Banner Field of Race Cars Expected for Thompson’s World Series
Thompson, CT — Hundreds upon hundreds of racecars will gather on October 12th, 13th, & 14th for the biggest auto racing event in the northeast. The sprawling complex that is the Thompson International Speedway will be filled, wall-to-wall with well over five hundred racecars that will be ready to compete in the 34th annual XTRAMART World Series of Speedway Racing. It is an incredible sight whether flying over, driving by or walking through the grounds of the Thompson Speedway. No other race track even comes close to hosting an event the size of Thompson’s the World Series and it’s this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Fourteen different and distinct divisions of racecars will compete in this three-day racing extravaganza. It’s an event that race fans have waited a full year to see. Headline divisions include the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, the Winged Super Modifieds of ISMA, the mighty Midgets of NEMA and Thompson’s Super Six NASCAR Whelen All American Series divisions. Add to this the extremely quick Pro Four Modifieds, The American Race Trucks and three Outlaw divisions and you have one of the most diversified race programs to be found anywhere.
The entire race schedule is available on the Thompson International Speedway web page. www.thompsonspeedway.com. A quick summary of the weekend’s activities has on-track practice scheduled for Friday from 9:30AM until 4:30 PM. Qualifying will then begin for the eight divisions that will have feature event races on Saturday night.
Saturday’s schedule has on-track practice from 8:30AM until 2:30 PM. That will be followed by qualifying for the NASCAR Whelen Modifieds, Super Modifieds, NEMA Midgets, Sunoco Modifieds, Pro Stocks and Late Models. Once qualifying for these divisions is complete, feature events will then begin for the cars that qualified on Friday.
Sunday is, of course, the premier day of the XTRAMART World Series with six big feature event races beginning shortly after 12 Noon. Sunday’s line up will showcase the NASCAR Modified Tour, ISMA’s Super Modifieds, the NEMA Midgets, Sunoco Modifieds, Pro Stocks and Thompson’s exciting Late Models.
Sunday’s racing will mark the first race that NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour 2007 Champion, Donny Lia will face the challenge of competing as a title holder. However, the final standings will be determined for the remainder of the Modified Tour drivers with a special focus on the five drivers looking to fill the four positions that would complete the top five for the season.
Chris Perley will have the same distinction held by Lia. Perley has captured the 2007 title for the ISMA Super Modifieds but will face a serious challenge from Mike Lichty, Mike Ordway, Jr., Justin Belfiore and Robbie Summers, who will debut a brand new Howie Lane car, and many others in this ultra exciting, super fast racing division.
To make the weekend more enjoyable for fans, breakfast will be served at the Raceway Restaurant on both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Another long-standing tradition, the big dinner and dance, will be held at the same location Saturday night.
The XTRAMART World Series of Speedway Racing is much more than a racing weekend. Hundreds of fans literally move in for the weekend and the social side of racing is in full swing. It’s the grand finale of the auto racing season and fans travel from far and wide to witness this once-a-year spectacular.
Tickets for this event are available in advance by contacting the Thompson International Speedway track office. 860-923-2280. Fans may also get the very latest information on this event by checking the Thompson Speedway web page at www.thompsonspeedway.com.
Sources: Russ Dowd/Thompson Int’l Speedway PR