by Jay | Apr 7, 2016 | Connecticut, New, Thompson
The 42nd Annual Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Heralds in the New England Racing Season
This week’s early spring snow makes the name of Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park’s (TSMP) season-opening event more appropriate than ever this year. The 42nd Annual Icebreaker on April 9th-10th will bring the racing season into full swing as twelve divisions of racing take to the track over two action-packed days, headlined by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT).
Defending NWMT champion, Doug Coby and the No. 2 Mike Smeriglio III Racing Team, have proven a powerful combination over the last couple of years, securing the championship in both 2014 and 2015 and sweeping all four events at TSMP last season. That’s not to say there hasn’t been some fierce competition for them from drivers like Woody Pitkat and Ryan Preece, as the championship last season came down to a tight battle at the last race of the season, Thompson’s Sunoco World Series. With Ryan Preece running a full season in the NASCAR XFINITY series this season, he will be forced to run a limited schedule in the #6 NWMT car. This will provide the opportunity for other strong drivers in the field, like Justin Bonsignore, Timmy Solomito, Donny Lia and Ron Silk, to contend for the title.
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by Jay | Apr 7, 2016 | Connecticut, New, PASS, Thompson, Touring Series News
PASS National Championship Heads North To Thompson Speedway
NAPLES, ME (April 7) – After an extremely successful start to the southern season, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model North season will kickoff this weekend with “The Icebreaker” at Thompson Speedway in Connecticut. “The Icebreaker” is doubly important as it will mark the halfway point of the PASS National Championship Series, which will once again crown Super Late Model racing’s only true national champion.
Massachusetts’ driver Derek Ramstrom has a steely-eyed focus on winning the 2016 PASS National championship. Ramstrom and Maine’s Jeremy Davis are the only drivers to finish in the top five in both of the PASS National races so far this season at Greenville-Pickens Speedway and Hickory Motor Speedway. This weekend Ramstrom comes to Thompson Speedway with the PASS National points lead and with momentum on his side.
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by Jay | Apr 6, 2016 | Connecticut, New, Thompson
Jeff Rocco Looks to Build on Thompson Speedway Late Model Success
(THOMPSON, CT) – With a full season under his belt driving the Eric Grant owned entry at Thompson Speedway, Jeff Rocco’s name ranks high on the list of contenders in 2016. Rocco drove to victory lane 4 times last season, in addition to winning the special Late Model 20/20 Sprint comprised of 3 distinct segment of racing on one night. It was the 14th, 16th, and 17th place efforts that spelled misfortune for Rocco that made him fade from the spotlight at the Sunoco World Series.
“It was a lot less pressure last year coming into a new series,” said Rocco. “If we ran in the top-5 it was a success for us. Now we have set the bar high to go back and achieve that. If you look at where we stacked up against touring competition (American-Canadian Tour) that set the bar of where we need to be. As good as we were for weekly competition we wanted to get better.”
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by Jay | Apr 6, 2016 | Connecticut, New, Thompson
Thompson Speedway Announces their 2016 NWAAS Contingency Program
(THOMPSON, CT) – Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park has worked diligently this off-season to put together several unique contingency programs for their four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) divisions. Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park has teamed up with 10 companies to offer cash bonuses and product certificates to competitors in our four NWAAS divisions, beginning this weekend at the 42nd Annual Icebreaker.
There will be over $5,900 worth of cash bonuses distributed to competitors in various ways throughout the season, thanks to our partners that have generously joined Thompson’s efforts to put some extra cash into the pockets of loyal competitors.
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by Jay | Mar 25, 2016 | Connecticut, New, Thompson
Thompson Boasts Star Studded Sunoco Modified Field for 2016
(THOMPSON, CT) – As the start of the 2016 racing season nears on April 9-10 for the traditional Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Icebreaker, the Sunoco Modified field is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent history.
Woody Pitkat returns as the division’s champion in the Stan Mertz owned Sunoco Modified. By virtue of winning the title, Pitkat’s team decided to rebuild the car in time for the championship banquet that was held in December for the first time at Mohegan Sun. Since that time, the car has been ready to race and to begin a title defense.
“It’s been a weird offseason because the car has been ready to go and I haven’t been to the shop all winter,” said Pitkat.
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by Jay | Mar 25, 2016 | Connecticut, New, Thompson
Mohegan Sun to Once Again Host Thompson’s Championship Awards Banquet
(THOMPSON, CT) – Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park officials announced on Friday that the Annual Championship Awards Banquet would return to Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT on Saturday, December 17. The venue played host to the Banquet for the first time last December, bringing the annual event to a new level of excellence with music, improved trophies and the Champions’ cars on display.
Woody Pitkat, last year’s Sunoco Modified champion, enjoyed having the event at Mohegan Sun as it reminded him of the past NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour banquets. “It’s a great facility. We used to go there for the NWMT banquet, before it was moved down to North Carolina, and it was always a great time… It’s great knowing that it’s going to be back there this year.”
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