Thompson Changes Name of Strictly Stock Division
Thompson, CT — A new name will be heard in 2001 at the Thompson International Speedway. The popular Strictly Stock division will now be called the Limited Sportsman division.
The name change comes as a result of both management and competitors seeking a more marketable name for those teams seeking sponsorship. After much consideration of various names for this division, the Limited Sportsman title was adopted.
“We truly believe that a team will have more success in seeking sponsorship dollars with a race car called a Limited Sportsman than one called a Strictly or Street Stock, said track owner Don Hoenig. In today’s racing world, it is very important to have a marketable product for a sponsor and it all can begin with a name,” he concluded.
Some minor changes in the division’s rule book have been made to deal with cost reduction and the availability of parts. The division had run on the Rochester 2G carburetor. However, for the last two seasons, competitors have expressed concern over their ability to even get one of these carburetors and the cost associated with securing one. The track management decided that by introducing a new carburetor and intake manifold for the 2001 season, that the supply problem would be eliminated and that competitors choosing, in the future, to move up a division may do so without having to purchase these items again. In addition, the cost associated with this new combination is
less expensive than the cost of one of last year’s carburetors.
The new Limited Sportsman rules also allows for the inclusion, as an option, of the “sportsman” connecting rod. This connecting rod must be used in its stock form and will prove to be less expensive than having considerable machine work done on the stock, OEM connecting rod. Competitors need not change connecting rods. This rule allows for a less expensive option should a new set of connecting rods be needed.
Thompson’s Chief Steward, Dick Brooks and Chief Inspector, Mike Kun both heartily endorsed these changes in an attempt to save the competitors money in both the short and long term.
Any questions concerning these rules changes or any rules interpretation should be directed to either Brooks or Kun. For contact information, call the track office at (860)-923-2280.
Sources: Russ Dowd/Thompson International Speedway PR