Thompson Speedway Back in Action with NWAAS & Lock City Drift this Sunday
THOMPSON, Conn. — Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park’s successful month of June will conclude in style on Sunday.
All five NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions will compete, joined by Lock City Drift, with their second round of the Street Series planned.
Fans can watch the slip and sliding of drifting action, along with the high-speed competition of open-wheel modifieds and full-fendered race cars, all for just $18.
With Lock City Drift preparing for the Street Series, fans can expect another large crowd of entrants, with some newcomers joining the roster. For those not familiar, the Street Series puts drivers on the edge of control, with some restrictions to the cars to keep them inside the rules. These events are judged, and there are multiple rounds before a winner is decided.
“With a bunch of new entrants, we are excited to see who will take the win in round two of the Street Series, and who can take the lead in the points standings,” Michael Lynch, Director of Lock City Drift, said.
Headlining the Whelen All-American Series competition is the Division I Sunoco Modifieds, with their fifth race of the season. Approaching the halfway point in the championship battle, defending champion Keith Rocco is well on his way to battling for the title again. Rocco leads the standings by 24 points on the heels of top-five finishes in all races so far.
Four different drivers have been to Victory Lane. Rocco won the opener, while Ronnie Williams, Ryan Preece and Mike Christopher Jr. have followed with their own victories. Troy Talman, Todd Owen, and Woody Pitkat all have strong runs early, but have yet to visit the winner’s circle.
After competing with the American Canadian Tour on June 15, the Late Models are back in NWAAS action with their fourth race of the season Sunday. With three different winners in their first three races, consistency has mattered the most for any driver who wants to be towards the top of the standings.
William Wall has three top-five finishes, and is the only driver to accomplish that feat, therefore, he leads the standings by 19 points over Mark Jenison. Derek Gluchacki is third, 26 points back, while Ryan Morgan and Woody Pitkat round out the top five. Wall, Morgan and Tom Carey III are the three winners. The Late Model division features a mix of veterans and rising young talent.
Bryan Narducci has been unbeatable in the SK Light Modified® division, winning the first four races. Dating back to last season, Narducci has been victorious in eight consecutive events for the division, showing himself as the dominant car. Although he’s opened up a 46-point advantage in the standings, the field isn’t giving in. Cornelius Flynn and Albert Ouellette are the two drivers in the division other than Narducci who have top-10 finishes in all four events. But, if they want to beat Narducci to the checkered flag, they will need to find just a bit more speed under the hood.
With the top seven drivers separated by just 18 points, the Limited Sportsman division continues to prove to be one of the most competitive Thompson offers. Only Ryan Morgan, who is fourth in the standings, has been able to finish inside the top 10 in each event. At the top, it’s Icebreaker winner and former champion Ryan Waterman showing the way.
Meghan Fuller is second, just seven from the lead, while Zachary Robinson, Morgan and Brent Gleason round out the top five. Defending division champion Shawn Monahan, who does have two wins, is sixth because of a finish of 22nd on June 5. Kyle Gero is seventh, looking to close the gap. In the first four, Monahan has two wins, while Waterman and Gleason have also carried the checkered.
Thompson’s Mini Stock division also has a tight championship battle. Scott Michalski leads by one point over Jared Roy, while Steve Michalski is just four points out. With four races down, the only other driver to win is Charles Canfield, who took the checkered the last time on the track. Evan Bourgeois, the son of reigning Mini Stock champion Eric Bourgeois, is fourth, just 16 points back.
Admission to the grandstands is just $18 for adults, while seniors (65+), and active military and veterans are just $16. Kids age 12 and under are free. If fans would like to get a behind the scenes look at Thompson’s stars and cars, they can do that for $35 in the paddock area with a pit wristband. If any children are walking into the pit area, they will be charged the same full price of $35.
Grandstands open at 12:30 p.m., just in time to watch Lock City Drift begin their practice and qualifying action, and the practice sessions for the five NASCAR Whelen All-American Series classes. Heat racing for NWAAS cars begins at 2:30 p.m., while feature racing will follow at approximately 4:30 p.m.
For more information on Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, fans can visit www.thompsonspeedway.com, and follow the track on social media via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Sources: Kyle Souza, Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park PR