BARRE, Vt. — The 60th edition of the “Toughest Short Track Stock Car Race in North America,” Thunder Road’s famed Vermont Milk Bowl, is one week away.
Early entry forms have been flowing into the office in preparation for the $103,000 spectacular that kicks off on Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Milk Bowl Friday, Sept. 30, with the Pro All Stars Series invasion. The action will continue with Booth Bros./Hood Milk Bowl Qualifying Day on Saturday, Oct. 1, and will wrap up with the Milk Bowl itself on Sunday, Oct. 2.
Several top American-Canadian Tour teams have thrown their hat into the ring in search of the $12,000 first place prize. The Vermont Milk Bowl will feature at least four leading American-Canadian Tour teams as they look to retain their 100 percent participation status.
ACT point leader and Labor Day Classic champion D.J. Shaw spearheads the touring stars that include top Touring Rookie Alexendre ‘Fireball’ Tardif and New Hampshire drivers Cody LeBlanc and Erick Sands. All four have improved their programs for the Barre high banks after each event — expect them to be red hot and rolling on Milk Bowl weekend.
While not running for tour points, former 2019 ACT champion and 2018 Milk Bowl Fast Qualifier Jimmy Hebert will also be in attendance as well as New Hampshire part-timers Jimmy Renfrew, Jr. and Shawn Swallow.
The Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model regulars are also far from lacking in the talent department. They each look to join the granite monument and take their place in the 63-year history of Thunder Road. Leading the charge are former Milk Bowl champions Bobby Therrien and Jason Corliss.
Therrien is looking to kiss the cow for a second time while Corliss is looking to join the elite pair for four-time winners Robbie Crouch and Nick Sweet. St-Denis, Quebec’s, and recent Fall Foliage 200 winner Patrick Laperle is joining Corliss in his pursuit of the illusive fourth win.
Also leading the locals is this year’s King of the Road, Christopher Pelkey. After coming close one year ago, Pelkey earned his first illustrious Thunder Road track championship and looks to cap off his season with the win at the 60th edition of this nationally recognized event.
Pelkey’s main rivals, Scott Dragon and Kyle Pembroke, have also cast their name into the Milk Bowl hat along with fellow Thursday night regulars Stephen Donahue, Brandon Lanphear, Cooper Bouchard, Scott Coburn and Matt Smith.
Special surprise entries include the Mitchell Brothers Racing team entries of Derek Ming and White Mountain Motorsports Park hot-shoe Jesse Switser, 2009 Milk Bowl victor John Donahue, and former Vermont Governor’s Cup and Labor Day Classic champion Brooks Clark.
Former Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tiger track champion Brendan Moodie has also submitted his entry along with fellow Flying Tiger standout Jaden Perry, former three-peat King of the Road Derrick O’Donnell, New Yorker Fred LaGoy and Barnet’s Blair Bessett.
The $50 increase to $100 per lap for the 60th edition of the Vermont Milk Bowl means it’s double down cash on the line each and every lap. A three-way split sees each lap leader earning $50 with second-place runner taking $30 and third-place getting $20 for all 150 laps.
Keyword: Entries And Lap Money Flood In For 60th Vermont Milk Bowl