The South Boston Speedway’s showcase event of the year, the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 on Saturday night, June 29 will combine the biggest race of the year and an Independence Day celebration that will include a dazzling patriotic fireworks show following the last race of the night and patriotic pre-race ceremonies.
“It’s going to be a heck of a show,” said Lee Pulliam of Alton, Virginia who has a record six straight wins in the event as a driver and a win in the event in 2022 as a car owner. “If you’re a race fan, you’re not going to want to miss it.”
As of Monday, 32 entries had been received for the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200, a 200-lap Late Model Stock Car race featuring the best-of-the-best in Late Model Stock Car racing that will be the opening race of the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown. A $10,000 prize will go to the winner. This year marks the 11th year of the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200.
“The Thunder Road 200 race is the biggest race of the year for me and always has been,” remarked Brandon Pierce of Oak Ridge, North Carolina whose car will carry sponsorship from Thunder Road Harley-Davidson in the race.
“South Boston Speedway is where I called home for the first two-and-a-half years of my career. Most importantly, I take a lot of pride in carrying the Thunder Road name on my car. Even though this year it’s not the primary sponsor on our car, we are still there to represent Thunder Road and hopefully park it in victory lane.”
Two-time NASCAR national champion Peyton Sellers of Danville, Virginia, a two-time winner of the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200, has won three of the last four Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division races at South Boston Speedway and enters the event as the track’s division points leader.
For Sellers, the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 carries multiple impacts.
“There will be a lot of good teams here for that race, so we’ve got to get our ducks in a row,” Sellers remarked. “There’s the Triple Crown, and there are track points on the line. There are a lot of things that go into play for this race that requires me to race a lot more reserved than I want to race. With the Triple Crown, if you’re not in the Top-10 it doesn’t really matter. The win is more important to me personally, but track points are also in the back of my mind.”
Jacob Borst of Elon, North Carolina also has some momentum entering the 200-lap race with two Top-5 finishes in his last three starts. He came within a couple of feet of winning the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson in 2022.
Battling Corey Heim for the win on the final lap, the two drivers made contact while racing to the checkered flag. Both cars slid sideways across the finish line while taking the checkered flag with Heim’s car crossing the finish line a foot or two ahead of Borst’s car.
“This one of the hardest races to win here,” Borst pointed out. “I had never been in that situation in a big race before. You always look back on things and ask what could you have done to play your cards a little differently to get the win. To be that close really eats you up. Hopefully we can get it done this year and get us a lot of momentum for the rest of the year.”
Along with the 200-lap race for the Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division, Saturday night’s racing action will include a 40-lap race for the Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division, a 20-lap race for the Southside Disposal Pure Stock Division and a 20-lap race for the Virginia State Police HEAT Hornets Division rounding out the four-race card.
Along with the exciting racing action fans will find plenty to enjoy about the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200. Fans will get to meet the drivers and see the cars up-close during an on-track driver autograph session that is set to start at 5:15 p.m. Pre-race ceremonies starting at 6:30 p.m. will feature a patriotic theme. A colorful patriotic fireworks show will light up the night sky after the final race of the night has ended.
Also, fans can watch the on-track action free of charge from the track’s frontstretch grandstand area during Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 Practice Day on Friday, June 28.
Advance adult general admission tickets are priced at $20 each and may be purchased online on South Boston Speedway’s website, www.southbostonspeedway.com until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 28 or by calling the speedway office at 434-572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540 during regular business hours.
Tickets at the gate on race day will be $25 each. Seniors ages 65 and older, military, healthcare workers, and students (with ID) can purchase tickets for $20 each at the gate on race day.
The Saturday, June 29 Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 event schedule has frontstretch grandstand gates and competitor registration and pit gates opening at 10 a.m.
Rotating practice sessions for the four racing divisions will run from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division group qualifying will begin at 4:15 p.m. A driver autograph session will be held from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Pre-race ceremonies will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the first race of the night will get the green flag at 7 p.m.
Fans and competitors can find the latest updates and information about the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 and all South Boston Speedway events on the speedway’s website and through the track’s social media channels. Information may also be obtained by phoning the speedway at 434-572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540 during regular business hours.
SBS PR
