Ramstrom Set for Doubleheader at Thompson
Derek Ramstrom has a big day ahead of him this afternoon at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. He will make his Granite State Pro Stock Series debut and make his second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour start.
“Wicked exciting, we’re starting fourth in the Granite State Pro Stock Series behind Dillon Moltz,” Ramstrom said. “Just going to ride for a while see what happens, 50 lap event. Hopefully we can seal the deal in that and starting 18th in the Whelen Mod Tour just going to be patient and see how it pans out. We’re a little down on horsepower (spec engine), so it kind of effects us here at Thompson, but we should be alright.”
Entering the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing, Ramstrom has scored recent victories in Super Late Model competition. He won the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) 300-lap race at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, ME. Just two weeks ago at Seekonk (MA) Speedway, he recovered from a pair of spins to collect the $5,000 100-lap D. Anthony Venditti Memorial.
Ramstrom broke his foot last year, which limited his schedule. “When we ran we really weren’t that successful,” Ramstrom described his performances last year .
“We’re always top five in the PASS,” Ramstrom said. “It’s just pretty hard to seal a win in that division. It’s very competitive, but we should be good to go for next season.”
Ramstrom made his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debut at Waterford (CT) Speedbowl in June. He also raced open competition events at Seekonk (MA) Speedway and Star Speedway in Epping, NH this summer. Ramstrom plans on racing in the North South Shootout at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, NC next month.
A two-time Pro Stock champion at Thompson, Ramstrom has 23 wins at the 5/8 mile oval.
“I know the track very well, so I think that’s an advantage for me compared to some of the fellow competitors from Riverhead and whatnot,” Ramstrom said. “But I think we should be fine. I have plenty of experience in a racecar, I’m just a rookie in the Modified, so I think I’ll be alright.”
With plans to enter the North South Shootout at Caraway, Ramstrom is “Hoping to finish in the top 15, car in one piece,” Ramstrom said. “… maybe even a top 10 as long as I don’t wreck it. I think that’s a great accomplishment.”
General Manager Josh Vanada announced at the drivers meeting that the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour would return to its traditional four annual races next season.
“It’s huge,” Ramstrom said. “This is probably the nicest facility in New England, if not in the country and it’s a great race with the Modifieds. So I think it’s awesome I won (two) championships here in the Pro Stock, so it’s phenomenal for me and my team.”
Ramstrom said that his team would run major Super Late Model races in 2015, including the Beech Ridge 300, Oxford 250 and the D. Anthony Venditti Memorial at Seekonk. Ramstrom will run a limited schedule of NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races, including all the races at Stafford, Thompson and Waterford.
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com