There’s ‘Punkin Chunkin’ This Weekend At NHMS!

(Louden, NH) - Usually, weekend events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway have to do with speed. This weekend, the focus will be on distance as a Merrimack team seeks to set a new World Record in an Extreme Chunkin competition.

courtesy NHMS

Brian Labrie will lead his 20 man team to ensure that the 100-foot long pneumatic "American Chunker" air cannon operates like clockwork as he attempts to launch a pumpkin more than a mile across speedway property.

"Finally, New Hampshire will have the opportunity to host the fastest growing autumn event as the world famous Punkin' Chunkin' has come to the Granite State and with it, there comes a fan-following equivalent to that of NASCAR,” said Labrie , the current World Championship Pumpkin Chunkin Association title holder and world record holder for longest launch at 4,694.68 feet. “Our entire team is looking forward this event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. We work tirelessly to perfect the art of launching pumpkins for distance.”

A field of nearly two dozen teams will take part in the weekend competition using air cannons, trebuchets, catapults, torsions and human power to launch pumpkins.

Photo courtesy of NHMS

As part of the event, the "Yankee Siege", a 56-foot high trebuchet from Greenfield, NH will perform an exhibition by launching a boat, grand piano, VW Beetle, 500-gallon water barrels and a 1-thousand pound pumpkin!

Extreme Chunkin Schedule:

Saturday, Oct. 24

9:00 a.m. – Competitive Shooting (Round 1)

12:00 p.m. – Extreme Chunkin (Yankee Siege)

1:00 p.m. – Free Throw (all teams)

1:00 p.m. – Competitive Shooting (Round 2)

4:10 p.m. – Meet and Greet with Fans

Sunday, Oct. 25

9:00 a.m. – Competitive Shooting (Round 3)

12:00 p.m. – Extreme Chunkin (Yankee Siege)

1:00 p.m. – Free Throw (all teams)

3:00 p.m. – Meet and Greet with Fans