BARRE, VT – Thunder Road will see four divisions of exciting stock car racing action return to its high
banks for the 12th time this year on Thursday evening, but will also play host to a pair of fun special events: the previously rained-out “Media Madness” race for news journalists, and the annual fan-favorite “Port-A-Potty Grand Prix.” Calkins Portable Toilets and Pelletier & Son Quick Lube and Car Wash will present the human-powered outhouse race, along with the Media Madness race and events for the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Thunder Road Late Models, NAPA Tiger Sportsmen, Allen Lumber Street Stocks, and Power Shift Junkyard Warriors.
Participants in the Port-A-Potty Grand Prix were chosen prior to the Times Argus Mid-Season Championship event last week. Representing the Late Model division will be Dave Pembroke of Montpelier, who currently ranks one point out of first place in the race for the “King of the Road” title behind Shelburne’s Jamie Fisher. Joining Pembroke will be Sportsman point leader Nick Sweet of Barre, Street Stock rookie Bobby Therrien of Hinesburg, and Warrior point leader Bunker Hodgdon of Hardwick. All four drivers and their respective teams will pull, push, tug, or tow a home-built Port-A-Potty (functionality optional) in a race down Thunder Road’s frontstretch, aiming for the top prize – the Golden Seat. Thunder Road fans will also name the “best appearing” potty, awarding their selection the coveted Golden Plunger trophy.
Media members planning to race Warrior cars in the Media Madness event include Mike McGill and Shawna Lidsky of WCAX-TV Sports (CBS channel 3, Burlington, VT), Jamie Scavotto of WPTZ-TV Sports (NBC channel 5, Plattsburgh, NY), columnist Mark Albury of the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus, radio personalities T.J. Michaels of Frank 107.1 FM and “Jumpin’ Jim” of Froggy 100.9 FM, and Norm Cote of Late Model Digest, a national auto racing trade paper.
Also in action on Calkins Portables/Pelletier Quick Lube Night will be the ACT Late Model, NAPA Tiger
Sportsman, Allen Lumber Street Stock, and Power Shift Junkyard Warrior divisions. Preliminary events will begin at 6:30pm, with Thunder Road’s traditional Post Parade set to roll out at 7:00pm. General admission is just $9 for adults, $3 for kids, and only $18 for a family of four. Gates open at 4:30pm. For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.