THOMPSON – On Sept. 10, 2017 Ted Christopher recorded his 99thcareer victory at Thompson Speedway with a win in the track’s SK Modified division.
Christopher, recognized as one of the greatest short track racers of his generation, was killed in a plane crash six days later. In victory lane at Thompson Speedway Christopher’s memory lives on. Painted in victory lane is “TC 99”, remembering the track’s all-time winningest driver.
Mike Christopher Jr. has seen that remembrance plenty, but Saturday the Wolcott driver and nephew of Ted Christopher got to celebrate for the first time in that spot.
Mike Christopher Jr. used a last lap pass of Troy Talman to win the 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature Saturday at Thompson Speedway.
In victory lane Mike Christopher Sr. – Ted Christopher’s twin brother – exploded with emotion celebrating as his son got out of the car.
It was the first win at the historic .625-mile oval for Mike Christopher Jr., a track where his father and uncle had so much success previously.
Mike Christopher Jr. counted the victory as win No. 100 for his late uncle.
“It feels good to finally get here and get No. 100 for Ted Christopher,” Mike Christopher Jr. said.
“… I always thought of it when they put that thing there that he had 99 [wins]. It’s like ‘How can I get one more?’”
“I always thought of it when they put that thing there that he had 99 [wins]. It’s like ‘How can I get one more?’”
Talman, of Oxford, Mass., was second and Todd Owen of Somers third.
“Just to win up here, man it feels so good,” Mike Christopher Sr. said. “My brother’s won so much here, I’ve won so much here. And to finally get a car and see the kid chase him down like that, it was just great to watch.”
Talman jumped past Kyle James for the lead at the start and at points checked out from the field.
Mike Christopher Jr. got by James for second on lap 11 and set sail cutting into Talman’s big lead. By lap 28 Mike Christopher Jr. had closed within a car length. On the final lap Mike Christopher Jr. got under Talman off turn two and used a diving run into turn three to overtake Talman. In turn four Talman tried to cross over Mike Christopher Jr. but contact had Talman sliding to save his car as Mike Christopher Jr. jetted to the checkered.
“I knew it was me and Talman there at the end,” Mike Christopher Jr. said. “… We were catching him, catching him, catching him. … I figured I might as well save it for the last lap and make it a show for the fans.”
Mike Christopher Jr. got his first SK Modified victory at Stafford Speedway exactly one year ago on June 15, 2018. He went on to record four victories at Stafford last season. Ted Christopher is also the all-time winningest driver at Stafford with 131 career wins, 109 of those coming in the SK Modified division. Mike Christopher Sr. is fifth on the all-time SK Modified win list at Stafford with 28 victories.
“Winning those races at Stafford [Motor] Speedway last year and then to finally come here and get a win, it really feels good, especially for my family and what the Christopher name means for auto racing here in New England,” Mike Christopher Jr. said. “To represent [my uncle] in that way, my uncle’s name and [my dad’s] name and now my name too, it feels good to finally get a win at Thompson.”
Where was the big Saturday night crowd. Seems they only show when the tour’s there with a $50 ticket price. I wonder if Buckler thinks the food is nasty.
Best Fathers Day gift for MC sr
MCJr has different cars for Stafford & Thompson – correct? Same for Rocco, Williams, Owen, et all, too?
That was an exciting race. Congrats to MCJ.. Talman had a great run as well.
Hey “Old Timer”, what happened to Woody?