Icebreaker this Weekend at Thompson
THOMPSON, CT — The Thompson Speedway Icebreaker is set for this weekend. The two-day season opener will be run this Saturday and Sunday at the historic speedway. The Icebreaker is the most anticipated race of year and will feature seven divisions of exciting short track racing action.
Headlining the Icebreaker will be the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Defending WMT champ Doug Coby will lead a star-studded field of ground pounding Modifieds to their 150-lap main event on Sunday, April 14th. Practice and time trials for the Modified Tour are slated for Saturday, April 13th.
Coby will face some very tough competition as pervious Icebreaker winners will be looking to repeat. Last year, it was Ron Silk who made his way to victory lane in a controversial finish that had officials calling Rowan Pennink for jumping the restart in the closing stages of the 150-lap event. The 2011 edition was won by Ted Christopher in spite of the fact that at one point in the race he was scored two laps down to the leaders. It was Christopher’s third Icebreaker victory. Bobby Santos claimed the 2010 Icebreaker and Christopher took home the laurels in 2009. Ed Flemke, Jr. celebrated a win in the 2008 rendition and it was James Civali edging Chuck Hossfeld at the finish line when the race was run in 2007. It was Hossfeld’s second consecutive finish in the runner up spot as he was edged by Mike Stefanik in 2006.
Icebreaker fans will also get to see the first ever appearance of the Granite State Pro Stocks. This very popular touring series will make its Thompson debut at the Icebreaker. The series promises a full field of competitors with many veterans of the Thompson Pro Stock and Super Late Model wars that have been such a large part of the racing action at Thompson for years. Looking to begin his defense of the 2012 GSPS crown will be Bobby Cabral.
Thompson’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions will also play a major role in the 2013 edition of the Icebreaker. Ryan Preece is the defending champion in the Sunoco Modified division and he will begin his title defense this weekend. Preece faces stiff competition from many of the best Sunoco Modified drivers in the northeast. Their Thompson season will open with a 30-lap main event on Sunday afternoon.
An impressive field of Late Models is expected. During the off-season, more than 30 teams registered for this year’s racing action. There will not be a tile defense by the 2012 champ Tommy O’Sullivan. He has decided to move up to the Pro Stock division thus leaving the door wide open for a brand new title holder at season’s end.
Thompson’s Lite Modified division grew over the winter with more than fifteen race teams registering for the new race season’s competition. Cam McDermott, the 2012 Lite Modified king, was one of the first to register his car for this year and he is expected to put up a spirited defense of his title.
Icebreaker weekend will be extra special for the Xtra Mart Limited Sportsman and the Monster Mini Stock divisions. Not only will each of these extremely popular divisions be in feature race competition on Sunday, but many of these race teams will be given the chance to compete in “The Best of the Rest” races on Saturday night. These Saturday night races are specifically designed for drivers who did not finish in the top 10 in track points last year. These two non-points events will offer eligible competitors a chance to be in the spotlight as Fast Track Concessions will present the Xtra Mart Limited Sportsman race of 20 laps and New England Race Fuels will sponsor the Monster Minis for a distance of 15 laps. The defending champs in these divisions are Scott Sundeen in the Xtra Mart Limited Sportsman and Chad Baxter holds the title in the Monster Minis.
Grandstands will open at 11 am on both Saturday and Sunday. All divisions will practice on Saturday beginning at 10 am and qualifying is slated for a 3 pm start. The “Best of the Rest” races will follow qualifying.
Sunday’s schedule has the grandstand opening at 11 am and the Granite State Pro Stock drivers will hold an autograph session at 11:30. Pre-race ceremonies get underway at 11:45 with the first feature event of the day scheduled to roll off at 12:15 pm. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers will also hold an autograph session beginning at 1 pm.
The Raceway Restaurant and Lounge will once again play host to the social activities of Icebreaker weekend with their famous breakfast buffet served both Saturday and Sunday mornings beginning at 7. The annual Icebreaker dinner and dance will be held at the “Club House” Saturday evening.
Thompson’s web site is filled with information about the Icebreaker weekend and fans are urged to consult the site for more information. www.thompsonspeedway.com
Sources: Russ Dowd/Thompson International Speedway PR
ICEBREAKER SCHEDULE
APRIL 13-14, 2013
FEATURE DIVISIONS:
Whelen Modified Tour 150 Laps
Granite State Pro Stocks 50 Laps
Sunoco Modifieds 30 Laps
Late Models 25 Laps
Lite Modifieds 20 Laps
Limited Sportsman 20 Laps
Mini Stocks 15 Laps
Raceway Clubhouse:
Breakfast Buffet – Saturday & Sunday 7:00 – 11:00 am — All You Can Eat!
DJ in the Clubhouse Tent – Saturday Night
FULL RACEWAY MENU including: Friday Night Seafood Special & our Famous Sirloin & Prime Rib on Saturday night
SCHEDULE:
Friday, April 12th
11:00 Paddock Passes available
11:00 NWAAS/GSPSS haulers enter
4:00 NWMT haulers enter
NO PRACTICE
5:00 Paddock & Registration area closes
SATURDAY, April 13th
8:00 Paddock Opens
8:30 NWAAS/GSPSS Inspection Begins
11:00 Grandstands Open
10:00 – 11:00 NWAAS Practice
Ltd. Sportsman
Sunoco Modifieds
Mini Stocks
Late Models
Lite Modifieds
11:05 – 11:50 Granite State Pro Stock Practice
12:00 – 12:30 NWAAS Final Practice
12:35 – 1:20 Granite State Pro Stock Final Practice
1:30 – 3:00 Whelen Modified Tour Practice
3:05 NWAAS QUALIFYING – 8 lap heats
Ltd. Sportsman
Sunoco Modifieds
Mini Stocks
Late Models
Lite Modifieds
GSPSS QUALIFYING – 10 lap heats
5:00 WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR TIME TRIALS
GSPSS Consolation Race (12 laps – if necessary)
SPECIAL CHALLENGE EVENT!
– Ltd. Sportsman (20 laps)
– Mini Stocks (15 laps)
Open to all competitors in each division who did not finish in the top 10 in 2012!
SUNDAY, April 14th
9:00 Paddock Opens
11:00 Grandstands Open
11:30 GSPSS Autograph Session
11:45 Show Opens – Pre-Race Ceremonies
12:15 NWAAS Features:
– Ltd. Sportsman
– Sunoco Modifieds
1:00 Whelen Modified Tour Autograph Session
NWAAS Features:
– Mini Stocks
– Late Models
– Lite Modifieds
2:15 (approx) Granite State Pro Stock Feature
3:00 (approx) WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR 150L FEATURE
ADMISSION: (10% CT Admission Tax included)
$44.00 Adults
$10.00 Juniors (Ages 6-14)
FREE Kids (Ages 5 & Under)
$50.00 Paddock Pass
PARKING: FREE
Located on Speedway Grounds
RV’s & Campers Welcome
All campers must be self contained – no facilities are available
Campers will be allowed into the parking area beginning April 6th and must be removed by Sunday April 22nd. Parking area will be open all night for drop off.
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE!