Thunder Road International SpeedBowl
Encyclopedia
Thunder Road International SpeedBowl, more commonly known as Thunder Road, is a 0.25 mile (0.402335 km) high-banked, paved short track
speedway located in the Town of Barre, Vermont
(Graniteville-East Barre
section). The track is co-owned by Ken Squier
and Tom Curley. Currently, Thunder Road hosts four weekly divisions: Late Models, Tiger Sportsman, Street Stocks, and Junkyard Warriors. The track is known for hosting its weekly races on Thursday night, rather than Saturday, as nearly all other short tracks do. On June 28, 2007, NASCAR
driver Kenny Wallace
raced at Thunder Road. Ken Schrader
, another NASCAR driver, had raced once at Thunder Road each of the two years prior to Wallace's visit.
Thunder Road has hosted the "Milk Bowl" Late Model race for 48 years. It is the season finale for racing at the track, held each fall. This race of three 50-lap segments, with cumulative scoring and full-field inversions between segments. The driver with the lowest combined total of finishes in the three segments is declared the winner. The winner of the event is expected to kiss a cow in Victory Circle.
In 2009, NASCAR drivers Richard Petty
and Bobby Allison
raced on the track. NASCAR drivers Tony Stewart
and David Ragan
raced there as well.
Short track motor racing
In North American auto racing, particularly with regard to NASCAR, a short track is a racetrack of less than one mile in length. Short track racing, often associated with fairgrounds and similar venues, is where stock car racing first got off the back roads and into organized and regulated...
speedway located in the Town of Barre, Vermont
Barre (town), Vermont
Barre is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 7,924 at the 2010 census. Barre town almost completely surrounds Barre city, which is incorporated separately from the town of Barre.-Geography:...
(Graniteville-East Barre
Graniteville-East Barre, Vermont
Graniteville-East Barre is a former census-designated place defined for the 2000 census in the town of Barre, Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population of the CDP was 2,136 at the 2000 census. The CDP consists of three unincorporated villages in the town: Graniteville, East...
section). The track is co-owned by Ken Squier
Ken Squier
Ken Squier is an American sportscaster and motorsports editor from Waterbury, Vermont. From 1979-1997, he was the lap-by-lap commentator for NASCAR on CBS, and was also a lap-by-lap commentator for TBS from the time they had rights to NASCAR until 2000. Squier was the first announcer to give...
and Tom Curley. Currently, Thunder Road hosts four weekly divisions: Late Models, Tiger Sportsman, Street Stocks, and Junkyard Warriors. The track is known for hosting its weekly races on Thursday night, rather than Saturday, as nearly all other short tracks do. On June 28, 2007, NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver Kenny Wallace
Kenny Wallace
Kenneth Wallace is an American stock car driver who currently drives the #09 Family Farmers/University of Northwestern Ohio/Federated Auto Parts/American Ethanol/Iowa Corn/G-Oil/Marquis Energy Toyota Camry for RAB Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series...
raced at Thunder Road. Ken Schrader
Ken Schrader
Kenneth Schrader is a second-generation race car driver. He currently races on local dirt and asphalt tracks around the country while driving part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series for his own Ken Schrader Racing. He also runs part time in the NASCAR Camping...
, another NASCAR driver, had raced once at Thunder Road each of the two years prior to Wallace's visit.
Thunder Road has hosted the "Milk Bowl" Late Model race for 48 years. It is the season finale for racing at the track, held each fall. This race of three 50-lap segments, with cumulative scoring and full-field inversions between segments. The driver with the lowest combined total of finishes in the three segments is declared the winner. The winner of the event is expected to kiss a cow in Victory Circle.
In 2009, NASCAR drivers Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
and Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
raced on the track. NASCAR drivers Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
and David Ragan
David Ragan
David Ragan, , is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He has previously driven the #6 Roush Fenway Racing ford, but is currently looking for a ride for the 2012 season...
raced there as well.