On Deck: Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing, presented by XtraMart at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
Thompson, CT- The 2014 racing season at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (TSMP) comes to a close on October 17-19 with one of the nation’s finest short track events: the 52nd running of the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing, presented by Xtramart.
Finishing second in the balloting for 51’s Best Annual Short Track Event, the event will feature a total of 14 divisions. Twelve will celebrate champions, headlined by NASCAR’s oldest division: the Whelen Modified Tour.
Point-leader Doug Coby holds a comfortable 28-point advantage entering the event. The 2012 titlist has two wins to his credit – a non-points win at Daytona and another at Stafford in June. Consistency has been the name of Coby’s game, though, with a division leading nine top five and 12 top ten finishes. Coby leads 2008 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) Champion, Ted Christopher, who only holds on to the second spot by 11 points. Christopher is followed by Justin Bonsignore, who has already registered two victories at TSMP (at the Icebreaker and Bud 150). Ron Silk sits in fourth, Bobby Santos fifth, and defending NWMT Champion and 2012 Sunoco Modified Champion, Ryan Preece, in the sixth spot. Bonsignore (third) and Preece (sixth) are separated by a mere 4 points. Rowan Pennink – who is currently 16th in the standings – is the defending race winner.
Bonsignore will be busy, as he enters the event as the Valenti Modified Racing Series (VMRS) point leader. The West Islip, NY-driver carries a five point advantage over defending VMRS Champion, Rowan Pennink, into the Series’ final event. Chris Pasteryak, Richard Savary and Max Zachem round out the top five in the championship point standings. Defending Sunoco Modified Champion, and Sunoco World Series 75 race winner, Keith Rocco is expected to enter, also.
In addition to open-wheel modifieds, the winged International Super Modified Association (ISMA) and the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA), will also be in action. Three-time feature winner in 2014, Jon McKennedy has a 46-point cushion atop the ISMA point standings over 2012 World Series winner, Ben Seitz. Randy Cabral sits atop the NEMA point standings by 101 tallies over Avery Stoehr. The two drivers have dominated the 2014 season, amassing a total of seven wins in the twelve contested events.
The Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS) will make their second stop of the 2014 season. Dillon Moltz has overtaken the point lead after the White Mountain Motorsports Park event. Moltz leads veteran Larry Gelinas by 16 points, with career wins leader Matt Frahm just one point behind in third.
TSMP’s headlining division, the Sunoco Modifieds, will feature a championship battle that is too close to call. Ryan Preece leads “Kid Roc”, Keith Rocco, by a mere 10 point margin. The duo have a small cushion back to third, where Rocco’s father-in-law, Todd Ceravolo, currently sits. Rookie Cam McDermott and veteran driver, Kerry Malone, are engaged in battle for the fourth spot, separated by only six points.
Defending Late Model Champion, Rick Gentes, is looking to repeat the success of one year ago, as he leads six-time TSMP Champion, Glen Boss, by 14 points in the quest for the Late Model crown. Gelinas, who will be doing double-duty, is currently third – six points behind Boss. The division has been ultra-competitive, as there have been five different winners in the seven contested events.
Despite not winning a race this season, Scott Sundeen is in a good position to secure his third Limited Sportsman Division Championship. Boasting a 42-point lead over Shawn Monahan, Sundeen will carry some breathing room into the season finale. Monahan, however, will be feeling the pressure, as he not only is in pursuit of Sundeen, but has defending Limited Sportsman Champion, Stevey Kenneway, only two points behind him in third. Monahan, who has registered three wins this season, has dominated the division along with Cory Hutchins, who has four wins to his credit. Hutchins carries a three-race winning streak into the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing, presented by XtraMart.
Michael Viens has a 16-mark advantage over Jeff Moffat, and is 22 tallies ahead of Mike D. Viens in the hunt for the Mini Stock Championship.
The Northeast Mini Stock Tour, New England Pro 4 Modifieds, and New England Truck Series will join the popular Outlaw divisions – Sportsman and Street Stock – in competition.
The Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing, presented by XtraMart spans three days. Practice will begin on Friday at 12pm, with qualifying for eight of the 14 divisions to begin at 5pm. Practice and qualifying will continue on Saturday with heat races for the Valenti Modified Racing Series beginning at 2:30pm. NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour qualifying will begin at 3:15pm with the first of nine feature events beginning at 5:15pm. The headlining event will be the 75-lap race for the Valenti Modified Racing Seires, which is scheduled to take the green at 6:30pm.
Sunday – one of the most anticipated race days of the season – will feature something for all fans. The full-fendered Granite State Pro Stock Series will contest their 50-lap feature beginning at 1pm, followed by NEMA, Sunoco Modifieds, and ISMA. Capping off the day will be the Sunoco World Series 150, presented by XtraMart – the final championship race for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, which is scheduled to begin at 3:45pm.