Two Open Practice Sessions Near at Thompson
Thompson, CT — The 2012 racing season will kick off with two open practice sessions at Thompson International Speedway. These pre-season practices will be held on Saturday, March 31st and again on Saturday, April 7th. Virtually any safe race car is welcome to participate in these sessions that will run from 11 Am until 5 PM each day. Paddock area gates will open at 10 AM.
These open practice sessions offer competitors a great opportunity to get their race cars ready for the season-opening Icebreaker scheduled for the weekend of April 14th and 15th. This year’s exciting Icebreaker will feature the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour along with Thompson’s own Sunoco Modifieds, Super Late Models, Thompson Modifieds, Late Models, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks.
Race teams find these open practice sessions to be very valuable for them to have the time necessary to fine tune their race cars and to give newer drivers the valuable “seat time” that is so important going into a full season of racing. The format for these sessions is a “round robin” style by division and runs virtually non-stop for six hours.
Icebreaker weekend officially opens another action packed Thompson racing season and reunites fans and competitors after a long winter break in New England racing action. Hundreds of race fans take advantage of the track’s free camping. Thompson’s huge parking is quickly transformed into a small city of RVs that make for great opportunities to renew old friendships and make new ones. The tracks ability to provide great fun for also comes from the Championship Golf Course, Driving Range, Restaurant and Lounge which are all on the same property as the Speedway.
Many new race teams, driver changes, color schemes and more are unveiled on Icebreaker weekend. Much attention has been paid to some of the driver changes in the Whelen Modified Tour. The 2007 and 2009 WMT Champion, Donny Lia rejoins the Bob Garbarino Mystic Missile # 4 while the 2010 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champ, Keith Rocco will fill the seat of the famous “old Blue” # 3 from the Boehler racing organization. John Lukosavage, owner of the potent # 11 Modified, has tapped the talented and popular Woody Pitkat as his driver. These are just some of the changes that the 2012 racing season will offer.
Tickets for the Icebreaker are available in advance from the Thompson Speedway track office. Fans are urged to purchase their tickets prior to the event so that they can avoid the long lines on race day. The complete schedule of events for Icebreaker weekend is available on the track’s web page. www.thompsonspeedway.com
Sources: Russ Dowd/Thompson International Speedway PR