Modified Mania This Weekend at Thompson
Thompson, CT — The second annual Sunoco MODIFIED MANIA is on track for this coming weekend of September 8th & 9th. With 400 laps of Modified feature event racing, fans of these open wheel, super-fast racecars will get to see an entire weekend of nothing but their favorite kind of short track racing.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will lead the six-division MODIFIED MANIA race weekend. It will mark the fourth appearance of the Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson this year. Race winners James Civali (ICEBREAKER), Donny Lia (June 21st) and Todd Szegedy (Aug. 16th) will all be on hand along with all of the top competitors on this exciting touring series.
The True Value Modifieds will return for their portion of MODIFIED MANIA with a 75-lap main. A full field of True Value competitors is expected and will include
qualifying race winners Kirk Alexander, Les Hinkley, Dwight Jarvis, Mike Holdridge, Jon McKennedy and Vinny Annarummo.
The North and Central divisions of the R.O.C. Modifieds make up the third touring division to be part of MODIFIED MANIA. The R.O.C. roster is impressive to say the least. Drivers like Pete Brittian, Jan Leaty, Tony and Matt Hirschman, Eric Beers and many more are regulars at the R.O.C. dates.
The fourth touring modified division to join the lineup for MODIFIED MADNESS will be the ever-popular PRO 4 Modifieds. A mix of veteran PRO 4 drivers and young up-and-coming talent will make up the starting field of these incredibly fast cars. Joe Lemay, Norm Wrenn, Jeff Zuidema, George Sherman and Kevin Iannarelli are but a few of the drivers that fans can expect to see compete in the PRO 4, 25-lap feature.
Thompson’s own Sunoco Modifieds and Thompson Modifieds will round out the six Modified divisions that will make up this two-day, open wheel extravaganza. Woody Pitkat will lead the lineup of Sunoco Modified drivers. Joining him will be Tom Cravenho, Jr, Keith Rocco, Kerry Malone, Bert Marvin and Todd Ceravolo. Thompson Modified competitors Tim Sullivan, Kurt Vigeant, Roger Larson, Jr. and many more will make up the T.I.S. Modified contingent.
All cars will qualify on Saturday beginning at 2:45 PM. Once qualifying is complete, racers will prepare for the Sunday Morning Fan Appreciation Party. Racecars and drivers will assemble on the race track and fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet their favorite drivers beginning at 10:30 AM on Sunday. Fans are urged to bring cameras and items that they would like to have autographed.
Grandstands will open at 10 AM on both Saturday and Sunday. Sunday’s racing will begin shortly after 12 Noon. Anyone seeking more information is urged to visit the track’s web site at www.thompsonspeedway.com . They may also contact the Thompson Speedway track office at 860-923-2280.
Sources: Russ Dowd/Thompson Int’l Speedway PR