The track that has hosted the most Whelen Modified Tour events in the history of the division will not go without an event in 2020.
Promoter Tom Mayberry confirmed to RaceDayCT today that he will partner with Cris Michaud to put on two major events at Thompson Speedway in September and October.
The partnership will first put on a Whelen Modified Tour event at the track on Sept. 2.
They will also promote the Sunoco World Series Oct. 9-11, which will include the Whelen Modified Tour.
“The sanctioning agreement with NASCAR for both of those events has been done,” Mayberry told RaceDayCT.
Mayberry operates the Pro All Stars Series and Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Me. Michaud operates the American Canadian Tour, White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, N.H. and Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, Vt.
Mayberry said an official announcement concerning the scheduling of the events is expected later this afternoon.
Mayberry said the Sept. 2 event is expected to include Thompson’s regular weekly divisions as part of the racing card.
“We will definitely have the Sunoco Modifieds and the Late Models,” Mayberry said. “We’re just finalizing the other divisions.”
Thompson Speedway was originally scheduled to host three Whelen Modified Tour events in 2020. The Icebreaker 150 scheduled for early April was cancelled. The second event was scheduled for Aug. 19. Former Thompson Speedway general manager Terry Eames had attempted to put together an operating agreement to run that event on Aug. 19 and also run the World Series, but that plan fell apart.
Mayberry also confirmed that an open practice will be held at Thompson on Aug. 19.
“We’re hoping by the end of the next week or the beginning the of the week after to put out all the divisions for the World Series,” Mayberry said.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour series director Jimmy Wilson was not immediately available for comment.
COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns have decimated the original 2020 Whelen Modified Tour schedule.
The series has run three events thus far this year with Justin Bonsignore winning at Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway on June 21 and also at White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, N.H. on July 4. Reigning series champion Doug Coby won the third event of the year Saturday at White Mountain.
All three events run so far were added to the original schedule following the start of COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. White Mountain Motorsports Park had never hosted a Whelen Modified Tour event before this season.
Also added to the schedule was an Aug. 29 event at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H.
Thus far, six of 17 events on the original NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event have been cancelled. Events have been cancelled at Thompson (April 5), Stafford Speedway (April 26 and Aug. 7), Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (May 8), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (July 18) and Iowa Speedway (July 31).
Stafford Speedway is scheduled to host the Whelen Modified Tour on Sept. 27 as part of its NAPA Fall Final weekend though it seems unlikely that event will take place with 25 percent capacity restrictions in place for Connecticut tracks.
The Whelen Modified Tour had added an event to the schedule to be run May 30 at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway but it was ultimately postponed due to weather. NASCAR has not rescheduled that event.
The Jennerstown event originally scheduled for May 23 was rescheduled to Aug. 22.
The March 21 event at South Boston (Va.) Speedway, June 6 event Seekonk (Mass.) Speedway and July 11 event at Wall (N.J.) Stadium have been postponed indefinitely.
The event scheduled for June 20 at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway has been postponed to Oct. 17, with Riverhead still scheduled to also host the series on Sept. 19.
The Whelen Modified Tour Musket 200, as part of Full Throttle Weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, remains scheduled for Sept. 12. A Sept. 5 event at Oswego (N.Y.) Speedway also remains scheduled but likely will not happen on the scheduled date.
Even with the promise of two events at Thompson, it is still very sad to see what’s happening to one of the best tracks in the country.
WOW, more turns than the road course, What happened to ECONN and Terry Eames? But WHY A WEDNESDAY????? u have LABOR day weekend 3 days later, sometimes i dont understand people and the way they think!!!!
What a difference a day makes.
UCONN cancelled the football season due to COVID-19. What a sigh of relief there. Edsall avoids another embarrassing season.
This Thompson deal will be exciting to watch play out.
Jimmy Wilson not available for comment, what else is new.
Isn’t Oswego 3 days later?Pretty poor planning .
I think the odds of oval racing at Thompson this year have increased! Hopefully this all works and they are allowed to have fans there.
wmass, Thompson probably has road racing events scheduled for Labor Day weekend
All I can think is, will electricity be restored before this race is suppose to happen?
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Hmmmmm… Terry Eames must be wondering why this keeps happening to him.
It looks like Oswego is a no-go.
It’s about the NWMT fees isn’t it. White Mountain could find a way so why couldn’t Thompson or Stafford for that matter come to and agreement. NASCAR is taking less right? The massive fees reduced and the purse as well. So why not the Fall Final at the very least at Stafford. Has the other shoe dropped with things fundamentally different now for this year?
I read this article after reading the other more recent article and commenting. This explains that T Eames isnt involved which I assumed. Anyway, I think the likelihood of the Whelen tour racing at Osweego is very low. I wouldnt worry much about that short turn around as I expect that will be cancelled or postponed and not made up this season. The state of NY is being sued by several dirt tracks in order to allow limited seating at races. They are currently not allowed any fans. They have requested a temporary injunction to allow them to open but I dont expect it to get rushed through the court system This is good news better news than what was planned for Thompson.
Doug dont know if alll WMT, Stafford has the 4 open 80 races at $24 k and getting good fields and i believe have been sold out every race front and back gate and get PPV which we don;t know the numbers while WMMP HAD A 56 K PURSE for WMT, so STAFFORD will selll out no matter the event most likely and if they have WMT they lose PPV $$$ to NBC roots, and we ALLL know the ISSUES Thompson is having with oval track racficial Entry Form from NASCAR
WHITE MOUNTAIN “200”
TRACK: White Mountain Motorsports Park (1/4 Mile Asphalt) TRACK PHONE: (603) 745-6727
RACE DATE: Saturday, August 1, 2020 – 7:00 p.m. WEBSITE: http://www.whitemtnmotorsports.com
PROMOTER: WMMP Acquisition Company DIVISION: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
WMMP purse from last week
200 LAPS (50 MILES) and Qualifying……………………………………………..$56,179 POSTED