FINAL CHANCE FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS SUNDAY AT THOMPSON
Three NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track championships will be the highlight of the competition this Sunday at the Thompson International Speedway. The most closely watched division will be the Super Late Models where, mathematically, there are seven drivers in contention for that division’s title.
Derek Ramstrom, the 2009 and 2010 champion, holds a slim 8 point lead over Jim Banfield going into the final points event of the year with Mike O’Sullivan a mere 14 markers behind the leader. The 2011 champion, Larry Gelinas finds himself 38 points down with veteran Dick Houlihan 44 off the pace. They may be long shots, but George Bessette and Colby Fournier are still in the running as well. A win is worth 50 points and every finishing spot that follows is reduced by two points each.
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Ted Christopher Wins 2nd Annual UNOH Showdown; Preece and Tinio Winners In All American Series Action
Thompson, CT: Ted Christopher earned a hefty payday for the “Ole Blue” with a victory in the UNOH Showdown 50-lap shootout between the Whelen Modified Tour and the Whelen Southern Modified Tour. Christopher took the lead on lap six and held off Jimmy Blewett for the victory.
Christopher, of Plainville, CT, finished fifth in the Town Fair Tire Northern 75 and advanced to the Showdown field by virtue of his finish.
“We had a pretty good run in the first race,” said Christopher. Scott (Richards, crew chief) said he’d make some adjustments and make the car better and he really did.”
Justin Bonsignore led the 32-car field into turn one, but it was Bobby Santos out front by the completion of the second lap. Ryan Preece followed his line into second before caution flew at lap four for Richie Pallai, Jr., who wrecked in turn two. Santos wasted no time getting in front of Preece on the restart, but had to contend with Ted Christopher who muscled his way into the second position. Christopher was all over Santos, and on lap six, dove underneath Santos to take over the lead coming out of turn two. Preece, Santos, Bonsignore, and Stefanik rounded out the top-five at lap seven. Donny Lia joined the front-runners in sixth and all of the top cars pulled away from the rest of the field.
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Fuller, Preece Earn Poles For UNOH Showdown Weekend at Thompson
The Fuller legacy continued at Thompson International Speedway when Rob Fuller captured his first career NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour pole Saturday afternoon with a lap of 18.947 seconds. Ryan Preece set fast time in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and earned his 11th career pole and fourth at Thompson Speedway. Both divisions will compete in 75-lap races before the top-10 finishers in each event advance to a 50-lap exhibition race on Sunday afternoon. In other NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action, Cam McDermott earned his 13th season victory in the Lite Modified division and Chad LaBastie checkered the Thompson Modifieds.
McDermott clinched the Lite Modified track championship at Thompson International Speedway after holding off John Studley for the win in the 20-lap feature. McDermott, who has dominated victory lane this season, won in one of the largest fields this season.
“Everybody keeps getting better,” said McDermott. “We had 10 cars here this week so we knew we had to step up our game.”
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Stafford Speedway September 7 Limited Late Model Double Duty Race Recap
FULL FIELD EXPECTED FOR UNOH SHOWDOW AT THOMPSON
A full field of NASCAR Whelen Modified race cars is expected for the UNOH Showdown this weekend at Thompson International Speedway. NASCAR has confirmed that 46 entries have been filed to date with more expected before Saturday. Upwards of 25 race teams from the south are expected to make the trip north to compete at the track that has hosted more NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races than any other track in the country. Fans will have their last chance to see this many Modifieds assembled in New England all year.
The UNOH Showdown is a unique race event for the NASCAR Whelen Modified northern and southern tours. Each Tour will compete in its own 75-lap race for NASCAR points. The northern group will compete in the Town Fair Tire 75 and the southern contingent in the Green Pointe Energy 75. Upon completion of these two races, the best of the two Tours will be combined and lined up for a 50-lap, no holds barred scramble in the $50,000.00 UNOH Showdown with the winner collecting more than $15,000.00.
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