THOMPSON – On Icebreaker weekend April 6-7 at Thompson Speedway, two-time defending Thompson Speedway Limited Sportsman division introduced fans to a stunning new ride for the 2019 season.
Monahan’s new Limited Sportsman took the staid sedan body typically seen in the division and turned it wild with the introduction of a station wagon bodied ride.
Monahan’s “Swaggin’ Wagon” got plenty of attention off the track, but wasn’t so fast when the division’s feature hit the track that weekend thanks to a bad left rear shock.
Sunday at Thompson Monahan found that speed he had been looking for and put his eye-catching ride in victory lane.
Monahan, of Waterford, ran away from the field over the late stages to win the 30-lap Limited Sportsman feature Sunday at Thompson.
“We knew I could have kept the car just the way it was after the final race [of the 2018 season] and shown back up and ran good,” Monahan said. “But, I’ve always been one to do something different, go against the grain. Really I wanted the fans to have something to cheer for. And really I think the competitors maybe dislike it enough to maybe want to make sure they put their own tire marks on the side of it. Which is all good. If I can finish the race I’ll take all the abuse they can give me.”
Ryan Waterman of Danielson was second and Larry Barnett of Moosup third.
Monahan passed Barnett for the lead on a lap nine restart and never trailed again.
“It’s such a struggle because you surely do appreciate getting down to victory lane,” Monahan said. “We were watching those guys on Icebreaker weekend and it seemed like there were just more than two or three, there were like 10 or 12 really fast cars. The division is pretty stout. It’s unfortunate how the race went today, more on the boring side.”
Domination of the event didn’t mean a cruise to the checkered flag for Late Model driver Ryan Morgan.
Despite leading most of the event, Morgan had to rally in the closing final feet of the event to win the 40-lap Late Model feature.
William Wall looked to have taken the lead out of turn four on the final lap, but Morgan ended up winning the drag race to the checkered between the two.
“I knew Wall would have a fast car,” Morgan said. “I just had to protect the bottom. That’s all I did. To be honest I didn’t think I won. I thought he had me. It’s hard to tell from [in the car].”
According to the scoring transponders Morgan led Wall by two one thousandths of a second at the line.
“I think that’s the closest one so far yet in all of my racing days,” Morgan said.
Derek Gluchaki was third.
Jared Roy won the 15-lap Mini Stock feature. Steve Michalski was second and Ian Brew third.
The uniqueness and challenge of getting that car to be competitive for me is one of the most amazing stories of the season.
It’s still the Wagon Queen Family Truckster as far as I’m concerned and with great admiration.
Shawn, i am told there was disqualifications in tech for the Limited Sportsman division. Do you know of this?
Louie,
No disqualifications from any division according to track officials.
Thanks Shawn
Doug Curry finished third in the ministock race.