BARRE, VT – Members of the local print, television, and radio news media are getting ready to tackle the high banks of Barre’s Thunder Road, for the first-ever “Media Madness” stock car race on Fisher/Federated Auto Parts Night, Thursday, July 19. The soon-to-be-racers will strap into cars from the Power Shift Junkyard Warrior division with one goal: Survive!
“I raced once in a Warrior car at Thunder Road a few years ago,” said sportscaster Shawna Lidsky of WCAX TV (CBS Channel 3, Burlington, VT). “It was a little nerve-wracking. I guess it will be a little easier this time, racing against people that have never been on the track. I’m psyched up for it, I think I’ve got a much better chance at winning this time.”
Planning to join Lidsky are WCAX Sports personalities Mike McGill and Mike McCune. “I don’t care if I win,” said Jamie Scavotto of WPTZ (NBC NewsChannel 5, Plattsburgh, NY), “I just have to beat the other TV drivers. I’m ready!”
Like Lidsky, radio personality Lee Kittell of WDEV AM550/FM96.1 in Waterbury, VT has one Warrior race under his belt, back in 2003. In fact, he netted a ninth-place finish in the event, “but that’s only because everyone else crashed,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it, and I think I can teach those other media folks a thing or two.”
Norm Cote, a Maine native that pens regular articles for the nationally distributed Late Model Digest, has been scoping out the Warrior field at Thunder Road over the last couple of weeks.
“I had an opportunity to race at Unity (ME) Raceway a few years ago and I never took it, but I won’t pass up a chance at racing Thunder Road,” he said. “I can’t wait! I think I have a couple of cars in mind that I want to drive, too, I’ve been paying attention.”
Also expected for the Fisher/Federated Auto Parts “Media Madness” race are representatives from The Barre-Montpelier (VT) Times Argus, Frank 107.1 FM (Barre, VT), and the Champlain Radio Group in Burlington, VT. Post time for Fisher/Federated Auto Parts Night is scheduled for 7:00pm, with preliminary events beginning at 6:30pm. Late Models, Tiger Sportsmen, Street Stocks, and the regular Junkyard Warrior events will also be on tap. General admission is only $9 for adults, $3 for kids, and just $18 for a family of four. For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.