Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Releases Innovative 2015 Short Track Schedule
Thompson, CT – Officials from Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (TSMP) – the famed 5/8-mile speedway in Connecticut’s quiet corner – released a creative and innovative seven (7) event schedule today, featuring twelve different touring series and sanctioning bodies, and boasting over $500,000 in posted awards. Two weekend events, and a five event Wednesday summer series – with four rain dates – make up the calendar. The schedule is highlighted by four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) events, two new Triple Crown Series, and significant enhancements to the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing.
“A lot of effort went into taking a fresh look at the schedule, and providing the best events we could for our race teams and fans. We have some traditional fan favorites that will return, and we have made some valuable additions to complement that core. We are very proud of the finished product and are excited to announce our 2015 schedule of short track events,” Josh Vanada, TSMP General Manager, remarked.
For the 29th season, the track will operate under the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series banner, offering Sunoco Modified, Late Model, Limited Sportsman, and Mini Stock competitors the benefits of NASCAR membership, awards, as well as state and national championship competition.
Schedule Announcement on Victory Lane Radio
The season will begin with the 41st running of the Icebreaker on Friday, April 10 through Sunday, April 12. Modified fans will be in for a treat, as not only will the first race for the NWMT be part of the program, but TSMP’s own Sunoco Modifieds will be featured in a 75-lap main event to kick off the facility’s 75th anniversary celebration. In addition to the full-fendered Late Models, Limited Sportsman, Mini Stocks, and Granite State Pro Stock Series, the winged NEMA Lite cars will make their maiden voyage to the historic Connecticut oval. The Vintage Outlaws and New England Truck Series will also be part of the action. Fans will have the opportunity to meet the stars and cars of all nine divisions on Sunday morning at the Fan Appreciation Party.
A new addition to the schedule, which was announced in October, is the addition of another NWMT race. Scheduled for June 10, this 125-lap event will mark the first time since 2012 that the Tour will make four stops at TSMP. The Mini Stock and Limited Sportsman Divisions will be on stage for the summer series opener, also, as they compete in the first race of their Triple Crown Series. New in 2015, both the Limited Sportsman and Mini Stock divisions will participate in three events in which their finishing positions will earn them both TSMP championship points and Triple Crown Series points. The Triple Crown will pay their own point fund and award the top three. The Sunoco Modified, Late Model, and Vintage Outlaws will all be part of an action-packed night of stock car racing, too.
The second annual Late Model 20/20 Sprint will take place on Wednesday night, July 8. The popular format from the inaugural event will once again be used in 2015. An added bonus for the race winner, besides the handsome purse, will be a guaranteed starting position in the ACT Championship 100 at the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing in October. The second Triple Crown race for the Limited Sportsman, as well as the Mini Stocks and ground-pounding Sunoco Modifieds will all be in competition, as well.
Slated for Wednesday, July 29, the Sunoco Modifieds will once again compete in a 20/20 Sprint. As with the Late Models, the same format from 2014 will be used, but with a new twist. Following the completion of the second segment, the overall leader will be given the opportunity to take advantage of a bounty, by forfeiting his/her starting position and starting in the rear for a cash prize, should he or she emerge the overall winner following the 10-lap sprint. As part of this must-see event, the Mini Stocks will compete in their second Triple Crown race, and the Vintage Outlaws will make their third of four stops to the Big T. Late Models and Limited Sportsman will also do battle in championship point races.
One of TSMP’s favorite summer traditions, a 150-lap NWMT race, will once again be back on the docket for August 12. An added bonus this year will be the addition of the Northeastern Midget Association for a 25-lap race, which is guaranteed to feature at least two NWMT drivers in the field. The Sunoco Modifieds, Late Models, Mini Stocks, and the final Limited Sportsman Triple Crown race fill out a very robust night of racing.
The last event of the five-race summer series will feature a double points opportunity for the Sunoco Modifieds. Twin 25-lap main events will be contested for TSMP’s top-tier division. The Late Models, Limited Sportsman, Vintage Outlaws, and the final Triple Crown race for the Mini Stock division will be part of a Back-to-School Bash night, giving families one more opportunity to hit the race track before school begins.
Dubbed one of the nation’s finest short track events – the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing – will be even finer in 2015. TSMP’s final event will showcase fifteen divisions that will compete over the course of three days. Culminating with the final NWMT event of the season on Sunday afternoon, NASCAR’s oldest touring division will be supported by some of the region’s most popular touring series: the International Supermodified Association, Valenti Modified Racing Series, and Northeastern Midget Association. The addition of the 100-lap championship race for the American-Canadian Tour on Saturday will feature New England’s most talented full-fendered drivers, and adds to an already star-studded lineup of events. TSMP’s own Sunoco Modified, Late Model, Limited Sportsman, and Mini Stock divisions will be joined by the New England Truck Series, North East Mini Stock Tour, New England Pro 4 Modifieds, and Lite Modifieds – who will be back after a one-year hiatus. The North East Street Stock Tour will end their inaugural season by crowing their first champion on Saturday night. The NEMA Lites, too, will be competing in their first World Series event, hosting their final points race on Sunday afternoon. When all is said and done, nearly 600 laps of feature competition will be contested, and fourteen new champions will have been born.
“It’s hard to talk about ways to improve an event like the World Series, but I know we’ve accomplished that. The addition of the American-Canadian Tour, coupled with some of the other invitations we extended will make for some extremely competitive racing across three full days. Fans and competitors alike have a lot to look forward to – not only at the World Series – but throughout 2015,” Vanada concluded.
For more information about the 2015 schedule, or about Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, please visit www.thompsonspeedway.com. You may also be connected with us on Google+, Facebook, and Twitter.
For the complete 2015 TSMP oval schedule, click here.
For an in-depth description of the events on the 2015 schedule, click here.
Sources: Theresa Condict/Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park PR
2015 SHORT TRACK SCHEDULE
205 East Thompson Road, Thompson, CT 06277 Ӏ Phone: 860-923-2280 Ӏ Email: oval@thompsonspeedway.com
Friday, April 10 – Sunday, April 12: Icebreaker
(Inclement Weather Date: Friday, April 17 – Sunday, April 19)
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (150), Sunoco Modified (75), Late Model (25), 2 – Limited Sportsman (20), 2 – Mini Stock (15), Granite State Pro Stock Series (40), NEMA Lites (20), New England Truck Series (20), Vintage Outlaws (15)
Wednesday, June 10: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Limited & Mini Triple Crown Race No. 1
(Inclement Weather Date: Thursday, June 11)
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (125), Sunoco Modified (30), Late Model (25), Limited Sportsman (20), Mini Stock (20), Vintage Outlaws (15)
Wednesday, July 8: Late Model 20/20 Sprint & Limited Triple Crown Race No. 2
(Inclement Weather Date: Wednesday, July 15)
Sunoco Modified (30), Late Model (2 – 20-lap races & one 10 lap sprint), Limited Sportsman (20), Mini Stock (15)
Wednesday, July 29: Sunoco Modified 20/20 Sprint & Mini Triple Crown Race No. 2
(Inclement Weather Date: Thursday, July 30)
Sunoco Modified (2 – 20-lap races & one 10 lap sprint), Late Model (25), Limited Sportsman (20), Mini
Stock (15), Vintage Outlaws (15)
Wednesday, August 12: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour & Limited Triple Crown Race No. 3
(Inclement Weather Date: Thursday, August 13)
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (150), NEMA (25), Sunoco Modified (30), Late Model (25), Limited Sportsman (30), Mini Stock (15)
Wednesday, August 26: Sunoco Modified Double Features & Mini Triple Crown Race No. 3
Sunoco Modified (Twin 25’s), Late Model (25), Limited Sportsman (20), Mini Stock (15), Vintage Outlaws (15)
Friday, October 16 – Sunday, October 18: Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing
(Inclement Weather Date: Friday, October 23 – Sunday, October 25)
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (150), International Super Modified Association (50), American Canadian Tour (100), Valenti Modified Racing Series (50), Northeastern Midget Association (25), Sunoco Modified (30), Late Model (25), Limited Sportsman (20), Mini Stock (15), Northeast Mini Stock Tour (20), New England Truck Series (20), Pro 4 Modifieds (22), North East Street Stock Tour (20), Lite Modifieds (20),
NEMA Lites (20)
2015 Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Schedule: An In-Depth Look
• Seven (7) race events
o Over $500,000 in purses, awards and contingencies to be paid by TSMP and its sponsors throughout those events (including touring)
• Four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series sanctioned divisions
o Sunoco Modified (9 point races)
o Late Model (8 point races)
o Limited Sportsman (8 point races)
o Mini Stock (8 point races)
• 12 different touring series (number of events)
o NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (4)
o Vintage Outlaws (4)
o New England Truck Series (2)
o NEMA (2)
o NEMA Lites (2)
o International Supermodified Association (1)
o American-Canadian Tour (1)
o Valenti Modified Racing Series (1)
o North East Mini Stock Tour (1)
o Pro 4 Modifieds (1)
o North East Street Stock Tour (1)
o Granite State Pro Stock Series (1)
• What’s new for 2015?
o Cone Races for Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks on Icebreaker Saturday
o NEMA Lites
o Triple Crowns for Mini Stocks and Limited Sportsman
o Fourth NWMT Race
o ACT at World Series
o North East Street Stock Tour
o NEMA at August NWMT event
o NEMA Lites at two events
• Breaking Down the Events
o Icebreaker
The 41st running of the Icebreaker will begins TSMP’s 75th season. The track opened on May 26, 1940.
Headlining the nine-division event will be the first championship race for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
Leading TSMP’s four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series will be the Sunoco Modifieds. They will compete in a 75-lap feature to begin the 2015 season – an appropriate way to begin TSMP’s 75th anniversary season. At this point, the race will boast a purse of over $15,000.00.
The Late Model division will be featured in a 25-lap race.
Both the Limited Sportsman and Mini Stock divisions will participate in two feature races over the course of Icebreaker weekend. Both divisions will compete in a regular-distance race on Saturday night, as well as a regular distance race on Sunday. Saturday night’s races will be cone races, in which a cone will be placed at the start-finish line on the one-to-go lap. Competitors will be given a choice of the inside lane, or can move to the outside lane to improve their starting position.
The NEMA Lites are an addition to the Icebreaker, and will compete in a 20-lap race on Saturday night, along with the New England Truck Series and Vintage Outlaws.
For the second year, the Icebreaker will once again feature a fan appreciation party on Sunday morning.
o NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour 125 & Triple Crown Race No. 1
The second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at TSMP, this 125-lap race marks the first time since 2012 that the track has hosted four NWMT events.
The Vintage Outlaws will accompany the four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions in action. The Mini Stock Division will compete in a 20-lap main, which will be the first race in their Triple Crown Series. It will also be the first Triple Crown race
for the Limiteds. The concept behind the Triple Crown, is to create a championship within a championship, incentivizing the drivers to come and support TSMP’s summer series.
o Late Model 20/20 Sprint & Triple Crown Race No. 2 (Limited)
All four of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions will be in competition, but it will be the Late Models who will take center stage. The second annual 20/20 Sprint will be comprised of two 20-lap point races and one 10-lap dash to determine an overall winner. As an added bonus, the overall winner of this race will not only receive the winner’s poils, but will be a guaranteed starter for the 100-lap American-Canadian Tour race at the World Series in October. The Late Model race boasts a total purse of over $7,000.
o Sunoco Modified 20/20 Sprint & Mini StockTriple Crown Race No. 2
The Vintage Outlaws will accompany the four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions on this card.
The Sunoco Modified teams will compete in their 20/20 Sprint. Two 20-lap points races will start things off with the second being inverted based upon finishing position in the first race. The final race will be a 10-lap sprint. The best combined finish will determine the overall winner, and to him (or her) will go the spoils. A new twist this year will be a bounty for the leader following the second segment. If he/she opts to start last in the final segment, and still emerges the overall winner, they will receive a cash prize. More details on this to follow. The Late Model, Limited Sportsman, and Mini Stock divisions will all be competing in regular distance races.
This will be Whelen night and will honor first responders.
o Bud King of Beers 150
The ever-popular summer NWMT race will be the Tour’s third stop at TSMP. The Modified Tour will compete in a 150-lap championship race.
TSMP’s Sunoco Modified, Late Model, and Mini Stock divisions will all compete in regular distance races.
As part of their final Triple Crown race, the Limited Sportsman will do battle in a 30-lap main event, paying a purse of over $4,000.
The NEMA midgets are a new addition to the six division program. The winged warriors will compete in a 25-lap race, which is guaranteed to feature at least two NWMT drivers.
o Sunoco Modified Double Features & Mini Stock Triple Crown Race No. 3
The final race of the summer series will be the traditional double feature event for the Sunoco Modifieds – one last opportunity to rack up NASCAR points before the Series closes. The ground pounders will do battle in two 25-lap races which will pay a combined purse of over $11,000.
The Late Models, Limited Sportsman, and Mini Stocks – who will be competing in their third, and final, race of the Triple Crown Series – will also be on the card.
This event also marks the final stop for the Vintage Outlaws.
o Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing
This nationally-recognized event will feature 15 different divisions, and will crown 14 different champions.
The final championship race for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will headline the card for the 53rd running of the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing.
The International Supermodified Association, Valenti Modified Racing Series, Northeastern Midget Association, North East Mini Stock Tour, New England Truck Series, and Pro 4 Modifieds are five of the nine touring divisions in competition.
The American-Canadian Tour will be back at TSMP for the first time in 23 years. Junior Hanley won the last race here on October 11, 1992. This will be the final championship event for ACT in 2015.
The North East Street Stock Tour will also be part of the World Series for the first time, in the Tour’s inaugural season.
The Lite Modifieds will return to competition after being off of the schedule in 2014.