With the racing world paused amid the COVID-19 outbreak, SPEED SPORT is highlighting race tracks around the United States. This is part of that ongoing series.
Track of the Day: Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl
Address: 80 Fisher Rd., Barre, VT 05641
Website: www.thunderroadvt.com
History: The brainchild of broadcaster Ken Squier and paving company owner Reginald Cooley, Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl opened its doors for the first time on June 30, 1960.
Squier, who worked at other tracks in the region as an announcer, believed the region needed a paved oval instead of the more common dirt tracks. Thus, the quarter-mile Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl was born.
In 1978, after several years of successfully promoting races, Squier sold the track to businessman Tommy Kalomiris. The track had two difficult years, with only six events run in 1978 as Kalomiris battled unpaid bills and lawsuits.
Determined to get the track open again, Squier teamed with Tom Curley to buy the track back at the end of the 1979. However, a lawsuit after four events in 1981 closed the doors to the track again. After a lengthy court battle, Squier and Curley regained control of the track in 1982 and brought racing back to Thunder Road.
The track ran under the ownership of Squier and Curley until April of 2017, when three-time Thunder Road track champion Cris Michaud and local real estate developer Pat Malone teamed to acquire the track.
Thunder Road served as the launching point for the American-Canadian Tour, a series developed and run by Curley. Michaud and Malone would eventually acquire the series in addition to owning Thunder Road.
The track hosts a trio of weekly division — late models, street stocks and the popular Flying Tiger division. Some of the track’s major events include the Memorial Day Classic, the Vermont Governor’s Cup, the Labor Day Classic and the popular Vermont Milk Bowl, where the race winner shares a victory lane kiss with a cow.
