Hirschman Dominates RoC & Owen Surprise TVMRS Winner; Blewett, Wrenn, & Marcotte Also Score Mania Victories
Thompson, CT — With Tropical storm Hanna but a memory, Todd Szegedy of Ridgefield, CT, ended nearly a one-year drought with his win in the Whelen Modified Tour 150 under crystal clear blue skies as part of Modified Mania at Thompson International Speedway on Sunday. Matt Hirschman of Northampton, PA turned in a dominating performance to win the 75-lap main event for the Race of Champions. Todd Owen of Somers, CT, was declared the winner in a wild 75-lapper for the True Value Modified Racing Series (TVMRS). In weekly series action, Jimmy Blewett of Howell, NJ, was the winner in the Sunoco Modifieds and R.J. Marcotte of Millville, MA, in the TIS Modifieds. Norm Wrenn of Nashua, NH, was the winner in the visiting Pro-Four Modifieds.
Szegedy took the lead on a late race restart to earn his first win of the 2008 season in Whelen Modified Tour action. After rain forced the cancellation of time trials on Saturday, point leader Ted Christopher started the Whelen Modified Tour event from the point on Sunday. He took full advantage of his starting spot leading the lion’s share of the event. Christopher led from the drop of the green flag through lap 124. The team opted to head to pit road for tires giving up the lead and ultimately the win.
Continue reading ‘Szegedy Modified Mania WMT Winner at Thompson’
Veteran Nabs 13th Career Victory
Thompson, CT — Preseason favorite Todd Szegedy broke through for his first win of the 2008 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season Sunday afternoon in the Sunoco Modified Mania 150 at Thompson International Speedway.
Szegedy (No. 2 Wisk-Snuggle Ford), who ran inside the top five for most of the afternoon, took his first lead of the race on Lap 132 and held off numerous charges by Ronnie Silk (No. 79 Hill Enterprises/Coors Light/Sunoco Pontiac) in the last 22 laps for his 13th career victory, and third at Thompson.
Continue reading ‘Szegedy Earns First Win Of 2008 At Thompson’
Christopher Will Start On Pole Sunday
Thompson, CT — Unfavorable weather conditions at Thompson International Speedway Saturday afternoon washed out time trials for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Current points leader Ted Christopher will now start on the pole for Sunday’s Sunoco Modified Mania 150.
With the rainout lineup, the field for the Sunoco Modified Mania 150 was set according to the NASCAR rule book. Christopher took the points lead last time out at Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Park with his second win of the 2008 season. He will enter Sunday’s 11th race of the season with a 60-point advantage over Chuck Hossfeld.
Continue reading ‘Qualifying: Rain Hits Thompson’
Modified Mania Resumes with Feature Events on Sunday
Thompson, CT: Tropical storm Hanna held at bay long enough to build the excitement of Thompson International Speedway’s Sunoco Modified Mania. The three premier Modified divisions in the Northeast-the Whelen Modified Tour, the True Value Modified Racing Series (TVMRS) and the Race of Champions Modified Tour (RoC) are joined by Thompson’s own Sunoco Modifieds and the TIS Modifieds and the visiting Pro-Four Modifieds for a two-day racing extravaganza.
On Saturday afternoon, qualifying was held in the two weekly racing divisions in competition during Modified Mania including the Sunoco Modifieds and the TIS Modifieds. Taking down Sunoco Modified heat race wins were Tommy Cravenho of Raynham, MA, and Bert Marvin of New London, CT. R.J. Marcotte of Millville, CT, was the TIS Modified qualifying race winner. In Pro-Four Modifieds the Thompson Pro Stock ace Norm Wrenn of Nashua, NH and Brian Vincent of Coventry, RI, were the victors.
Continue reading ‘Weather Held at Bay for Some Qualifying Action at Thompson on Saturday; Modified Mania Resumes with Feature Events on Sunday’
Thompson, CT — Seven race teams from the True Value Modified Tour will arrive at Thompson International Speedway this coming weekend without the concern of qualifying for their 75-lap main event. These race teams have been winners of qualifying races for the Sunoco Race Fuels Modified Mania weekend slated for September 6th & 7th.
Beginning back in April, eight specific races on the True Value Modified Tour schedule were selected as qualifying races for this coming weekend’s big Modified Mania race. Race tracks from all over New England were selected to be included in the program that would award guaranteed starting position status to their True Value race winners.
Continue reading ‘True Value Modified Drivers Win Starting Spots in Modified Mania’
Gentes, Sundeen, Oliveira, & Michalski Score Wins at Thompson
Thompson, CT — Jimmy Blewett of Howell, NJ, comes up big when big races are on the line at Thompson International Speedway. Blewett took the lead in the early going of the Sunoco Modified 50-lapper; going on to score a dominating win. Earlier in the season, Blewett swept twin events for the Sunoco Modifieds. The victory earned Blewett a guaranteed starting spot SK-Type Modified event of the 6th Annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout scheduled for November 7&8, 2008. Blewett is the defending champion of the event.
George Bessette of Danbury, CT, also took a commanding victory in the Pro Stock division during Thursday Night Thompson Thunder. Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI, made it two in a row in the Late Models. Scott Sundeen of Douglas, MA, took top honors in the Limited Sportsman feature. Scott Michalski of South Killingly, CT scored a victory in Mini Stocks while Leo Oliveira of Raynham, MA, triumphed in the TIS Modifieds.
Continue reading ‘Blewett Dominates Sunoco Mod 50′
NASCAR To Recognize 1993 Modified Champ On Sept. 7
Daytona Beach, FL — As part of a season-long celebration of 60 Years of Modified Champions, 1993 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour titlist Rick Fuller will be honored at the Sunoco Modified Mania 150 on Sunday, Sept. 7 at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway.
A consistent championship contender throughout his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour career with top 10 points finishes in 17 seasons; Fuller broke through in 1993 and earned a 93-point victory over Reggie Ruggiero for the title.
Continue reading ‘Modified Champion Rick Fuller To Be Honored At Thompson’
Thompson, CT –The Sunoco Race Fuels Modified Mania, a two-day racing spectacle that spotlights Modified race cars, will return to Thompson September 6th & 7th. Six different divisions of Modified cars will be in competition with some four hundred laps of feature event racing as the main attraction.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (WMT) will top the list of touring divisions taking part in this very special event. The WMT will be joined by the True Value Modifieds, RoC Modifieds, Pro 4 Modifieds, Thompson’s own Sunoco Modifieds and Thompson Modifieds will round out the exciting lineup of racing.
Continue reading ‘Modified Mania Returns to Thompson’
Thompson, CT — The month of August will go out with a bang at the Thompson International Speedway when the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Sunoco Modifieds take on their longest race of the TNTT season. This week’s 50-lap main event, all part of Whelen night, is crucial in the points chase for the track championship.
Todd Ceravolo will go into the competition with an eight points advantage over Danny Cates. Ceravolo, a former champion, knows the pressures that exist in a late season points chase. Cates, the Sunoco Modified 2007 Rookie of the year, is brand new to a Modified division championship run. However, Cates has surprised everyone with his performance in an open wheel car since the 2007 season opened.
Continue reading ‘August to End On A High Note at Thompson’
Gentes, Sundeen, Oliveira, & Michalski Score Wins at Thompson
Thompson, CT — Jimmy Blewett of Howell, NJ, comes up big when big races are on the line at Thompson International Speedway. Blewett took the lead in the early going of the Sunoco Modified 50-lapper; going on to score a dominating win. Earlier in the season, Blewett swept twin events for the Sunoco Modifieds. The victory earned Blewett a guaranteed starting spot SK-Type Modified event of the 6th Annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout scheduled for November 7&8, 2008. Blewett is the defending champion of the event.
George Bessette of Danbury, CT, also took a commanding victory in the Pro Stock division during Thursday Night Thompson Thunder. Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI, made it two in a row in the Late Models. Scott Sundeen of Douglas, MA, took top honors in the Limited Sportsman feature. Scott Michalski of South Killingly, CT scored a victory in Mini Stocks while Leo Oliveira of Raynham, MA, triumphed in the TIS Modifieds.
Continue reading ‘Blewett Dominates Sunoco Mod 50; Bessette Gets Pro Stock Checkers’
Wrenn & Gentes Score Season Firsts; Barnett, Boss & Romano Winners
Thompson, CT — Keith Rocco of Wallingford, CT, scored his second straight Sunoco Modified feature win during Thursday Night Thunder at Thompson International Speedway. Norm Wrenn of Nashua, NH, in the Pro Stocks and Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI, in the Late Models each earned their first wins of the 2008 season. Larry Barnett of Ledyard, CT, took top honors in the Limited Sportsman division while Glenn Boss of Danielson, CT, celebrated his birthday with a TIS Modified feature win. Mike Romano of Glendale, RI, padded his point lead with a Mini Stock triumph.
Keith Rocco proved to be the class of the Sunoco Modified field once again. Taking the lead early in the 30-lap main event, the Wallingford, CT, driver never looked back en route to his third win of the season and second in a row.
Continue reading ‘Back-to-Back Victories for Rocco in Mods at Thompson’
Old & New Will Shine This Week at Thompson
Thompson, CT – The Thompson International Speedway will play host to two very different events this week and Modified Mania is just around the corner. Thursday Night Thompson Thunder (TNTT) will return following the big NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race this past week. This week’s TNTT will feature the NASCAR Whelen All American Series “Super Six” divisions in exciting, wheel-to-wheel racing competition.
The second event is the annual Vintage Antique Car Extravaganza slated for Saturday, August 23rd. This very special event will feature on-track activity for a huge variety of classic race cars as well as static displays of some of the most pristine antique racers to be found anywhere.
Continue reading ‘Late Summer Variety Highlights Thompson Schedule’
Rocco, Zuidema, Bessette, Larose, Sullivan & Michalski Weekly Winners
Thompson, CT — Ronnie Silk of Norwalk, CT, looked like a man on a mission as he battled to his second Whelen Modified Tour win of the season and third win of his career at Thompson International Speedway in the Budweiser New England Dodge Dealers 150. It was a night for the young guns as Matt Hirschman of Northampton, PA, and Bobby Santos III of Franklin, MA joined Silk on the podium.
An exciting race to the finish found Keith Rocco of Wallingford, CT, in victory lane in the Sunoco Modifieds. In other Whelen All-American Series racing, Lady Luck was finally on the side of George Bessette of Danbury, CT, who scored his first Pro Stock feature win of the 2008 season. It was a handful of victories for Late Model ace Jeff Zuidema of N. Brookfield, MA and Ernie Larose of Plainfield, CT scored a popular win in Limited Sportsman division. Brian Sullivan took over the ride for his brother Tim in the family-owned TIS Modified to score the victory in only his second start. Scott Michalski led his racing family with a Mini Stock feature win.
Continue reading ‘Silk Continues Thompson Mastery win WMT Victory’
Thompson, CT — Bobby Grigas III led the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s one-hour practice session at Thompson International Speedway Thursday.
Grigas’ No. 09 Triple G Scaffold Services Chevrolet posted a time of 18.671 seconds/120.508 mph around the .625-mile oval.
Reggie Ruggiero (No. 14 Atlantic Sprinkler Ford) was second quick at 18.747/120.013. And Ryan Preece (No. 3 Mizzy Construction/Reynold’s Auto Wrecking Chevrolet) was third at 18.748/120.013.
Qualifying for Thursday night’s New England Dodge Dealers 150 presented by Budweiser was rained out, and the starting lineup the race was set according to the rule book.
Continue reading ‘Practice: Grigas Paces Thompson Field’
Thompson, CT — NASCAR Modified racing is the oldest and most history laden type of racing sanctioned by NASCAR, the Florida based racing giant. 2008 marks the 60th year of NASCAR Modified racing and much of the history of this exciting racing division was written at the Thompson International Speedway. Another chapter in that colorful history will be written this Thursday, August 14th, when the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to Thompson for the New England Dodge Dealers-Budweiser 150.
From 1948 until the 1984 racing season came to a conclusion, the NASCAR Modified division was a free-wheeling, somewhat independent racing division. The NASCAR Modifieds were the premier weekly division at most tracks in the northeast. Many of the top drivers would compete on both asphalt and dirt tracks in as many as sixty or more events each year. At the end of the season, NASCAR would compile all of the points awarded to each driver and a champion was crowned based on the driver’s overall points total.
Continue reading ‘Modified Tour Has Rich History at Thompson’
