Modifieds Return To Thunder Road For First Time In 12 Years
Modifieds Return To Thunder Road For First Time In 12 Years
The Tri-Track Open Modified Series will bring Tour-type Modifieds back to Thunder Road for the first time in over a decade.
It's been over a decade since Tour-type Modifieds have pounded the pavement at Thunder Road Speedbowl. That will change over Memorial Day Weekend when the Tri-Track Open Modified Series brings 600-horsepower machines to the historic Barre, Vermont oval for the first time since 2010.
Sunday's traditional Memorial Day Classic event at Thunder Road will feature a 100-lap feature for the ground-pounding Modifieds. While the return of Modifieds to the Green Mountain State is a big deal on its own, the $10,000 check awaiting the winner in victory lane will raise the stakes even higher.
A strong field of drivers is expected to take the green flag, led by the winningest Modified driver this year, Matt Hirschman. The driver known as "Big Money" has scored 11 wins already this season, including the Tri-Track Modified opener at Monadnock in April. Hirschman has one career start at Thunder Road, an 11th-place finish in the last Modified Racing Series event held in 2010.
In addition to Hirschman, only a handful of drivers competing in Sunday's event have previous experience racing at Thunder Road.
Kirk Alexander, who won the Modified Racing Series event at the track in 2008, has entered the event with hopes of claiming his second victory at the track. Chris Pasteryak, Les Hinckley, Max Zachem and Joey Jarvis are the only other drivers who have made at least one start at the Barre oval.
Joining the list of veterans will be a strong contingent of young Modified stars who will be making their Thunder Road debuts.
Chase Dowling, a two-time Tri-Track Modified winner last year, will be chasing his first career win at the "Nation's Site of Excitement." Sammy Rameau, Ronnie Williams, Matt Swanson and Anthony Nocella will all be on the list of favorites to win in their debut.
Coming off a top-five finish in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Lee USA Speedway last weekend, Jake Johnson will be looking to continue a hot start to his Modified career.
Modified veterans Richard Savary and Todd Patnode are also expected to join the Tri-Track Modified field at Thunder Road.
Racing is scheduled to get underway Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. ET with Tri-Track Modified heat races.
In addition to the 100-lap Modified feature, Late Models will be in action for the Memorial Day Classic 125. The annual event is recognized as one of Thunder Road's crown jewel Late Model events, with the winner getting their name etched in a granite monument at the track.
Fans unable to make it to Barre, Vermont will be able to watch Sunday's racing, as well as every event at Thunder Road in 2022, live on FloRacing. If you're not already a FloRacing subscriber, click here to join today.