Anticipation Builds at Thompson
Thompson, CT — As the snow and ice begins to disappear; the anticipation of a brand new racing season at Thompson International Speedway has begun to build with track officials, competitors and fans alike. The warmer temperatures and the heavy rains have worked wonders on the deep snow left from the seemingly endless series of storms this past winter.
With the first of two open practice session slated for Saturday, March 26th, and the second set for April 2nd, track officials and optimistic and are working very hard to get the facility ready for race action. There is much work to do since the fierce winter left the track buried under three to four feet of hard packed ice and snow. Yet the recent warm days and work by track personnel seems to be paying off very nicely. Everyone has high hopes that the opening events will be able to go off as scheduled. Open practice times for both days are scheduled from 11 AM until 6 PM.
The open practice sessions on March 26th and April 2nd, are very important to competitors as they get ready for the season-opening Icebreaker event on the weekend of April 9th & 10th, 2011. This year’s Icebreaker will feature eight different racing divisions with the headliner being the season’s first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race. The WMT will be joined by Thompson’s NASCAR Whelen All-American “Super 6” divisions along with the popular Sunoco Lite Modifieds.
The Thompson Icebreaker is one of the biggest and most anticipated events on the New England auto racing calendar. The Icebreaker ushers in a new racing season every year and with that comes new race cars, new race teams and a host of exciting changes in every racing division.
The traditional Icebreaker is a two-day racing spectacular topped off by a 150-lap main event for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Practice and qualifying make up much of the Saturday schedule. However, Saturday feature events are held for the Sunoco Lite Modifieds and the first of two features for the Sunoco Modifieds. These two races are a big part of the Saturday schedule. When racing is not the focus on Icebreaker weekend, the Raceway Restaurant and Lounge is where the action is both Friday and Saturday evenings for dinner and great social activities. The facility is also open for an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet on both Saturday and Sunday mornings.
The Sunoco Modifieds return for their second main event on Sunday along with the Super Late Models, Thompson Modifieds, Late Models, Limited Sportsman, Mini Stock and, of course, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
Tickets for the 2011 Icebreaker are available in advance by calling the Thompson Speedway track office. 860-923-2280. Tickets for this event are good for both Saturday and Sunday.
Sources: Russ Dowd/Thompson International Speedway PR