Tag Archives: Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

Frank Maratta Auto Show and Race A Rama set for Sat. and Sun., Feb. 28-March 1 at the Big E

2014-Detroit-Autorama-Basement-Hot-Rods- 2014-Detroit-Autorama-Basement-Hot-Rods-
Custom and classic cars, hot rods, oval track race cars, drag racing cars and many things automotive are always part of the annual Frank Maratta Auto Show and Race-A-Rama at the Big E in W. Springfield, MA. (Credit: Detroit Hot Rod and Customs photos.)

 By Lou Modestino

Get ready for Frank Maratta Auto Show and Race A Rama this weekend at the Big E in West Springfield, MA. On Saturday, February 28 the doors open at 10 am-9 pm and Sunday, March 1 from 10 am-5 pm. Many New England race tracks and tours will be on hand with race cars and drivers. There will be lots of schedules available from the different tracks and tours with the possibility of getting autographs and pictures of drivers. Continue reading →

NASCAR announces schedules for 2015 North and South Whelen Modified Tours

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours will have race dates in both the north and southeast and some events at NASCAR Super Speedways in 2015. (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo)

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours will have shoirt track race dates in both the northeast and southeast and some events at NASCAR Super Speedways in 2015. (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo)

By Lou Modestino

NASCAR announced today its 2015 schedules for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. Continue reading →

Thompson Speedway plans seven special events for the 2015 season

NASCAR Modifieds are the dominant division at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. (Credit: Thompson Speedway photo)

NASCAR Modifieds are the dominant division at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. (Credit: Thompson Speedway photo)

 

By Lou Modestino

Officials from Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (TSMP) – the famed 5/8-mile speedway in Connecticut’s quiet corner – released a creative and innovative seven (7) event schedule today, featuring twelve different touring series and sanctioning bodies, and boasting over $500,000 in posted awards. Two weekend events, and a five event Wednesday summer series – with four rain dates – make up the calendar. The schedule is highlighted by four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) events, two new Triple Crown Series, and significant enhancements to the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing. Continue reading →

ACT Tour returns to Thompson Speedway at the Oct. 2015 World Series of Stockcar Racing

The ACT L:ate Models will return to TMSP in mid-Act. 2015 after a 23 year absence. Credit: ACT Tour photo)

The ACT L:ate Models will return to TMSP in mid-Act. 2015 after a 23 year absence. Credit: ACT Tour photo)

By Lou Modestino

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (TSMP) in Connecticut and the American Canadian Tour (ACT), based in Waterbury, VT have agreed that the 2015 ACT Championship Late Model stock car season will crown the ACT Champion at the famed Thompson World Series event on Saturday, October 17, 2015. ACT will join over 15 other divisions at TSMP in a year-end celebration for both fendered and open wheeled race cars. Continue reading →

Ryan Preece topped the Sunoco Modifieds at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

Ryan Preece was absent from the Thompson Speedway annual awards banquet. He had a good excuse because he was racing in his first NASCAR Nationwide race for Tommy Baldwin Racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway in FL. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)

Ryan Preece was absent from the Thompson Speedway annual awards banquet. He had a good excuse because he was racing in his first NASCAR Nationwide race for Tommy Baldwin Racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway in FL. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)

By Lou Modestino

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park celebrated the 2014 oval track season last weekend with a ceremony honoring four division champions in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series. All four Champions have won track titles at Thompson in previous years. Ryan Preece of Berlin, Conn. was celebrated as the Sunoco Modified Champion for the second time in his career; Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI was honored for his sixth Late Model track title; Scott Sundeen of Sutton, Mass. was honored for his third time at the Xtra Mart Limited Sportsman head table; and Mike Viens of Seekonk, Mass. earned his second Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Monster Mini Stock championship. Continue reading →

Vintage Festival returns to Thompson Motorsports Park on June 19-21, 2015

Vintage Sports cars at TMSP

Vintage Sports Cars return to TMSP in mid-June of 2015. (Credit: Hemmings photo)

By Lou Modestino

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (TSMP) is pleased to announce the date for their second annual Vintage Motorsports Festival. The three-day event will be held June 19 – 21, 2015, with a test day for participants on June 18th, and will once again be co-sanctioned by the Vintage Racer Group (VRG) and Vintage Sports Car Club of America (VSCCA). Continue reading →

Ryan Preece collected his 11th career win in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson Speedway’s World Series

Ryan Preece

Ryan Preece ended the season with his 11th career win in in the

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour finale at the Thompson Speedway

In Conn.  (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)

By Lou Modestino

Ryan Preece led a contingent of drivers to visit Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park victory lane in the final day of the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing presented by Xtra Mart. Preece was dominant in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race leading 137 of 150 laps. In NASCAR Whelen All American Series action, Charlie Rose held off Larry Gelinas for the Late Model victory while Woody Pitkat checkered the Sunoco Modified Series feature. Other winners were Derek Ramstrom in the Granite State Pro Stock Series, Randy Cabral in NEMA action, Chris Perley in the ISMA Supermodifieds, and Chris Turbush in the New England Truck Series. Continue reading →

USAC standout Cole Carter will race a Bertrand midget at Thompson Speedway’s World Series

USAC driver Cole Carter will drive a Bertrand Team midget at Thompson Speedway's World Series. (Credit: Earl Ma.

USAC driver Cole Carter will drive a Bertrand Team midget at Thompson Speedway’s World Series. (Credit: Earl Ma.)

By Lou Modestino

Cole Carter, a USAC open-cockpit mainstay and a member of one of America’s premier racing families, will be in the Northeastern Midget Association field at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park for the World Series of Racing on October 18 and 19. Continue reading →

Bonsignore had both skill and luck by winning the Bud 150 at Thompson Motorsports Park

 

 

Justin Bonsignore can now lay claim that he's won both the Icebreaker and the Bud 150 at Thompson. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)

Justin Bonsignore can now lay claim that he’s won both the Icebreaker and the Bud 150 at Thompson Motorsports Park. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)

By Lou Modestino

Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good and sometimes a driver can be both.

Justin Bonsignore was just that as he was able to miss the late accidents that collected some of the lead pack cars and hold off a strong challenge by Matt Hirschman on a green-white-checkered finish to win the Budweiser King of Beers 150 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

It was the second consecutive NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win for the Holtsville, New York native at Thompson and his third of the season. Doug Coby followed Hirschman in third with Ryan Preece and Ron Silk completing the top five.

Bonsignore became the first driver to win back-to-back races at Thompson since Ted Christopher scored four consecutive wins at the track from 2010-11.

The race was relatively calm through the first half mark with only three cautions. However, business picked up in the field over the final 75 laps of the contest with the yellow flag displayed for several multi-car accidents. The most significant of those incidents came on Lap 124.

Silk was leading the race with Donny Lia, who led the first half of the race before pitting under caution, second and Tommy Barrett Jr. third. Patrick Emerling spun in Turn 1 collecting both Lia and Barrett ending their night.

Coby took the lead past Silk on the ensuing restart on Lap 134 and remained out front for just two laps until Bonsignore made his move past the points leader on Lap 136 where he remained the rest of the night.

Timmy Solomito finished sixth with Christopher seventh and Todd Szegedy eighth. Glen Reen and Spencer Davis completed the top 10.

With the win, Bonsignore was able to slice five points off of Coby’s lead entering the night and will head to Bristol Motor Speedway for next Wednesday’s Bush’s Beans 150 just three points (367-364) out of the top spot.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Budweiser King of Beers 150
Unofficial Results
Thursday
At Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
Thompson, Conn.
Lap length: 0.625 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (9) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, NY, Chevrolet, 150 laps, 78.763 mph.
2. (16) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA, Chevrolet, 150.
3. (4) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
4. (8) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Ford, 150.
5. (11) Ron Silk, Norwalk, CT, Chevrolet, 150.
6. (5) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
7. (19) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
8. (13) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn, Chevrolet, 150.
9. (17) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 150.
10. (18) Spencer Davis, Dawsonville, Ga., Pontiac, 150.
11. (12) Keith Rocco, Wallingford, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
12. (24) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 150.
13. (21) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 149.
14. (22) Jimmy Zacharias, Candor, N.Y., Chevrolet, 149.
15. (23) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, 148.
16. (15) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 147.
17. (20) John Beatty, Jr., Merrick, N.Y., Chevrolet, 142.
18. (6) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 137, accident.
19. (2) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 137, accident.
20. (7) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, NY, Chevrolet, 133.
21. (14) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 129, accident.
22. (1) Donny Lia, Jericho, NY, Dodge, 124, accident.
23. (3) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Mass., Chevrolet, 123, accident.
24. (25) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 105, brakes.
25. (10) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 13, accident.

Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 11 minutes 25 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.316 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: D.Lia (119.706 mph, 18.796 seconds)
Caution Flags: 8 for 37 laps.
Lead Changes: 4 among 5 drivers.
Lap Leaders: D. Lia 1-75; G. Reen 76-82; R. Silk 83-133; D. Coby 134-135; J. Bonsignore 136-150.
Standings: 1. D. Coby, 367; 2. J. Bonsignore, 364; 3. T. Christopher, 346; 4. B. Santos, 329; 5. R. Preece, 327; 6. R. Silk, 327; 7. M. Hirschman, 305; 8. T. Solomito, 304; 9. W. Pitkat, 303; 10. E. Goodale, 299.

Gelinas on top of Granite State Pro Stock Series going into the JBH 100 at Monadnock

Larry Gelinas could have the rest of the Granite State Pro Stock Series drivers covered going into Monadnock Speedway. (Credit: GS PSS photo)

Larry Gelinas has them all covered going into Saturday night’s GSPSS JBH at Monadnock (Credit: PASS Tour photo)

By Lou Modestino

The first half of the Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS) 2014 season is complete, and Larry Gelinas has been on a tear. Gelinas has not finished outside of the top 4, with a win and three second place finishes in that stretch. He has fought a few bouts of adversity, recovering from a mid-race spin at Hudson in the Gate City Classic to come back through the field and take the checkers. Also surviving at Star Speedway for the Star 100 as his car fell off the pace late in the race. Gelinas has been at the top of his game to begin the season.

Continue reading →