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THE 42nd
ANNUAL ICEBREAKER AT
THOMPSON SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK
HERALDS IN THE NEW ENGLAND RACING SEASON |
This
week’s early spring snow makes the name of Thompson
Speedway Motorsports Park’s (TSMP) season-opening
event more appropriate than ever this year. The 42nd
Annual Icebreaker on April 9th-10th will bring the
racing season into full swing as twelve divisions of
racing take to the track over two action-packed
days, headlined by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
(NWMT).
Defending NWMT champion, Doug Coby and the No. 2
Mike Smeriglio III Racing Team, have proven a
powerful combination over the last couple of years,
securing the championship in both 2014 and 2015 and
sweeping all four events at TSMP last season. That’s
not to say there hasn’t been some fierce competition
for them from drivers like Woody Pitkat and Ryan
Preece, as the championship last season came down to
a tight battle at the last
race of the season,
Thompson’s Sunoco World Series. With Ryan Preece
running a full season in the NASCAR XFINITY series
this season, he will be forced to run a limited
schedule in the #6 NWMT car. This will provide the
opportunity for other strong drivers in the field,
like Justin Bonsignore, Timmy Solomito, Donny Lia
and Ron Silk, to contend for the title.
The North East Street Stock Tour (NESST) will be
opening their second season on Saturday afternoon of
the Icebreaker with a 20 lap feature. The NESST
race, presented by RAD Auto Machine, kicks off a
ten-event championship season which also ends at
Thompson’s 5/8-mile oval in October. The defending
champion, Joe Arena, will face stiff competition
from other championship-winning drivers, including
Chris “Moose” Douton and Steve Kenneway.
Also, opening their season on Saturday will be the
New England Pro 4 Modifieds and the NEMA Lites, both
with 20 lap features. With a twenty plus car field
anticipated for the NEMA Lites, there is sure to be
some exciting battles in this race. The winningest
driver at Thompson, with twelve victories, is Randy
Cabral returning in his family-owned #35 Lites car.
Also present will be the winner of both NEMA Lites
races at Thompson last year, Scott Bigelow, and last
year’s NEMA Lites Champion, Anthony “The Tornado”
Payne.
Saturday afternoon’s races will also include the
Lite Modified and Truck divisions.
The Vintage Outlaws, a vintage modified racing
series, will race both Saturday and Sunday, offering
a look back at some of the cars that used to run at
Thompson throughout the 76-year history of the
track.
On the schedule for Sunday, for the first time since
2012 is the Pro All Star Series (PASS). They will be
running their first PASS North Super Late Model race
of the season on Sunday afternoon, which will also
serve as race three of the PASS National
Championship Series. Following the Easter Bunny 150
at Hickory Speedway on March 26, former Thompson
Speedway track champion Derek Ramstrom will enter
the Icebreaker weekend leading the National points
standings by two points over Ben Rowe and Mike
Hopkins.
Also on the schedule for Sunday afternoon are
Thompson’s four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS)
divisions, the Sunoco Modifieds, Late Models, Xtra
Mart Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks. The Sunoco
Modified field is shaping up to be more competitive
than ever, with the defending champion Woody Pitkat
going up against 4-time Thompson champion, Keith
Rocco. He will also be running against reigning
Stafford Speedway SK modified champion, Rowan
Pennink who will be returning to Thompson for the
first time since 2010.
The Late Model division last season saw rookie,
Brian Tagg, take his first championship in another
tight points battle. He was not the only one to see
success last season. Jeff Rocco, who won 4 times in
2015, will also be a favorite for the 2016 crown.
Six-time champion, Rick Gentes, will also be looking
to get back on top with a switch to a new engine
package this season.
The Xtra Mart Limited Sportsman are always a strong
division at Thompson and with over 30 drivers on the
roster, should provide some good two and three-wide
action at the Icebreaker. Returning veterans Scott
Sundeen and Larry Barnett will both be ones to watch
this season. Scott Sundeen won the title the past
two seasons bringing him up to four championships
total, and tying him with Larry Barnett’s title
wins. Corey Hutchings has also been dominant in the
division winning half of the last two years’ races,
but has a history of bad luck at the Icebreaker. He
will be looking to turn that around this weekend
with a strong finish in the first event of the
season. This will be the first of three races in the
O’Reilly Auto Parts Triple Crown Championship for
the Xtra Mart Limited Sportsman.
The Mini Stocks will also be competing in their
first O’Reilly Auto Parts Triple Crown Championship
race at the Icebreaker. First-time champion Dave
Trudeau will be looking to defend his hard-earned
title. There will be some fresh faces in the
division this season, which will mix with seasoned
veterans to make for an interesting field. Doug
Curry, who showed strong potential in his two races
at TSMP last season, will be coming to Thompson full
time in 2016 aiming for the championship. Eric
Bourgeois, last year’s inaugural Triple Crown
champion, will also be back in his #87 car.
Sunday’s events will conclude with the feature
event, the 150 lap NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race
at around 3:30 PM.
The Icebreaker kicks off the season this weekend,
April 9-10. A practice day is scheduled for Friday,
April 8. For more information on Thompson Speedway
news and events, visit
www.thompsonspeedway.com, or follow us on
Facebook, Twitter or Youtube.
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Source:
Theresa Condict / Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
Posted:
April 6, 2016 |
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