Brandon Warren To Run In Late Models At Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
Brandon Warren out of Chicopee, MA will be running in the Late Model division this season at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. Warren ran the Icebreaker and would finish in the 12th position. Warren made his late model debut last year on the 5/8 mile oval at the World Series Of Racing.
For Warren to get back into a Late Model, it was a big learning curve. Warren had not raced for 3 years after being in the military. Warren was in Germany for 4 months and did 19 trips around the world to different countries as a crew chief on a C-5 out of Westover. Warren just got out of the military after completing his 6 year enlistment. When Warren came to the World Series last October, he knew he had to get back into the swing of things after never running in that fast of a car. He ran at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in a Mini Stock and Trucks. When he came, he would run on the bottom like he did at Monadnock Speedway. He learned quick to be fast and that he would have to run on the top.
“ These cars don’t have big horsepower so really have to keep momentum up and with a car we just bought had a lot to figure out. We went there with no expectations just to log some laps and get some seat time.”
Warren likes the 10 event schedule that Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park has this season. He likes racing once or twice a month. “ It’s not racing every week where you’re struggling to get the car back together or short on funds and not going there with the best quality piece you can because you were rushing. We like the short schedule.”
One of the reasons Warren wants to try the ACT Tour is he has won races in multiple divisions. He wants to see where he stands up to the best racers in the region. He feels it will be fun to run with the ACT Tour drivers and feels he can compete against all of them. They have an RPM engine and a Mangus Transmission and rear. Bob Fill from BFR Racing has been doing the setups for Warren and the race team.
“ We have the best of the best so should be no excuses. Plus having a great crew getting the car ready and mom and dad supporting me and helping racing as much as possible.”
Warren is also planning to run the ACT Tour Southern New England Triple Crown. The 3 race series will begin at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday night May 21st for a 100 lap event. The second event will be the Propane Plus 150 at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday night July 16th. The third and final event will be at the World Series Of Racing at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on Saturday night October 15th where ACT will crown the 2016 ACT Tour champion as well as the 2016 Southern New England Triple Crown Champion.
Warren feels it is a great opportunity. “ I think it’s a great opportunity to race in one of the top divisions and see how we match up against the best racers from all the local tracks and the traveling guys from Canada and the ACT Tour regulars.”
Warren would like to thank his mother Hollie and his father John for everything they have done for him over the years through the good and bad times as they are always there to support him. He would like to thank his race team Dave, Jeff, and Mike. He would also like to thank his sponsors Poly Plating, Medtronics, Homestyle Cafe, Jim Buddy’s Smoke Shop, City Machine, and 1812 Paint And Auto Body, RPM Race Engines and Mangus Transmissions.
Warren’s goal for this season is to win Rookie Of The Year in the Late Model division at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. He wants to get at least 3 finishes in the top 3 and try to qualify for all 3 of the ACT Tour races in Southern New England. “ I know there’s going to be a ton of cars for those races and a lot of people being sent home but would like to qualify and race in the main event in those.”
Warren knows winning at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park is a tall order with Jeff and Keith Rocco, defending champion Brian Tagg, and William Wall being strong competitors. Warren feels it’s going to be a tough division but he and his team are going to go out in every race and give it their all.
The next event for Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park will be held on Wednesday night May 18th. It will be the Long Distance Limited Sportsman Race presented by Circuit One Events. The Limited Sportsman will be going 40 laps that night. The Sunoco Modifieds, Late Models, and Mini Stocks will also be apart of the program. The Pit Gates will open at 3 P.M. The grandstands will open at 4:30 P.M. Practice will happen from 4:45 P.M. until 5:45 P.M. Racing will begin at 6:30 P.M.
Story And Photo By: Matthew Wiernasz/Yankeeracer.com