Track, Competitors and Fans Ready for Icebreaker Weekend
Thompson, CT — Anticipation and excitement are in the air at the Thompson International Speedway. Race fans and competitors alike are excited about the season-opening ICEBREAKER event this weekend at the historic Thompson oval. With a near perfect weather forecast being predicted, winter weary fans are ready to kick off a brand new racing season in sunny and warm conditions.
Race teams have spent the entire off-season preparing for the start of the 2009 campaign. Many have tested their cars during recent open practice sessions at Thompson and are now ready for the opening of the racing season.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (WMT) will begin its 25th anniversary year at the ICEBREAKER. This year’s event will mark the 107th time that the WMT has raced at Thompson since the formation of the Tour in 1985. An outstanding field of WMT competitors will attempt to qualify this Saturday afternoon for a starting spot in the 150-lap main event which will be run on Sunday. The WMT will be joined by Thompson’s “Super 6” NASCAR Whelen All American Series divisions in this two-day racing spectacle that has ushered in the beginning of the auto racing season in New England for well over 40 years.
The track will open for practice Saturday morning at 9 AM with grandstand gates opening at 9:30 AM. Qualifying will begin at 1:30 PM. Thompson’s “Super 6” divisions will qualify in heat races while the WMT will use time trials to determine starting positions. The Sunoco Modifieds and Late Models will then compete in the first of two feature event races for those divisions.
Sunday’s schedule has gates to the speedway opening at 9:30 AM with pre-race ceremonies beginning shortly after 11:30 AM. The WMT drivers will participate in a thirty minute autograph session at 12 Noon and the first feature event of the day is also slated for a 12 Noon start. The estimated start time for the 150-lap WMT main event is 3:15 PM.
Race fans are urged to arrive early so that they can avoid the long lines at the ticket booths and take advantage of the displays on the midway. The Tri-State Kart Club will be on hand to offer information on go-kart racing at their track in Pomfret, CT. King Cadillac-GMC of Putnam and Putnam Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep will have displays of vehicles from their dealerships, the Soldier’s Angels and AMVETS will also be in attendance. Ken Bouchard’s Race to Victory Lane and the Racing School will also be on hand to explain to fans just how they can have the opportunity to drive a real race car at Thompson.
ICEBREAKER weekend is the most anticipated racing program in New England each and every year. Fans come from far and wide to be part of the beginning of a brand new year of exciting, high-speed competition. Thompson Speedway rolls out the red carpet in an effort to be a welcoming host to the racing community with its additional offerings of free self-contained camping, a professional golf course, driving range, restaurant, lounge and a full weekend of racing activity. The entire ICEBREAKER weekend schedule along with WMT entries and driver’s rosters may be found on the track’s web page at www.thompsonspeedway.com.
Sources: Russ Dowd/Thompson International Speedway PR