ACT & PASS Announce 2023 Thompson Speedway Oval Schedule
Barre, VT & Naples, ME — Officials from the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) and Pro All Stars Series (PASS) are excited to announce the 2023 Schedule for the Thompson Speedway oval. The nine-event schedule is highlighted by the iconic Icebreaker and World Series weekends along with four Wednesday night programs throughout the summer. 2023 will mark the fourth year ACT and PASS have sanctioned the iconic 5/8-mile oval in Northeast Connecticut.
The 84th year at Thompson Speedway will start and end with a pair of New England’s premier race weekends. Beginning with the 49th Icebreaker, an optional Friday practice day on March 31st gives a sneak-peak prior to the annual lid-lifter on Saturday, April 1st and Sunday, April 2nd. Saturday will be headlined by the PASS Super Late Models while Sunday will once again feature the $10,000-to-win Icebreaker 125 for the Thompson Outlaw Open Modifieds. Along with the Thompson Late Models, Limited Sportsman, SK Lites and Mini Stocks, a full division line-up will be announced for the Icebreaker at a later date.
The 2023 season will close with the traditional three-day Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing starting Friday, October 6th and ending Sunday, October 8th. In its 61st iteration, the annual stock car extravaganza will once again feature three days of Tour-type Modified racing starting with the Modified Racing Series on Friday followed by the $10,000-to-win Thompson Outlaw Open Modified Sunoco 100 on Saturday and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on Sunday. The World Series will also feature championship action for the weekly Thompson divisions as well as a host of touring series that will be announced in the months ahead.
The Wednesday night showdowns will look a little different in 2023 with the introduction of the all-new Dash for Cash Series for the Thompson Outlaw Open Modifieds. In an effort to cut down on the need for a larger pit crew during these midweek events, the Dash for Cash events will be cut down to 50 lap sprints, leaving the need for change tires and scheduled pit stops behind. The three Dash for Cash events will continue to feature the $5,000 to win, $600 to start purse that has been in effect for the Wednesday Open Modified shows since 2021.
“After talking with teams, we feel the format change to 50 laps without change tires will bring more teams to our midweek shows,” said PASS President Tom Mayberry. “Now it’ll be up to the driver to chase down the cash, not relying on a fast right-rear tire changer.”
The Dash for Cash for the Outlaw Open Modifieds debuts on Wednesday, June 21st alongside the Thompson Late Models, SK Lite Modifieds, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks. The New England Supermodified Series (NESS) will also have their midweek debut on the Thompson highbanks after a stellar run at October’s World Series.
On Wednesday, July 26th the SK Lite Modifieds take center stage alongside the second Dash for Cash. The SK Lites will contend for Double Features alongside the Outlaw Open Modifieds, Thompson Late Models, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks.
Wednesday, August 16th brings the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour back to their midweek tradition at the Big-T. The NWMT Thompson 150 will be supported by the Thompson Late Models, SK Lite Modifieds, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks.
The final Wednesday night showdown on September 13th will feature the final Dash for Cash for the Outlaw Open Modifieds in 2023 alongside an Open Street Stock special and the Thompson local divisions.
Sunoco Modifieds are noticeably absent from the Wednesday shows but will remain part of Thompson Speedway in a big way in 2023. With the ongoing tire shortages still affecting the Sunoco Modifieds in particular, and keeping the upcoming point battles at Stafford Speedway and New London-Waterford Speedbowl in mind, officials have chosen to keep the Sunoco Modifieds to Icebreaker and World Series weekends.
“We didn’t want to get to June or July and begin making Sunoco Modified teams choose,” said ACT managing partner Cris Michaud. “To keep out of their tire inventories and save equipment for the Stafford and Waterford point battles, the Sunoco Mods will race both days of Icebreaker weekend and once again with the Triple Crown on World Series weekend.”
For more information about the American-Canadian Tour, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com. You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ACTTour.
For technical information concerning all PASS divisions, and for media or marketing questions, please contact passracing@roadrunner.com or visit www.proallstarsseries.com. Don’t forget to “Like” the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook or follow on Twitter @PASSSLM14 to keep up with breaking news as it happens.
For general Thompson Speedway inquiries, call (860) 923-2280, email oval@thompsonspeedway.com or visit www.thompsonspeedway.com. You can follow Thompson Speedway on Facebook and Instagram at @ThompsonSpeedway or on Twitter at @ThompsonSpdwy.
2023 Thompson Speedway Schedule of Events
# DAY DATE TIME EVENT
— Fri Mar 31 10:00pm Icebreaker Practice Day
1 Sat April 1 6:00pm Icebreaker – Day 1 feat. PASS Super Late Models
2 Sun April 2 6:00pm Icebreaker – Day 2 feat. $10k Open Mod Icebreaker 125
3 Wed Jun 21 6:00pm Dash for Cash #1 plus the New England Supermodified Series
4 Wed July 26 6:00pm Dash for Cash #2 – SK Lite Modified Double Features!
5 Wed Aug 16 6:00pm NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour plus Local Divisions
6 Wed Sept 13 6:00pm Dash for Cash #3 plus Street Stock Open
7 Fri Oct 6 6:00pm 61st World Series Friday – MRS
8 Sat Oct 7 6:00pm 61st World Series Saturday – Sunoco 100 Open Modifieds
9 Sun Oct 8 7:00pm 61st World Series Sunday – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
– Schedule Subject to Change –
Sources: Cale King/Cale King/American-Canadian Tour PR
(IMG_7154.jpg): The Thompson Outlaw Open Modifieds are once again set for two $10,000-to-win events with the Icebreaker 125 and Sunoco 100 on World Series weekend plus the all-new Dash for Cash Wednesday night shows worth $5,000 to the winner of these 50-lap sprints!
(IMG_2212.jpg): To keep ahead of tire shortage questions and upcoming point battles at neighboring Stafford Speedway and New London-Waterford Speedbowl, the Sunoco Modifieds have been relegated to five events; Two on Icebreaker Weekend and the return of the Sunoco Modified Triple Crown on World Series weekend.
(Alan Ward photos)