Eric Bourgeois celebrates his third Mini Stock division championship Sunday at the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing at Thompson Speedway (Photo: Fran Lawlor/RaceDayCT)
THOMPSON – Thompson Speedway Mini Stock driver Eric Bourgeois had a message for his team before the 2018 season began.
“I told them from day one ‘If we win the championship this year I’m done,’” Bourgeois said.
Sunday the East Haddam driver held true to his word. Bourgeois used a sixth place finish in the 15-lap Mini Stock feature to win his third Mini Stock championship at Thompson.
And just after the feature Bourgeois announced his retirement from full-time competiton.
“I’ll be back to run a show here or there just to have fun with my [year old son Evan],” Bourgeois said. “Points-wise I’m going to concentrate on my kid from here on out. So this is my last time full-time season.”
Wayne Burroughs Jr. of Oakdale won the Mini Stock feature, his fifth victory in six starts this season.
Shawn Monahan of Waterford used a fourth place finish in the 20-lap Limited Sportsman feature to clinch his second consecutive track championship.
“It’s just been a blessing this year,” Monahan said. “A lot of guys have helped me out.”
Monahan, who went winless on the way to the 2017 title, won four of the division’s seven events this year.
Shawn Monahan celebrates his second consecutive Limited Sportsman track championship at the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing Sunday at Thompson Speedway (Photo: Fran Lawlor/RaceDayCT)
And Monahan had the best seat in the house for the finish in the feature that saw Corey Fanning, Ryan Waterman and Brent Gleason come off turn four three-wide and leaning hard on each other going to the checkered. Waterman’s car nearly got on it’s side coming to the checkered as the three banged their way to the finish.
Fanning of Mapleville, R.I. won with Waterman of Danielson second and Gleason of Lisbon third.
“That race right there, that’s Limited Sportsman racing at it’s best,” Monahan said. “I really wanted to be where Gleason was when we went into turn three, but in hindsight I think it was good to be in fourth place at that point.”
Ben Seitz of Bourne, Mass. won the 50-lap ISMA SuperModified feature.
Kyle Edwards of Bartlett, Tenn. was second and Mike Barnes of Mexico, N.Y. was third.
Dan Bowes of Byfield, Mass. used a fourth place finish to clinch the 2018 ISMA SuperModified championship.
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