Thompson Speedway Opens Icebreaker Weekend With Ribbon Cutting For New Pit Garage

THOMPSON – Thompson Speedway has been a home for the NASCAR Modified Tour since the division’s first event was held at the track on March 31, 1985.

NASCAR Modified Tour teams roll into the new garage at Thompson Speedway Saturday morning.

Saturday the teams of the division got a roof over their heads at the facility.

Saturday morning Thompson Speedway officials, with the help of officials from the NASCAR Modified Tour, unlocked the latches on the track’s new 30-bay pit garage and welcomed in the teams of the Modified Tour for this weekend’s Icebreaker 150.

NASCAR Modified Tour director Jimmy Wilson had the honor of declaring the garage open.

“It’s just neat when you’re here and surrounded by people and the rich history that this Tour has,” Wilson said to the group on hand Saturday morning for the opening, which included driver Jamie Tomaino, who has participated in every Modified Tour event at Thompson. “And to come to a facility like Thompson that has done all this work. This is a really unique series that is very rich in history and I’m certainly someone that truly appreciates it.

“With that being said, it’s truly an honor to say these words: It’s time to get the 2014 season underway, let’s open the garages for the Whelen Modified Tour.”

The new garage is part of a major overhaul at Thompson Speedway that started last year, which includes the reopening of the track’s long dormant road course.

“Over the 74 years we’ve been in operation one of the focuses of the Hoenig family has always been to be progressive and to be moving forward,” Thompson Speedway general manager Josh Vanada said. “And today dawns a new day as we will be reopening our road course after 40 years of dormancy and really widening the offerings that we have for the motorsports community. So we’re excited about that. But it’s very important to remember where we come from. Today is a great symbol. It seems to me that it’s only fitting that the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be the first group of racecars to be inside of this garage building to use it. We’re really proud of that. That’s something we’re excited for.”