Looking for a real race of champions?
Seven-time NASCAR Modified Tour champion Mike Stefanik is one of eight former series champions on the entry list for this weekend’s season opener for the division at Thompson Speedway (Photo: Howie Hodge for NASCAR)
Look no further than the 2014 season opening NASCAR Modified Tour Icebreaker 150 at Thompson Speedway on Sunday.
As of Monday there were 27 teams on the entry list for Thompson with nearly 30 percent of the entries represented by former series champions.
Eight former series champions are on the entry list for Thompson, including seven-time series champion Mike Stefanik of Coventry, R.I.
Stefanik lost his full-time ride with Chris Our’s Modified Tour team after last season but returns to Thompson driving for car owner Ed Marceau. Stefanik has said he expects to make an undetermined amount of starts for Marceau this season.
Stefanik, the division’s all-time winningest driver, had series titles in 1989, ’91, ’97, ’98, 2001, 2002 and 2006.
As expected, Ted Christopher, the 2008 series champion from Plainville, is in the field, but with a new owner. Bob Katon Jr. is the listed owner for Christopher’s entry.
Ryan Preece of Berlin begins defense of his first series title at Thompson. Other former series champions on the entry list include Donny Lia (2007, 2009) of Jericho, N.Y., Jamie Tomaino (1990) of Howell, N.J., Bobby Santos III (2010) of Franklin, Mass., Ron Silk (2011) of Norwalk and Doug Coby (2012) of Milford.
Also on the entry list is 2010 NASCAR All-American Series short track national champion Keith Rocco of Wallingford. Rocco is entered in a John Rufrano owned ride.
Qualifying for Sunday’s Icebreaker 150 is scheduled for Saturday at Thompson.
This is how you puff up a race that won’t have a full field? 27 cars is pathetic. I wonder what the chances are the fans will get a refund on the cost of a ticket?