Racing’s Stars Will Shine at Icebreaker This Weekend
Thompson, CT — The stars of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be out in force this weekend for the season opening ICEBREAKER at the Thompson International Speedway. The list of race teams and drivers pre-entered for the April 5th & 6th event is made up of champions and challengers.
Four former winners of the ICEBREAKER will be on hand as will a host of drivers that want to add this prestigious event to their win list. The driver who has the most ICEBREAKER wins is Rick Fuller. The Auburn, MA driver won the event in 1991, 1994, 1997 and 2001. Seven time Modified Tour division Champion, Mike Stefanik, a two-time ICEBREAKER winner (’98 & ’06), will be joined by another two-time victor, Ted Christopher (’04 & ’05). Last year’s ICEBREKER winner, James Civali, will try to make it two in a row.
[Icebreaker Schedule]
[Icebreaker NASCAR WMT Roster]
The impressive pre-race entries include such veterans as Reggie Ruggiero, Todd Szegedy, Ed Flemke, Jr., Jimmy Blewett, Ronnie Silk, Matt Hirschman and Eric Beers. They will be joined by Carl and Charlie Pasteryak, Ryan Preece, Bobby Grigas III and rookie contender Glen Reen to mention only a few.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s first event of the new season will start with a field of up to 37 cars. Each team that filed an entry blank will be looking to find a starting spot in the season’s first race. The 150 lap race is scheduled for a 3:15 PM start on Sunday, April 6th.
Preceding the start of the ICEBREAKER’S main event, NASCAR and Thompson Speedway will pay tribute to three of the “Tour’s” past champions. The oldest, the newest and the most famous will be part of the pre-race ceremonies which start 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the race.
The oldest living NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Champion, Frankie Schneider will be on hand to recall his 1952 championship year. Donny Lia, the reigning Tour Champion, will be honored for his incredible 2007 campaign title and the family of the most famous NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver, the late Richie Evans, will be on hand to pay tribute to the nine division championships won by the “Rapid Roman.”
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour cars will practice and time trial on Saturday, April 5th. Their 150-lap main event will be run on Sunday, April 6th. Qualifying races will be held on Saturday for the NEMA Midgets and Thompson’s own “Super Six” NASCAR Whelen All American Series divisions.
Once practice and qualifying have been completed on Saturday, Thompson’s Sunoco Modifieds and Late Models will compete in the first of two feature event races that each division will have on ICEBREAKER weekend. Upon completion of these events, all attention turns to the annual ICEBREAKER dinner and dance at the Raceway Restaurant and Lounge. A special ICEBREAKER menu will await hungry race fans who wish to enjoy a great evening of fun and food.
Sunday’s schedule begins at the Raceway Restaurant and lounge with breakfast being served between 7 & 11 AM. The Thompson grandstand will open at 9:30 AM and the first race of the day will go at 12 Noon.
Race fans seeking more information are urged to visit the Thompson International Speedway web page at www.thompsonspeedway.com
Sources: Russ Dowd/Thompson International Speedway PR