Weather Held at Bay for Some Qualifying Action at Thompson on Saturday;
Modified Mania Resumes with Feature Events on Sunday

September 6, Thompson, CT--- Tropical storm Hanna held at bay long enough to build the excitement of Thompson International Speedway’s Sunoco Modified Mania. The three premier Modified divisions in the Northeast-the Whelen Modified Tour, the True Value Modified Racing Series (TVMRS) and the Race of Champions Modified Tour (RoC) are joined by Thompson’s own Sunoco Modifieds and the TIS Modifieds and the visiting Pro-Four Modifieds for a two-day racing extravaganza.  

On Saturday afternoon, qualifying was held in the two weekly racing divisions in competition during Modified Mania including the Sunoco Modifieds and the TIS Modifieds. Taking down Sunoco Modified heat race wins were Tommy Cravenho of Raynham, MA, and Bert Marvin of New London, CT. R.J. Marcotte of Millville, CT, was the TIS Modified qualifying race winner. In Pro-Four Modifieds the Thompson Pro Stock ace Norm Wrenn of Nashua, NH and Brian Vincent of Coventry, RI, were the victors. 

The first True Value Modified heat was on the track when heavy rains moved in. The rains continued forcing the cancellation of the remainder of Saturday’s program including heat races for the TVMRS, RoC, and time trials for the Whelen Modified Tour.  

The grids for the Whelen Modified Tour 150-lap event and the True Value Modified Racing Series 75-lapper will be determined by points. The Race of Champions will draw for their starting position in their 75-lap main event.  

The racing action resumes on Sunday, September 7th with the feature action for Modified Mania. Pit Gates open at 8:00 AM with the grandstands opening at 10:00 AM. In order to prepare the race track after Hanna rolls through the area in the early morning hours, Thompson regrets the cancellation of the Trackside Fan Appreciation Party that was originally scheduled for Sunday morning.  

A quick round of practice will take place at Noon time followed by pre-race ceremonies. The 25-lap Thompson Modified Feature is anticipated to roll off at approximately 12:45 PM followed by the 25-lap Pro 4 Modified feature, the True Value Modified main event and the Whelen Modified Tour. The final two events of this great racing weekend will be the 50-lap Sunoco Modified feature and the Race of Champions Modifieds. 

For more information on Sunoco Modified Mania and the remainder of the 2008 season of Thompson Speedway log on to thompsonspeedway.com or call the Speedway hotline at (860) 923-2280.

TRUE VALUE MODIFIED DRIVERS WIN STARTING SPOTS IN MODIFIED MANIA

            August 30, Thompson, CT--- Seven race teams from the True Value Modified Tour will arrive at Thompson International Speedway this coming weekend without the concern of qualifying for their 75-lap main event. These race teams have been winners of qualifying races for the Sunoco Race Fuels Modified Mania weekend slated for September 6^th & 7^th.

            Beginning back in April, eight specific races on the True Value Modified Tour schedule were selected as qualifying races for this coming weekend’s big Modified Mania race. Race tracks from all over New England were selected to be included in the program that would award guaranteed starting position status to their True Value race winners.

            The first qualifying race was held at the Lee USA Speedway and Kirk Alexander grabbed the win and a guaranteed starting spot in this coming weekend’s race at Thompson. Dwight Jarvis was the Thunder Road winner and Les Hinkley claimed the honor at Wiscasset.

            The qualifying race on the 4^th of July weekend at Monadnock saw Jack Bateman claim a starting spot and it was David Pinkham at Oxford Plains. Chris Pasteryak took the honors at Waterford and Rob Goodenough was good enough to claim a starting spot at the second qualifier at Monadnock. The final guaranteed starting spot was to have been determined on Saturday, August 30^th.  Mother Nature, however, stepped in and forced the last qualifying race to be cancelled.

            By virtue of being a guaranteed starter in the True Value Modified Tour race at Thompson, these seven race teams and their fans can rest assured that these drives will be part of the starting field. Qualifying is always a nerve wracking procedure. However, these teams can rest a bit easier since they are already in the event.

            Sunoco Modified Mania is a two-day racing spectacle that spotlights modified race cars. Joining the True Value Modifieds will be the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, the RoC Modifieds, Pro 4 Modifieds, Sunoco and Thompson Modifieds. A total of four hundred laps of feature event racing will make for a fabulous afternoon of high speed competition at Thompson.

            Race cars will qualify on Saturday with feature events scheduled to get underway shortly after 12 Noon on Sunday. Race fans will be treated to a Fan Appreciation Party Sunday morning. All of the race cars in competition and their drivers will be assembled on the track for a meet and greet, photo and autograph session. The Fan Appreciation Party will run from 10:30 AM until 12 Noon. Race fans from up and down the east coast converge on the Thompson International Speedway for this annual must see racing spectacle.

            The complete weekend schedule is on the Thompson International Speedway web page. www.thompsonspeedway.com.