One of the country’s most unique events, billed as the ‘toughest short track race in America,’ Thunder Road’s Milk Bowl just got tougher. The American Canadian Tour recently announced that they will be making a tire change for the first time in nearly a decade. The American Racer tire will become the tire of choice beginning in 2014 for the large network of weekly tracks and the two popular touring series sanctioned by ACT. The season-ending 51st Milk Bowl will unveil the new product for use in the Fall classic the weekend of October 4-6, 2013.
“We have spent the entire summer developing and testing a tire to serve our needs for future years. American Racer has done an outstanding job of getting us exactly what we asked for to replace our current brand of Late Model tires. We have full confidence that the teams will be enthusiastic about the new tire that was developed and ‘rolling’ it out at Thunder Road’s most historic event should let everyone know how confident we are about this product,” said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour and Promoter of Thunder Road International Speedbowl.
When the ACT learned that the present tire in use was not going to be available to their various tracks throughout New England, Eastern New York, Quebec and Ontario, they contacted American Racer, the company that ACT previously had a long relationship with, to fill the void.
The newly appointed Director of Racing at American Racer, Scott Junod said, “We told Tom that we would do whatever was necessary to get the kind of product his group of tracks needed to continue what has arguably been one of the most successful independent sanctioning bodies for over two decades. We see this as a win-win for both our companies and are looking forward to working with all the ACT competitors to make sure they are 100% satisfied. Having seen a good number of Milk Bowl races at Thunder Road, all of us at American Racer are anxious to be part of the 2013 edition.”
The primary test team throughout the summer was two-time Thunder Road Track Champion, Nick Sweet. Sweet is a local Barre racer who grew up at Thunder Road, first as a fan, and after competing in the two other divisions has become one of the most respected drivers not only at Thunder Road but throughout New England. Sweet said, “This was a really neat experience for our team. Going through the process of first frustration, then thinking we were on target, only to be disappointed in the longevity of one of the test sessions, to the final product was really a neat thing to be part of. I think the ACT Late Model Teams are really going to like this tire. It is going to be a fun Milk Bowl weekend.”
Sweet, who has won nearly every major Late Model event held at Thunder Road, says the Milk Bowl has eluded him over the years. When he was asked if all that testing of the new tire might give him an edge going into the Milk Bowl this year, Sweet said, “Well, I would like to think so, but the hype about it being the ‘toughest short track race in America’ is really true. You need a lot more luck than anything else to win a Milk Bowl, but maybe this year my luck will come from having done all that testing!”
The Booth Brothers/Hood qualifying begins on Saturday, October 5th, with once-a-year time trials and then triple 50-lap qualifying features. Then the Milk Bowl, presented by the Peoples United Bank, will take place on Sunday, October 6. Post time is 1pm and adult tickets are just $25. Kids are free both days and a two-day adult ticket is only $30.