Michalski and Barnett Wins Dampened by Untimely Loss; Stefanik Sets New WMT Series Record
Thompson, CT — The excitement of Icebreaker opening day at Thompson International Speedway took a heartbreaking turn Saturday afternoon. The Thompson Speedway family and the entire racing community was saddened with the loss of a long-time Thompson competitor. Jimmy Smith, 62, of Woodstock, CT was stricken in the paddock area following an 8-lap qualifying race at the speedway. He was taken by ambulance to Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam where he died.
“Everyone at the Thompson Speedway is saddened at the loss of Jimmy,” said the track’s General Manager, Jonathan Hoenig. “Words cannot express how all of us feel at this time. We extend our deepest sympathies to Jimmy’s family, friends and fans. Jimmy was a talented race car driver and he loved the sport dearly. He will be missed by everyone in the racing fraternity.”
Mike Stefanik earned his 48th overall NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour pole, a series record, when he set fast time at Thompson International Speedway for the Icebreaker with a speed of 120.527 mph. It was his 10th pole award at the track. Stefanik will sit on the front row for tomorrow’s race, which marks the 121st NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at the .625-mile oval.
Scott Michalski and Larry Barnett took wins in the two Best of the Rest features, races that were open to any driver in the Monster Mini Stock or Limited Sportsman divisions that did not finish in the top-10 in points last season. In other NASCAR All American Series action, Ryan Preece, Keith Rocco, Glenn Boss, Guy Caron, Steve Kenneway, Larry Barnett, Nick Anderson, Michalski and John Studley all won heat races for their divisions.
Scott Michalski drove to the checkered flag in the Mini Stock 15-lap Best of the Rest feature after holding off two other drivers for the win. Louie Bellisle took the early lead in the Mini Stock 15-lap feature with Todd Lajeunesse and Mike Viens in tow. Bellisle opened up a commanding 10-carlength lead over the rest of the field while Roger Ducharme was the man on the move challenging for second by the fourth circuit. Ducharme took over the spot as Michalski challenged for second, but caution froze the field with Bellisle and Ducharme on the front row. Bellisle held onto the lead on the restart with Michalski attempting to get a run on Ducharme. Michalski used the outside groove to get side-by-side with Ducharme on lap seven before taking over the second spot heading into turn one on lap eight. Michalski took the lead after a brief challenge with Bellisle just before the ninth circuit. Once out front, Michalski was unstoppable. Michalski took the checkered flag despite the last lap challenges by Ducharme and Bellisle.
Larry Barnett took the lead in the Limited Sportsman Best of the Rest 20-lapper with three laps to go to take the checkered flag in the first feature event of the season. Scott Cook and Travis Jurcik paced the field to green with Jurcik taking the lead before the caution came out for a spin in turn four. On the restart, the duo battled side-by-side in a battle that saw Jurcik hold on to the lead when a multi-car pileup brought the caution out again. Cook drove straight to the front on the restart with Kevin Mason following into second. Cook, Mason, and Jurcik ran nose-to-tail for several laps with Jurcik looking high and low for a way around. On lap eight, Jurcik was able to get by and take over the second spot before caution slowed the pace. On the restart, Cook did not come up to speed so officials called them back to do it again. Cook and Jurcik went into turn one side-by-side with Jurcik going high in turn two and losing momentum. Cook took the lead with Mason taking over second and Jurcik in third. On lap 13, Barnett dropped to the bottom and got side-by-side with Jurcik for the third spot as Mason kept the pressure on Cook for the lead. Barnett was still on the move, however, and advanced to the second position by lap 15 and had his sights set on Cook. On lap 16, Barnett looked low heading into turn one, but backed out of it before trying again and taking the lead on lap 17. As Barnett pulled away, Cook, Mason, and Jurcik continued a nose-to-tail battle for the second through fourth positions respectively. Barnett took the win unchallenged with a three-carlength advantage.
Ryan Preece and Keith Rocco won their heats in NASCAR Whelen All American Series qualifying action.
In the first of two heats, Joe Williams took the lead going into the second turn, but it was all Nick Boivin at the line after Williams spun in turn three. The caution slowed the pace with Williams reclaiming the point on the restart. Preece took over the lead coming out of turn two with Kerry Malone and Todd Ceravolo rounding out the top-three. Preece pulled away to a commanding two second lead over the rest of the field before Williams hit the turn four wall and brought out the caution. Preece drove back out front on the restart with Malone on his bumper, but held him off for the remainder of the race.
Rocco took the early lead in the second heat with Danny Cates and Woody Pitkat settling into second and third respectively. The top three stretched out, but were quickly reeled back in when caution came out at lap two. Rocco drove back out front two more times before getting into a rhythm, but this time with Cates and Pitkat right on his bumper. Jay Sundeen got into the inside retaining wall on lap six and slowed the pace one more time. Cates was glued to Rocco’s bumper as they entered the first turn on the restart, but it was all Rocco when the checkers dropped.
Glenn Boss and Guy Caron held off determined challengers to win their qualifying heats in the Late Model division. Limited Sportsman heats were won by Steve Kenneway and Larry Barnett. Both drivers led every lap to take the checkered flags for the victory. Scott Michalski used a late-race pass to win the second Mini Stock heat while Nick Anderson checkered the first. John Studley won the Lite Modified heat.
In Granite State Pro Stock action, Larry Gelinas led every lap en route to his qualifying heat victory while George Bessette held off a hard-charging Jim Banfield for the victory in the second heat. Glenn Tyler used the outside groove to get to the front at the start of the third heat and led every lap to the checkered flag.
LIMITED SPORTSMAN BEST OF THE REST FEATURE FINISH: 1. LARRY BARNETT, Moosup, CT; 2. Scott Cook, Uncasville, CT; 3. Kevin Mason, West Warwick, RI; 4. Travis Jurcik, Chaplin, CT; 5. Chris Bisson, Putnam, CT; 6. Bill McNeil, Preston, CT; 7. Todd Dean, Danielson, CT; 8. Glynn Roy, Sterling, CT; 9. Matthew Lowinski-Loh, Milford, MA; 10. Hank Stott, Medway, MA; 11. Scott Fanning, Mapleville, RI; 12. Don Chamberland, Moosup, CT; 13. John Carpenter, Danielson, CT; 14. Michael Malbaurn, Sterling, CT; 15. Jeff Van Pelt, Pawtucket, RI.
MONSTER MINI STOCK BEST OF THE REST FEATURE FINISH: 1. SCOTT MICHALSKI, S. Killingly, CT; 2. Louie Bellisle, Lisbon, CT; 3. Roger Ducharme, Foster, RI; 4. Jeff Moffat, Smithfield, RI; 5. Todd Lajeunesse, Putnam, CT; 6. Nick Matera, Warwick, RI; 7. Leo Defevers, Moosup, CT; 8. David Gavlick, Lincoln, RI; 9. Mike Viens, Putnam, CT; 10. Brent Gleason, Lisbon, CT; 11. Alicia Thatcher, Pascoag, RI; 12. Jason Maguire, Johnston, RI; 13. Steve Romjue, Coventry, RI.
GRANITE STATE PRO STOCKS HEAT #1: 1. LARRY GELINAS, Buxton, ME; 2. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 3. Jake Vanada, Berkley, MA; 4. Louie Mechalides, Tyngsboro, MA; 5. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH.
GRANITE STATE PRO STOCKS HEAT #2: 1. GEORGE BESSETTE, Danbury, CT; 2. Jim Banfield, South Glastonbury, CT; 3. Mike Parks, Walpole, NH; 4. Jay Sands, Seabrook, NH; 5. Jeremy Davis, Tamworth, NH.
GRANITE STATE PRO STOCKS HEAT #3: 1. GLENN TYLER, Hampton Bays, NY; 2. Billy Brady, 3. Josh King, Vernon, VT; 4. Carl Eriksson, Deep River, CT; 5. Jeff Hartwell, East Putnam, CT.
SUNOCO MODIFIED HEAT #1 TOP-FIVE: 1. RYAN PREECE, N. Falmouth, MA; 2. Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; 3. Paul Newcomb, Plymouth, MA; 4. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry, CT; 5. John Catania, Ludlow, MA.
SUNOCO MODIFIED HEAT #2 TOP-FIVE: 1. KEITH ROCCO, Meriden, CT; 2. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT; 3. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, CT; 4. Dennis Perry, Pawcatuck, CT; 5. Moose Douton, Waterford, CT.
LATE MODELS HEAT #1 TOP-FIVE: 1. GLENN BOSS, Danielson, CT; 2. John Falconi, Oakham, MA; 3. John Lowinski-Loh, Jr., Milford, MA; 4. Chad LaBastie, Uxbridge, MA.
LATE MODELS HEAT #2 TOP-FIVE: 1. GUY CARON, Lempster, NH; 2. Marc Curtis, Jr., 3. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 4. Damon Tinio, Mendon, MA; 5. Ryan Lineham, Hope Valley, RI.
LITE MODIFIED HEAT #1 TOP-FIVE: 1. JOHN STUDLEY, Framingham, MA; 2. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI; 3. Troy Talman, Oxford, MA; 4. Glenn Griswold, Vernon, CT; 5. Robert Palmer, Lisbon, CT.
LIMITED SPORTSMAN HEAT #1 TOP-FIVE: 1. STEVE KENNEWAY, Lowell, MA; 2. Jesse Gleason, Lisbon, CT; 3. Kevin Mason, West Warwick, RI; 4. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, MA; 5. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA.
LIMITED SPORTSMAN HEAT #2 TOP-FIVE: 1. LARRY BARNETT, Moosup, CT; 2. Chris Bisson, Putnam, CT; 3. Corey Fanning, Mapleville, RI; 4. Scott Cook, Uncasville, CT; 5. Bill McNeil, Preston, CT.
MINI STOCKS HEAT #1 TOP-FIVE: 1. NICK ANDERSON, Oxford, MA; 2. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield, CT; 3. Louie Bellisle, Lisbon, CT; 4. Shane Michalski, Woodstock, CT; 5. Todd Lajeunesse, Putnam, CT.
MINI STOCKS HEAT #2 TOP-FIVE: 1. SCOTT MICHALSKI, S. Killingly, CT; 2. Eric Bourgeois, East Haddam, CT; 3. Roger Ducharme, Foster, RI; 4. Chad Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 5. Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA.
Sources: Penny Aicardi/Thompson International Speedway PR