(Press Release from NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)
After two stops down south to open the season, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to New England to help kick-off Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park’s new season this weekend.
The 45th annual Icebreaker will take place over the course of three days — and is headlined by the Icebreaker 150 for the Whelen Modified Tour — which will be the finale of the weekend.
ICEBREAKER 150 AT THOMPSON SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Jimmy Blewett is off to a rock solid start on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour circuit.
He’s finished third in the first two Whelen Modified Tour events of the season, and heading into Sunday’s event at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, the confidence is beaming from Blewett and his Gershow Motorsports team.
WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR: 2019 Schedule | Race Center
With the way he looks so far, this might be shaping up to be his best shot to chase the championship in his career. In 17 years of competition, Blewett has 131 starts — but has only finished a best of sixth in the championship standings when he drove the famed ‘Mystic Missile’ in 2016.
As the series heads for Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Blewett’s team will look to seal the deal at the Connecticut oval — a place where they showed a lot of speed last year. Ronnie Williams won two of four pole awards at the .625-mile track driving the car in 2018, and qualified second in another one. The speed in qualifying didn’t necessarily transfer to the race, as Williams could only capture a best finish of 14th.
But Blewett will be looking to change that and break into Thompson Victory Lane for the first time. In 37 prior starts, the Howell, New Jersey, native has six top-five finishes and a best of second, twice.
After two finishes outside the top-10 to start the year, Justin Bonsignore will look to turn things around in his defense of the championship. He dominated Thompson’s four events last year — winning all of them and becoming the fourth driver in the modern era to complete the Thompson sweep. His victory in the season-ending Sunoco World Series 150 helped seal a dream season with a checkered flag and championship celebration all in one.
Doug Coby, who leads the championship point standings entering Thompson, will look to return to Victory Lane at the historic oval for the first time since 2015. The Milford, Connecticut, driver has finished inside the top six in the last seven starts there.
Thompson’s five NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions, and various other touring divisions in New England, will commence at the Connecticut oval for one of the most prestigious weekends in all of short-track racing.
RACE FACTS
| RACE | ICEBREAKER 150 |
|---|---|
| PLACE | Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Thompson, Conn. |
| DATE | Sunday, April 7 |
| TIME | 3:45 p.m. (approx.) |
| TELEVISION | FansChoice.TV, 3:45 p.m. (live broadcast) |
| TRACK LAYOUT | .625-mile paved high-bank asphalt oval |
| 2018 WINNER | Justin Bonsignore |
| 2018 POLE | Ronnie Williams |
| EVENT SCHEDULE | Saturday: Garage Opens: 12:30 p.m., Practice: 2:45-3:30 p.m., Final Practice: 3:55-4:40 p.m., Garage Closes: 5:30 p.m.Sunday: Driver Autograph Session: 11-11:50 a.m., Group Qualifying: 2:45 p.m., Icebreaker 150: 3:45 p.m. (approx.) |
| @ThompsonSpdwy, @NASCARHomeTrack | |
| HASHTAG | #NWMT, #Icebreaker150, #Icebreaker2019 |
CREW CHIEF HANDOUT
The starting field for the Icebreaker 150 is limited to 36 starters, including provisional positions. The first 30 drivers will secure starting positions based on the group qualifying process. The remaining six positions will be awarded through the provisional process.
NASCAR group qualifying is in place for this event. Qualifying order will be determined by each vehicle’s fastest single lap from the official practice sessions. The number of qualifying groups will be determined by NASCAR. Each group qualifying session will be five (5) minutes in duration and the fastest single lap speed of each vehicle will determine the first 30 starting positions.
Adjustments or repairs may not be made on a vehicle after the vehicle enters the track to begin the qualifying session. Vehicles may not return to the track to make any further qualifying laps unless directed to do so by a NASCAR Official or in the event of a caution. Once a vehicle’s qualifying attempt is complete, the vehicle must proceed directly to the designated impound area once it enters pit road. In the event of a caution, all vehicles must exit the track. Vehicles will proceed immediately to impound after making the qualifying attempt. Vehicles will be impounded after qualifying/inspection. Vehicle must qualify on race set up.
The maximum tire allotment available for this event is eleven (11) tires per team. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. The tire change is four (4) tires, any position.
The Tour needs Jimmy Blewett and his hard charging driving style. That’s what the Mods are all about. This isn’t open wheel Indy car racing.
I agree completely. If Blewett does his turn one dive bomb low move and drives someone up the track and there is no contact I say do it again. And with his current team he’ll have the power on the exit to make it stick.
What this race doesn’t need as terrific as Bonsignor and his team are is another win going away.
Get through Thompson and he has a shot. Stafford in late April and then home to Wall where he will be a favorite to win. Why not, right?
Nice to see a fresh face on top of the standings and Jimmy is a good guy racing for one gentleman of an owner. However look at the Stats: in 37 starts at Thompson, 85% of the time he finished outside the top 5 and last time there, he finished on his roof in Turn 1. The “Team” with Williams minus Stash got 2 poles and a 2nd out of 4 races there last year. That 4th one Williams was fastest in practice but on Lap 1 of qualifying, his left rear wheel came off and he went full speed into the turn 2 wall, destroying the car and getting a DNF. Point is the team may hold back a driver that doesn’t have a great history at this particular track and this race may be a reality check and he’ll finish 12th or worse OR they overcome their respective shortcomings at this track together and punctuate their Great start with another great result. Place your bets. (I’m betting the over). Can’t wait to see it either way. Let’s go racing boys!
That has got to be one of the most outstanding comments I’ve ever read SK Modfan supporting a driver that lost a ride. Craftily questioning the replacements chances of success using stats but not in a bitter way. You’re right. The time to judge the wisdom of the move is somewhere in the future and not now.
Driver changes don’t need to be good or bad. Dowling replaced Pitkat in Skowyra’s car and did well and Pitkat is more in demand then ever. Williams replaced Dowling and had an epic year in the 50. Is Blewett better then Williams or vise versa. Maybe neither. Maybe he’s just a different type of driver. One that a specific team needed at a specific point in time for a specific racing series.
Weather report shows test and tune Friday may be a wash out. The outstanding news is the rest of the weekend may be as good weather as one could ever expect this time of year.
As Scotty would say on Youtube……….Rev up your engines!
One word… CHEMISTRY. Driver and crewchief and owner and race team and car setup, all together on the same page working towards the same goal and completely in tune with each other. I really think that ingredient is the most important in any kind of team, as it will get you through the trials, tribulations, and bad days quicker and easier. I think that in turn tremendously increases your odds of achieving the desired goals. You can have a great driver with a great crew and crewchief with good equipment, but if you’re all not on the same page going in the same direction, you’re not likely to get very far. Subject change: Thompson’s weekend weather is looking better! Hope that continues!