Christopher Wins Sunoco Modified Thriller; Ramstrom Streaks in Super Late Models; O’Sullivan, Douton, Marcotte & Anderson Score Victories
Thompson, CT — Thompson International Speedway hosted an exciting night of racing to kick-off the first Thursday Night Thompson Thunder event of the 2010 season. Fans were treated to an incredible night of racing highlighted by the Sunoco Modified main event. Ted Christopher of Plainville, CT, made a thrilling last lap pass to score the victory.
Derek Ramstrom of Worcester, MA, made it three straight in Super Late Model competition. Tommy O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA, was victorious in Late Models while an ailing Chris “Moose” Douton of Waterford, CT, was tops in the Limited Sportsman division. R.J. Marcotte of Millville, MA, scored the TIS Modified feature win while it was a career first for Lloyd Anderson of Wauregan, CT, in the Mini Stocks.
The cagey veteran, Ted Christopher of Plainville, CT, used years of experience to set-up Keith Rocco for a last lap winning pass in a gripping Sunoco Modified feature event. Woody Pitkat set sail to lead the opening laps of the event with Bert Marvin taking chase in the runner-up spot followed by Danny Cates, Keith Rocco, and Rowan Pennink. Pitkat managed to get some breathing room as Marvin, Cates, Rocco, and Pennink battled.
[Photo Gallery} by Adam Fohlin
[Photo Gallery} by Nicholas Teto
Cates got out of shape making a bid at the second spot losing several positions. Rocco easily took over the second position. The cars on the move were Christopher and Ronnie Silk. Christopher had worked his way into the fourth spot by lap 10. Silk had moved into the fifth position. Rocco was all over the bumper of Pitkat in search of the lead.
Rocco made a dive-bomb move to the inside of Pitkat. The two made slight contact but both drivers were able to hold on to their mounts. Pitkat was able to hold on to the lead. Christopher meanwhile had caught Pennink.
At halfway, Pitkat maintained his lead followed by Rocco, Pennink and Christopher. Silk ran about 10-car lengths behind the pack. Rocco tried a sling shot move entering turn four he was able to get around Pitkat initially, but his car drifted up the race track allowing Pitkat to use the low groove to maintain his advantage. The caution flew when Harry Rheaume spun in turn four.
On the restart, Rocco was able to wrestle the lead away from Pitkat. A lap later, a spin by Carl Oberg brought out the caution once again. On the ensuing restart, Pitkat and Rocco both slid through turn two. Both were able to continue without losing much ground.
Christopher battled his way past Pitkat and into the second spot. A spin by Rheaume brought out the caution. The restart pitted Ted Christopher against Rocco for the top spot. Christopher got alongside Rocco looking to make a bid at the lead. He had to settle back into second. Silk joined the battle in the third position.
With five laps to go Christopher was glued to the back bumper of Rocco with Silk, Pitkat, and Marvin in pursuit. Lap after lap Christopher dogged Rocco. Over the final laps, the two played bumper tag. On the final lap, Rocco entered turn three low trying to ward off Christopher. Rocco than moved up the track allowing Christopher to jump to the bottom groove and by Rocco coming out of four to score the victory.
Hot off two wins on Icebreaker weekend, Derek Ramstrom of Worcester, MA, came into Thursday night as the man to beat in the Super Late Models. Following the first TNTT event, Ramstrom remains undefeated. Larry Gelinas rocketed out to a comfortable lead right from the drop of the green flag. Dennis Maxfield ran in the second spot as Derek Ramstrom had quickly worked his way into the third position. After an early restart, Ramstrom was able to take over the second position from Maxfield.
Two of the division’s heavy hitters Mike Stefanik and Mike O’Sullivan were involved in a tandem spin on the front stretch. Both were able to continue and the race remained green. Ramstrom immediately caught Gelinas. After a pair of laps, Ramstrom was the new leader.
At halfway, Ramstrom had gained a sizable advantage over Gelinas. The battled was brewing between Maxfield, Fuller and Bessette. Bessette began looking low on Fuller. The two made some slight contact as Bessette made the pass exiting turn four. Fuller hooked Bessette on the front stretch sending Bessette head on into the outside wall entering turn one. Fuller was sent pit side for his actions.
On the restart, Ramstrom was pitted against Gelinas. Ramstrom was easily able to regain his lead. Gelinas fell into the grasp of Maxfield. Once things sorted out Ramstrom led by a half-straightaway over Gelinas, who had a comfortable margin over Maxfield. Marc Curtis began to run down Maxfield as Mike Stefanik was picking his way through the field.
In the end, Ramstrom went unchallenged to the checkers followed by Gelinas. Maxfield finished third. Curtis held off a late race bid by Stefanik. The running order was shuffled following post race tech when both Curtis and Stefanik were disqualified. Jeramee Lillie and Steve Desmarias were the remainder of the official top-five.
Tommy O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA, held back all challengers to score the Late Model victory on Thursday night. O’Sullivan jumped from his pole starting position to take the lead. He was able to get some breathing room as Phil Rondeau and John Falconi battled for the second position. Rick Gentes was able to move through the traffic and before lap 10 had worked his way into the second position.
At halfway, O’Sullivan continued to lead Gentes while Falconi and Jeff Hesselton were locked in a battle for the third spot. Wayne Coury, Sr. had his hands full with the defending divisional champion John Materas.
During an extended green flag run, Gentes had cut into O’Sullivan’s lead. The advantage disappeared when the caution flew on lap 16 after Jeff Hesselton and Falconi made contact as they battled for third. Falconi made heavy contact with the outside wall in turn two. Hesselton was put to the rear for his participation.
On the restart, Gentes made a bid but it was O’Sullivan maintaining his lead. Materas ran in third followed by Coury. Rondeau’s mount went up in smoke on lap 21 to bring out a caution. O’Sullivan was up for the challenge on the ensuing restart. Over the final two laps, Gentes dogged O’Sullivan but could not muster up a bid for the win. O’Sullivan crossed the stripe with the victory. Gentes, Materas, Coury and Jeff Hartwell rounded out the top five.
Despite suffering from pneumonia, Chris “Moose” Douton of Waterford, CT, was on top of his game to win the Limited Sportsman feature event. Steve Kenneway, after a strong performance in qualifying earlier in the day, used his pole starting position to lead the early going of the event. Douton ran strong in second; keeping Kenneway in his sites.
Both Larry Barnett and Shawn Monahan used the green flag laps to work their way into contention. Barnett has worked his way into the fourth position and immediately began to battle with Coates for the third position. On lap four, contact sent Barnett spinning. He was able to continue allowing the race to remain green.
A lapped car proved to be the undoing of Kenneway as Douton used the car as a pick to grab the lead away. Once free of Kenneway, Douton quickly stretched out his lead. Coates had plenty of company in Monahan as the race wound down. In the end, a hoarse Douton greeted the crowd from victory lane. Kenneway had a career day with his runner-up finish.
Coates crossed the line in the third position; however, he was penalized to the ninth position for his involvement in the early incident with Barnett. Monahan was awarded with the third place finish. Scott Sundeen and Jason Chicolas made up the top-five.
R.J. Marcotte of Millville, MA, hunted down the earlier leader Brian Tagg to score the victory in the TIS Modifieds. Tagg jumped out to the early lead in the event with Marcotte in tow. Cam McDermott and John Studley waged a battle of their own for third. The battle for the top spot began to heat up on lap six with Marcotte getting alongside Tagg exiting the turns. Despite his efforts, Marcotte had to settle back in line behind the leader Tagg.
At halfway, Studley began to apply heavy pressure on McDermott for the third spot. The leaders continued to run nose to tail. With five laps to go Marcotte got alongside Tagg on the backstretch. The following lap, Marcotte got the break he needed when Tagg slipped in turn two; opening the door for Marcotte to take over the top spot. Once out front, Marcotte quickly began to distance himself from Tagg. Studley was able to make his way past McDermott. At the checkers, Marcotte had posted the victory over Tagg, Studley, McDermott and Shane Michalski inside the top five.
Newcomer Lloyd Anderson of Wauregan, CT, bested a 27-car field of Mini Stocks to score a career first. After a tumultuous start for the Mini Stocks, Anderson took advantage of a battle for the second spot to run out to nearly a half-straightaway lead. Fred Michalski ran comfortably in second over Randy Churchill.
At halfway Anderson continued to lead while defending champ Scott Michalski, who had been involved in an early caution, had worked his way into the sixth spot. The #85 of Mike Viens, running fifth at the time, went up against the wall in a ball of flames after an apparent engine failure, to bring out the caution on lap 10.
On the restart, F. Michalski got the jump on Anderson; however, as quickly as he captured the lead F. Michalski began dropping back. Churchill capitalized darting from third to the lead. Anderson was not done as he kept Churchill in his site. Anderson reeled in Churchill getting alongside the leader on the white flag lap. Churchill may have gotten a little overzealous in protection of his lead as he lost the handle in turn two. Anderson streaked to his first career victory. Michalski had an incredible recovery to finish second. Scott Jussaume, Roger Ducharme, and Leo Defevers completed the top five.
Sunoco Modifieds Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT; 2. Keith Rocco, Wallingford, CT; 3. Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, CT; 4. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, CT; 5. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, PA; 6. Tim Sullivan, S. Windsor, CT; 7. Bert Marvin, New London, CT; 8. Dave Salzarulo, Monson, MA; 9. Glenn Griswold, Vernon, CT; 10. Ryan Preece, Kensington, CT.
Super Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Derek Ramstrom, Worcester, MA; 2. Larry Gelinas, Buxton, ME; 3. Dennis Maxfield, Fitchburg, MA; 4. Jeramee Lillie, W. Warwick, RI; 5. Steve Desmarias, Somerset, MA; 6. Dave Silvia, Warwick, RI: 7. Daryl Stampfl, Norwood, MA; 8. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 9. George Bessette, Danbury, CT: 10. Rick Fuller, Auburn, MA.
Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 2. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 3. John Materas, Voluntown, CT; 4. Wayne Coury, Sr., Milford, CT; 5. Jeff Hartwell, Danielson, CT; 6. Jeff Hesselton, Auburn, MA; 7. Mike Scorzelli, Malta, NY; 8. Mark Jennison, Warwick, RI; 9. Randy Waterman, Danielson, CT; 10. Jeremy Sadowski, Voluntown, CT.
Limited Sportsman Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Chris Douton, Waterford, CT; 2. Steve Kenneway, Jr., Lowell, MA; 3. Shawn Monahan, Waterford, CT; 4. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 5. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, MA; 6. Jesse Gleason, Lisbon, CT; 7. Joe Arena, Bristol, CT; 8. Larry Barnett, Moosup, CT; 9. Joe Coates, Eastford, CT; 10. Scott Fanning, Mapleville, RI.
TIS Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA; 2. Brian Tagg, Oxford, CT; 3. John Studley, Framingham, MA; 4. Keith McDermott, Scituate, RI; 5. Shane Michalski, Woodstock, CT; 6. Ryan Morgan, Mystic, CT; 7. Jason Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 8. Denis Legere, N. Reading, 9. Tyler Poulin, Pascoag, RI.
Mini Stock Feature Finish: 1. Lloyd Anderson, Wauregan, CT; 2. Scott Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 3. Scott Jussaume, Danielson, CT; 4. Roger Ducharme, Foster, RI: 5. Leo Defevers, Brooklyn, CT; 6. Fred Michalski, Dayville, CT; 7. Bert Ouellette, Dayville, CT; 8. Mike Gorgievski, Auburn, MA; 9. Chuck Rogers, Quaker Hill, CT; 10. Steve Michalski, Brooklyn, CT.
Sources: Dale Wolbrink/Thompson International Speedway PR