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Alan Ward photo
Barre, VT – After several busy weeks of preparation, Officials have released the exciting 2026 Schedule of Events for Thunder Road International Speedbowl. Highlighted by some of the fan-favorite contests that have made Thursday Nights a favorite of Central Vermont racefans, the 2026 calendar also includes plenty of action for the drivers who call Thunder Road home!
It all kicks off on Saturday, May 2nd with the annual Thunder Road car show at the track with open practice to follow in preparation for Sunday’s 28th Annual Community Bank 150 for the Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour. May 3rd will also kick off the championship season for the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers and the rk Miles Street Stocks while the non-point Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors will also get a big start to their 2026 season.
The Maplefields/Irving Oil Late Models will have to wait until Sunday, May 24th to start their journey to the King of the Road track championship with the 63rd Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic 125. Alongside the Flying Tigers, Street Stocks and Road Warriors will also be the debut of the Kids Division for the first of five events at Thunder Road in 2026.
The Memorial Day Classic also gives a rip-roaring start to the Squier Cup Late Model Triple Crown presented by Milton CAT followed by the Squier Cup 100 on July 30th as part WDEV Radio/Calkins Portable Toilets Night and the 47th Vermont Lottery Governor’s Cup 150 on Thursday, August 20th.
World Famous Thursday Night Racing begins in earnest on June 4th with Super Thursday featuring the New England Supermodified Series (NESS) in their first of two visits to the Barre highbanks. June 11th features Casella Waste Systems Nostalgia Night at The Road with the help of the New England Antique Racers and the annual Marvin Johnson Memorial First-Time Winners Race for the Street Stocks. Casella Waste Systems also supports Scout Night with all youth Scouts in uniform admitted free!
Five Star Roofing presents the opening round of the Myers Container Service Flying Tiger Triple Crown Series on Thursday, June 18th. The Myers Container Triple Crown returns to headline the Thursday, July 16th showcase with another 75-lap affair before the Cody Chevrolet-Cadillac 100 crowns the Series champion on Thursday, September 3rd.
The month of June wraps up with the Superstars of Thunder Road Double Feature Night presented by Community College of Vermont and featuring the popular Kids Rides in the race cars! The fun doesn’t stop there as the very next week brings the Preston’s Kia Independence Day Spectacular and Central Vermont’s largest fireworks display courtesy of Northstar Fireworks on July 2nd!
Thursday, July 9th brings the Vermont Construction Tiger $2K, a 100-lap, $2,000-to-win Flying Tiger showdown while July 23rd hosts the all-important Times Argus Midseason Championships with double points and a double purse on the line in extra-distance competition. The annual Driver Autograph Session will also return to Times Argus Midseason Championship night.
The 42nd Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro 200 returns on Sunday, August 2nd complete with the annual 50-lap special for the Street Stocks before the carnage continues into Thursday, August 6th with the annual Road Warrior Challenge! The Street Stock Triple Crown also returns in 2026 consisting of the three events in seven days on July 30th, August 2nd and August 6th.
The busy month of August also features Vermont Tire & Service Night, which includes the second Double Purse night of the season as well as the annual Kids Poster Contest and Vermont Black Bear Night for free admission to all youth hockey players in uniform. The fan-favorite Run-What-U-Brung spectator drags are back on Jet Service Envelope/Accura Printing Night on August 27th.
The Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour returns to their Thunder Road homebase on Sunday, September 6th for the 48th Labor Day Classic 200 presented by EastRise Credit Union. The New England Pro-4 Modifieds will also return as part of the Labor Day Classic. After a week off in preparation for any rain-caused delays, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel presents the 67th Thunder Road Championship Night on Thursday, September 17th as all three track champions are crowned to end the points chase for the 2026 season!
It all comes down to Vermont Milk Bowl weekend on Saturday and Sunday, October 3rd and 4th. Saturday’s Booth Bros./Hood Milk Qualifying Day will consist of time trials and qualifying for Sunday’s 64th Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank while also hosting the second NESS Supermodified visit of the year and the return of the NELCAR Legends Tour. Sunday’s Northfield Savings Bank Vermont Milk Bowl will feature the ‘Toughest Short Track Stock Car Race in North America’ with the field looking to break Marcel Gravel’s streak of Milk Bowl wins and surpass his incredible $21,900 winnings in 2025!
Along with today’s schedule announcement comes updated licensing and team registrations for the 2026 season as well as updated rule books for the coming year as teams look to make their plans for the coming year at Barre’s Thunder Road. Keep tabs on all the winter happenings, including several exciting news items to come, online at www.thunderroadvt.com or on social media!
2026 Season Passes are available for pre-order online at www.thunderroadvt.com/forms. Order your Season Passes and Thunder Road Apparel online in time for the holidays today at https://thunderroadvt.square.site/.
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.
