Championships Come Down to the Wire at Thompson
Thompson, CT — With two weeks remaining in the regular racing season, the pressure is on as race teams try to secure one of the six division championships up for grabs at Thompson International Speedway. Drivers compete for both money and points at each event during the season. As the season draws to a close, the points, in many cases, become the driving force behind the competition.
The points competition in each of Thompson’s NASCAR Whelen All American Series divisions is red hot. Two events that award track points remain on the 2009 schedule. Going into those events, not a single driver has clinched one of the coveted titles.
The closest points race is in Thompson’s premier division, the Sunoco Modifieds. Going into this week’s competition, a mere two points separate drivers Keith Rocco and Woody Pitkat. Rocco will be determined to maintain his advantage over Pitkat after seeing his chances for a national championship fade when rain washed out his last two opportunities to overtake Ruckersville, VA driver Philip Morris for the national crown. Rocco claimed the 2007 Thompson title by only six points over Pitkat who was the 2006 titlist. However, it’s not just Rocco and Pitkat who could claim the top spot. Both Rowan Pennink and Ted Christopher have a shot at the top spot. Last year’s Sunoco Modified champion, Kerry Malone, is mathematically out of the running to repeat since he is 136 points behind the leader with just two points events remaining.
Thompson’s Super Late Model division is nearly as close with Derek Ramstrom holding a slim eight points advantage over the 2007 champ, Mike O’Sullivan. Norman Wrenn and Les Rose, Jr. are also contenders in this extremely competitive division.
Brian Sullivan has a twenty two points lead over Cam McDermott with Brian Tagg and Glenn Boss within striking distance in the Thompson Modified division. Limited Sportsman driver Larry Barnett is a mere twenty four points in front of Jay Sundeen. That number doubles when measuring the distance between Barnett and third place driver, Joe Arena. However, Arena, Scott Sundeen, the 2008 champ, and Paul Coutu, Jr. are also still very much in the race for that number one position.
The largest points lead going into the final two weeks of competition belongs to Late Model competitor John Materas. In spite of a difficult outing last week, Materas still holds an advantage of some fifty eight points over Mark Oliveira and a ninety points over third place driver Tom O’Sullivan. Not quite as large of an advantage is enjoyed by Mini Stock driver Scott Michalski. A total of forty four points separate Michalski and Brad Caddick. The division’s biggest winner in ’09, Tim Taylor, is eighty points behind and is followed by Steve Michalski and Rookie Randy Churchill. Any of these Mini Stock competitors could end up with a front row table at the Thompson awards banquet in January.
The number of contenders could be reduced drastically after this Thursday night’s competition or things could get even tighter. With fifty track points awarded for a win, almost any combination of changes is possible in the final two weeks. Complete points standings and event schedules are available on the Thompson website. www.thompsonspeedway.com Thompson Thunder series events are family priced at only $15.00 for adults and Jr. tickets are only $5.00.
Sources: Russ Dowd/Thompson International Speedway PR