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Richard Petty, stock car racing’s all-time Champion, will appear at Barre’s Thunder Road as part of the track’s season-long 50th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday Night, July 30th. The 7-time National Champion, and record 7-time Daytona 500 mile winner, holds the record of 200 major wins in what is now the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. His closest rival on that win list is David Pearson at 105, with Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison tied for third at 84.

Petty is considered the cornerstone of the sport’s popularity and growth. Thunder Road’s history parallels the Petty legend. The Level Cross, North Carolina native won his first race in 1960 on a half-mile dirt track in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Petty name still dominates the sport 17 years after he retired as a driver. Many consider his 27 wins--including 10 in a row in 1967--the greatest single season performance in NASCAR history.

Petty scored his final checkered flag in a dramatic duel by less then 2 feet over Cale Yarborough at Daytona in 1988. He continued in active competition until 1992 and has maintained a Petty Racing Team since. This year he is entering a car for the Indianapolis 500 with John Andretti driving.

“Richard set the bar not only as a driver but as the sport’s spokesman and still does today”, said Thunder Road co-owner Ken Squier. “No one made themselves so available to fans or to the press as Richard. You could find him signing autographs hours after a race. He even created a signature that took an extra moment to write as he wanted to look a fan in the eye, and thank them for their support”, said Squier.

Bobby Allison, Petty’s major adversary for over 20 years, will also appear at Thunder Road on Thursday night June 18.

A three-time Daytona 500 champion, Allison will participate in the 50th anniversary celebration at Thunder Road June 18th. Squier said the announcement of Allison's appearance was part of a year-long Thunder Road effort to recognize and honor great racing talent from the beginning of the Barre track's history to today.

"The track's intention is to honor the greats from the 60's to today, national stars and Thunder Road's own greats. Actually we're planning to present another NASCAR star driver for the future who will compete against Thunder Road regulars later this season," said Squier.

Already on tap on Thursday night, June 25th, will be one of today's biggest name drivers, Tony Stewart, who has entered the Governor's Cup 150. Stewart will compete in an ACT approved car carrying the number 14 Indiana.

Allison, who in 1988 suffered a life-threatening crash at Pocono, Pennsylvania that ended his racing days, represents the talent that grew the sport from the 1960's when Thunder Road was presenting its first race meets. Allison's career started on Florida and Alabama short tracks. He went on to become an American legend with more regional oval victories throughout the United States than any other driver of that period. In the 1970's Allison rose to NASCAR's most celebrated series where he amassed 84 major wins tying Darrell Waltrip for third on the all-time win list behind only David Pearson and Richard Petty. In 1983 he was the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series National Champion.

"No one better represents the spirit of racing," said Squier, "Bobby raced four and five nights a week. He said for him it was his golf game and he loved the short tracks as much as the Super Speedways."

Allison's greatest triumph came in the 1988 Daytona 500 when he defeated his own son, the late Davey Allison, by a car length.

The 50th Thunder Road season gets under way Saturday morning, May 2 with the Annual Barre Car Show on the city's Main Street. The event judges the best-constructed cars in 4 classes. The highlight of the opening weekend will be the Sunday, May 3rd annual Merchants Bank 150. Season tickets are still available by contacting Thunder Road at 802.244.6963 or PO Box 296, Waterbury, VT 05676.