutney, VT, finished second and third respectively. I really enjoyed the race at T-Road last May. It is a tough place to get around, but once I figured out not to think about that wall in turn 4, things improved a whole lot. Now I have to get from second to first this year, said Dwight Jarvis.

 

The Late Model contingent will have the best of the ACT TOUR along with a host of Thunder Road regular racers at this years Late Model portion of the Classic. Defending Thunder Road Champion, Eric Williams from Hyde Park, VT will try for two-in-a-row after winning Thunder Roads Merchants Bank 150 opening day. Cris Michaud will be in the R&D Ford trying to be the first Ford in the history of the ACT Late Model Tour to win in a Ford crate motor.

 

Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., the young superstar from Hudson, New Hampshire said, I am ready to win at Thunder Road. I have such a love hate relationship with that track. I used to wreck in turn 4 when I first started going up there---every time!  I think I have that figured out and have won poles for the Chittenden Milk Bowl races, but I have not been able to string together three good segments in those races. During practice I am as fast as the regular T-Road guys, now I want to win there as much as any place. I know I can. I love the place with all the fans and all the history, and I want to be in the history books. I feel really good about our chances in this years Memorial Day Classic.

 

Fans will see lots of tributes to the past 50 years of racing at Thunder Road when they arrive on top of Quarry Hill for the Memorial Day weekend. Camping will open at noon on Friday, May 22. Thunder Road support divisions will qualify on Saturday afternoon, May 23rd, and then the pit gates open for the Late Models and Modifieds on Sunday, May 24 at 8:00. Front gates will open for fans at 10:00. Post time is 1:30. Admission for the Twin 100 Double Feature Mekkelsen Memorial Day Classic will be $20 Adult; $5 for children (6-12); and $40 for a family of four.

 

Tickets will be on sale for the June 25th CARQUEST Governors Cup 150, featuring NASCARs Tony Stewart in a Joey Pole Racing (JPR) prepared race car beginning Sunday at Thunder Road. Advanced tickets for the Governors Cup will be $17 for Adults in advance, $20 day of race, and $3 for children 6-12.

 

The next event on the ACT Tour is this Sunday afternoon at the Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford Maine. The New England Dodge Dealers 150 is expected to draw nearly 50 teams to the famous speedway, as it is the only appearance for the Late Models before the TD Bank 250 in July. Post time is 2:00.

 

 

For additional information contact the Thunder Road office at 802.244.6963 or media@acttour.com

                                          -30-



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ACT Tour Returns to Thunder Road for Memorial Day Doubleheader

For Immediate Release                                                                              ACT-051809 - 22

The 50th Anniversary Season at Thunder Road International Speedbowl will continue on Memorial Day weekend when both the ACT Tour and the True Value Modified Racing Series battle the high banks of the Nations Site of Excitement.

May 24th will mark the 47th running of the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic 100. It has become a staple of the Thunder Road season and now the ACT Tour schedule. Winners of this prestigious event include legends such as Bobby Dragon, Dave Dion, Robbie Crouch, and Jean-Paul Cabana, as well as todays heroes, Phil Scott, Cris Michaud, Brent Dragon, Dave Pembroke and last years winner John Donahue among others.

The Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic has truly become a favorite for the hometown fans. A Vermont driver has won the last thirteen Memorial Day events. That streak could come to an end this year with out-of-staters Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. of Hudson, NH, Ricky Rolfe of Albany, ME and Randy Potter of Groveton, NH are all hungry for their first win of the 2009 season.

The action wont end with the ACT Tour as the True Value Modified Racing Series are back for their second year competing at Thunder Road on Memorial Day weekend. Last year three-time champion Kirk Alexander won in the first return of Modifieds to Thunder Road in over 40 years. 

General admission for the 46th Annual Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic is just $20 for adults, $5 for children (6-12), and only $40 for the Family Fare for any two adults and two children. Qualifying for the NAPA Tiger Sportsman, Allen Lumber Street Stocks and the Powershift Junkyard Warriors will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Post time for the ACT Tour and TVMRS on Sunday will be at 1:30 p.m.

For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963 or media@acttour.com

-30-

 



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T-ROAD UNVEILS MEMORIAL PARK

 

For Immediate Release -                                      ACT 051609-21

 

        Barre, VT The Mekkelsen Memorial Day Classic Twin 100s at Thunder Road for American Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Models and the True Value Modified Racing Series will also honor generations of racing heroes who helped build the venerable quarter mile high-banked short track into one of the most famous in North America.

 

Flathead drivers of the 60s like Harold Hanaford, Johnny Gammell and the Ingerson Brothers, along with the stars of the 70s --- Mod Squad members, Robbie Crouch, Johnny Rosati and Joey Kourafas, and favorite Bay State adopted son, Dave Dion, have all provided race fans in the Northeast with spectacular racing. Generations of Vermont Dragons, Canadians Cabana, Whitlock, and Laperle, and present champions Scott, Michaud and Williams have all helped Thunder Road earn its moniker as the Nations Site of Excitement.  Located in the granite capital of the world, Barre, Vermont, a new Memorial Park has been established to help celebrate the 50th anniversary year to pay tribute to the long list of Thunder Road champions.

 

A number of granite memorials have been commissioned from Goslant Granite to be located throughout the facility providing future generations a racing history which will stand the test of time. While preparing over the past couple of years for this historic season, the entire Thunder Road staff kept talking about the importance of the history of racing that Thunder Road has provided over 5 decades. It was natural for us to turn to what we might be able to do that would be unique to the character of T-Road, and also respect the local granite industry and its workers who have been such supportive fans for all these years. We think our Memorial Park and King of the Road tribute does just that, said Tom Curley, co-owner and promoter of Thunder Road over the past thirty years.

 

There are additional improvements that fans will be aware of this Memorial Day weekend when they arrive for the 47th annual Memorial Day Classic. A new grandstand addition for pit crew members and families has been added since the opening Merchants Bank event earlier this month. There is a redesigned main concession area for more fan space and viewing access to the pits. A new tech inspection area for the Allen Lumber Street Stock and Power Shift Warrior division has been constructed.

 

Founder and co-owner Ken Squier said, Tom and I both wanted to be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Thunder Road in a respectful manner. It has been important for us to make sure that we give our fans a very special season along with the testimonials and memorializing of the great teams that have competed over all these years. We think the racing today is as good as it has ever been over the past 50 years, but by bringing in a mix of the old champions like Richard Petty and Bobby Allison, the new star of NASCAR today, Tony Stewart, and the coming stars represented by David Ragan, we will showcase our present ACT and Thunder Road stars in the best way possible, while giving our fans a truly memorable 50th anniversary season.

 

The Mekkelsen Memorial Day Classic Twin 100, featuring the two most popular regional touring seasons together for the only time in 2009, will highlight the racing over the holiday, but there is a whole lot more for race fans to reminisce about after visiting Thunder Road this Sunday. Gates open at 10:00, admission is $20 for Adults and $5 for children 6-12. Post time is 1:30 and will feature all the Thunder Road divisions. Over 140 cars are expected to compete.

 

Sunday, May 24 will also mark the date when discount tickets for the CARQUEST Vermont Governors Cup featuring Tony Stewart will go on sale. The ticket has been designed to be a 50th anniversary souvenir ticket and may be purchased for only $17 Adult for the June 25th 150 lap Governors Cup race.

 

For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963 or media@acttour.com

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