News & Notes: Christopher Looks To Continue Thompson Mastery
Veteran has won six of last eight Modified Tour races at TIS
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – If one had to take either Ted Christopher or the field if asked to predict who might win the Budweiser ‘King of Beers’ 150 at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway on June 30, they’d have a hard time going against No. 36.
Christopher has won six of the last eight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at Thompson, and 12 total in his illustrious career. This current run that started with the 2008 World Series has been so dominant that Christopher even finished second and fifth in those two races in which he didn’t take the checkered flag.
Christopher’s most impressive triumph in recent memory came in the Whelen Modified Tour’s 2011 opener – the Icebreaker – at Thompson when he rallied from two laps down to wind up in Victory Lane yet again.
While he may have Thompson more figured out that the next guy, Christopher says the key to his success is all about how he feels in the car.
“It’s comfort in my car and my team,” Christopher said following his Icebreaker win. “It’s basically if they can give me what I like in a race car and where I like it, that’s the whole game for me.”
If Christopher, from Plainville, Conn., is able to reach Victory Lane again in the Budweiser 150, he will match Jeff Fuller’s mark of seven wins in nine races from 1990-92 that currently stands as the most-successful stretch of victories. It would also pull him to within one win of tying Mike Stefanik on the Whelen Modified Tour’s all-time wins list at Thompson at 14.
Race Notes
‘Mystic Missile’ also has Thompson success: The No. 4 Dodge took the checkered flag in the two races that Christopher didn’t during his current run of success at Thompson: in 2009 with Donny Lia and in the 2010 Icebreaker with Bobby Santos. Santos also had a third-place finish at Thompson last year, and it’s arguably his best track. Santos, the defending Whelen Modified Tour champion, is 102 points back of points leader Rowan Pennink in eighth place and needs another strong finish at Thompson this week.
Pennink still looking for checkers: The points leader through the first four races of the season, Pennink also figures to be a contender in the Bud 150. He’s finished in the top five in four of the last six races at the .625-mile speedway, including a runner-up finish to Christopher in April.
Silk historically strong at Thompson: While his last three race wins have been earned at different facilities, Ron Silk’s first three career triumphs came at Thompson during the 2007-08 seasons. Silk had a streak of nine-straight top 10s at Thompson until he was involved in an accident in April’s Icebreaker after leading 40 laps, his only finish outside the top five in 2011.
The Race: Budweiser ‘King of Beers’ 150
The Place: Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway
The Date: Thursday, June 30
The Time: 9 p.m. ET (approx.)
Track Layout: .625-mile banked asphalt oval
2010 Winner: Ted Christopher
2010 Polesitter: Ted Christopher
Event Schedule: Practice 2-3:30 p.m., Qualifying 5:30 p.m., Driver Autograph Session 7:30 p.m.