4/3/2009
TRACK,
COMPETITORS AND FANS
READY FOR ICEBREAKER WEEKEND |
Anticipation and excitement are in the air at the Thompson International
Speedway. Race fans and competitors alike are excited about the
season-opening ICEBREAKER event this weekend at the historic Thompson oval.
With a near perfect weather forecast being predicted, winter weary fans are
ready to kick off a brand new racing season in sunny and warm conditions.
Race teams have spent the entire off-season preparing for the start
of the 2009 campaign. Many have tested their cars during recent open
practice sessions at Thompson and are now ready for the opening of the
racing season.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (WMT) will begin its 25th
anniversary year at the ICEBREAKER. This year’s event will mark the 107th
time that the WMT has raced at Thompson since the formation of the Tour in
1985. An outstanding field of WMT competitors will attempt to qualify this
Saturday afternoon for a starting spot in the 150-lap main event which will
be run on Sunday. The WMT will be joined by Thompson’s “Super 6” NASCAR
Whelen All American Series divisions in this two-day racing spectacle that
has ushered in the beginning of the auto racing season in New England for
well over 40 years.
The track will open for practice Saturday morning at 9 AM with
grandstand gates opening at 9:30 AM. Qualifying will begin at 1:30 PM.
Thompson’s “Super 6” divisions will qualify in heat races while the WMT will
use time trials to determine starting positions. The Sunoco Modifieds and
Late Models will then compete in the first of two feature event races for
those divisions.
Sunday’s schedule has gates to the speedway opening at 9:30 AM with
pre-race ceremonies beginning shortly after 11:30 AM. The WMT drivers will
participate in a thirty minute autograph session at 12 Noon and the first
feature event of the day is also slated for a 12 Noon start. The estimated
start time for the 150-lap WMT main event is 3:15 PM.
Race fans are urged to arrive early so that they can avoid the long
lines at the ticket booths and take advantage of the displays on the midway.
The Tri-State Kart Club will be on hand to offer information on go-kart
racing at their track in Pomfret, CT. King Cadillac-GMC of Putnam and Putnam
Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep will have displays of vehicles from their
dealerships, the Soldier’s Angels and AMVETS will also be in attendance. Ken
Bouchard’s Race to Victory Lane and the Racing School will also be on hand
to explain to fans just how they can have the opportunity to drive a real
race car at Thompson.
ICEBREAKER weekend is the most anticipated racing program in New
England each and every year. Fans come from far and wide to be part of the
beginning of a brand new year of exciting, high-speed competition. Thompson
Speedway rolls out the red carpet in an effort to be a welcoming host to the
racing community with its additional offerings of free self-contained
camping, a professional golf course, driving range, restaurant, lounge and a
full weekend of racing activity. The entire ICEBREAKER weekend schedule
along with WMT entries and driver’s rosters may be found on the track’s web
page at
www.thompsonspeedway.com.
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Source: Russ Dowd
/ Thompson International Speedway
Posted: April
3, 2009 |
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