The 53rd Annual Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl at Barre’s Thunder Road on Sunday, October 11 will once again present the toughest challenge of the season for American-Canadian Tour (ACT)-type Late Model teams. Drivers from throughout the Northeast United States and Canada will converge at the ¼-mile speedway this weekend vying for the $10,000 guaranteed top prize in the Thunder Road season finale.
The Milk Bowl historically attracts a “melting pot” of Late Model competitors. This year one of the most diverse fields in recent memory will take on the unique three-segment event, including former winners and track champions from around the region.
“Recent Milk Bowls have been very high scoring events because of the tremendous parity we have in Late Model racing,” ACT President Tom Curley said. “This means lots of potential winners. When you have arguably the best weekly division going against the deepest and most talented touring division on what is probably the toughest short track with the toughest format for stock car racing – what’s not to like?!
“$10,000 to win, lap money, kissing a cow, and getting your name forever in a granite monument is just part of what makes the Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl a do-not-miss race for fans and competitors.”
Defending Milk Bowl Champion Eddie “The Outlaw” MacDonald leads the field of challengers. MacDonald is fresh off a victory in the Bond Auto ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and will try to become the fifth driver to win back-to-back Milk Bowls.
A number of other former Milk Bowl winners will try and add another entry to the record books. Three-time Milk Bowl Champion Brian Hoar of Williston; Hudson, NH’s Joey Polewarczyk Jr.; Barre’s Nick Sweet; and Graniteville’s John Donahue are all expected.
Meanwhile a host of drivers will try to become the 36th different winner of “the toughest short-track stock car race in North America.” Top ACT racers such as Windham, ME’s Brad Babb and Blainville, QC’s Jonathan Bouvrette have entered the Milk Bowl, while multi-time Thunder Road weekly winners including Trampas Demers, Mike Bailey, and Matt White look to put their home-track advantage to good use.
Invaders such as former Beech Ridge Motor Speedway Champion Dave Farrington Jr. and newly crowned Devil’s Bowl Speedway Champion Josh Masterson will try to upset the status quo. Even top Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen drivers Jason Woodard and Stephen Donahue have joined the fray and will make their first Thunder Road Late Model attempts.
The Milk Bowl is known for its format which promotes no-holds-barred racing from the first green flag. The event consists of three 50-lap segments, with the starting grid for the second and third segments set by inverting the finish from the previous segment. Drivers receive one point for first, two points for second, and so forth in each segment. The driver with the lowest combined score is the winner.
The two-day event kicks off at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 10 with Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Qualifying Day. Time trials and “Triple 50” qualifying races will help set the 30-car Milk Bowl starting field. The Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen and Allen Lumber Street Stocks will also hold time trials and the first segments of their Mini Milk Bowls.
The Last Chance “B” Feature rolls onto the track at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, October 11. Opening ceremonies for the 53rd Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl will follow.
Adult admission is $30 for a two-day ticket, $25 for Sunday only, or $10 for Saturday only. Kids 12 and under are admitted free both days.