The 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track champions at Thompson International Speedway have been named following the conclusion of the regular weekly race programs. The final review of the points standings for each race run since the season-opening Icebreaker has been completed and a champion for each of the track’s seven racing divisions has been declared.
Ryan Preece, the 21 year old from Berlin, CT., claimed the Sunoco Modified title. The track’s premier division ran 19 races in the 2012 season and Preece won 10 of them. He managed to bank some 922 track points in the process and, in so doing, bested some of the most talented Modified drivers in the northeast. Preece had an outstanding year driving for Al and Kathy Moniz of North Falmouth, MA. Veteran Kerry Malone, the 2008 division champ, finished second and was followed by Rookie Dennis Perry, 2003 and 2010 champ, Ted Christopher and the 2006 title holder, Woody Pitkat. (more…)
A look back at the remaining 141 laps of the Bud Nats 150 that was ppd from Sept 1 at the Waterford Speedbowl. Todd Ceravolo would relief drive for his son-in-law Keith Rocco to take the win. Includes in-car footage from Jeff Pearl, Rob Janovic, Tyler Chadwick, Justin Gaydosh, Tommy Barrett Jr, Tom Abele and Woody Pitkat.
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. (more…)
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.” (more…)
Veteran stock car racer Ron Proctor of Charlton, NY celebrated his second-straight NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bond Auto Parts Modified track championship at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Friday night following a 50-lap finale presented by Brown’s Quarried Slate and Brown’s Orchard & Farm Stand. Joe Williams of Scotia, NY drove to a convincing victory – his first of the season – while Proctor ran a smooth, steady race to finish seventh and secure the title.
Williams, driving the No. 55L ME Engineering/BNC Motorsports entry for Sargen Racing, jumped out to a big lead early and held the point through a 45-lap stretch of green-flag racing. Two quick caution periods – one of which claimed championship contender Vince Quenneville, Jr., with a hard crash into the Turn 1 wall – did little to slow Williams down, and he sped to the win. (more…)
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. (more…)
