(Press Release from American-Canadian Tour)
Some of the top Modified stars from across New England are set to return to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park next Wednesday, August 11 for another round of the Outlaw Open Modified Series. The Truly Hard Lemonade Midsummer 75 lap race, worth $5,000 to win, will be the third race of the season for the popular division.
At the last event, which was slated for July 7, Mother Nature stole the show by bringing heavy rain into the Thompson area just as qualifying racing was starting. All of the pit passes, general admission tickets, and pay-per-view passes that were purchased for July 7 will be honored for the August 11 show. Additional tickets and pit passes are also available for the event.
In the first two Outlaw Open Modified Series races of the year, Ron Silk won the $10,000 prize at the Icebreaker in April and Keith Rocco scored a $5,000 prize in the Nutmeg State 75 in June.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour hot-shoe Eric Goodale is planning to make his second start of the series next week. In the Icebreaker 125, Goodale was challenging for the lead late in the $10,000-to-win race before Jon McKennedy’s motor expired and Goodale was one of several collected in the accident.
Goodale, who has also been competing regularly in Stafford’s Open Modified events, is excited to return to the high-banks and run what is considered a sprint race for most Modified teams.
“I like it,” Goodale said of the short distance. “If it’s 75 laps, you have to keep yourself in contention the whole time, and you can wheel the car pretty heavily in the beginning to put yourself in a good position with the tire change. You treat this for us like a Tour race — you put yourself in the best spot and not completely use up your car until it matters. Hopefully you make the right adjustment on the pit stop and go to town.”
Goodale is also still somewhat living the high of winning the Whelen Modified Tour opener at Martinsville Speedway in April, which was easily the biggest win of his career. He’d love to add another $5,000 check to his season’s ledger.
“I definitely am riding that high, but realistically, we’ve had some disastrous races lately,” Goodale said. “We’ve had a few where we couldn’t even get out of our own way. When you have races like that, it takes the wind out of your sails. We came home fifth in the last NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Lancaster… going into that race, I figured we would be racing for 10th at best. Races where you don’t win but still run well, they help you get your focus back.”
Goodale is also looking for his first career Thompson win, something he has been chasing for many years.
“I finally won at Stafford, I have a few there now, but I’ve been racing at Thompson for so long and I’ve never been to Victory Lane there in any type of race,” Goodale said. “It would be awesome to win there. I raced there back in my SK days, came close to winning a few races, but could never put it all together. Hopefully we can next week.”
Additional entries expected include Keith Rocco, a multiple-time track champion and well-known Modified standout across the region; Ronnie Williams, a two-time SK Modified champion at Stafford Motor Speedway; and Boehler Racing driver Matt Swanson. The driver of the famed ‘Ole Blue’ No. 3, Swanson is looking for his first Tour-Type Modified win with the team and has come close at Thompson’s high banks before.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour regular Dave Sapienza and two-time Modified Racing Series Champion Chris Pasteryak are confirmed entries for the event. Both had top-10 finishes in the Nutmeg State 75 on June 16.
Drivers who were at the previous event before the rains came include Mike Christopher Jr., Jon McKennedy, Craig Lutz, and Patrick Emerling. Their entry fees and pit passes will be honored at the Truly Hard Lemonade Midsummer 75, increasing the chances of a return visit. You may see a few surprise entrants on the day of the race as well —one you will not want to miss.
On the local support division slate, the ACT-type Late Models are back on the track for their own 25-lap feature worth $1,200 to win. American-Canadian Tour standout Tom Carey won at the Icebreaker in April while former track champion Brian Tagg was back in Victory Lane for the first time in a few years in June. The division includes names like Woody Pitkat, Ryan Morgan, Nick Johnson, Derek Gluchacki and more who have had success around the region.
The Open Street Stocks will return to Thompson with their own Truly Midsummer 25-lap race, worth $1,000 to win. Most of the drivers in the Vandi Auto Supply Limited Sportsmen, who will have their own race on Wednesday, are expected to run double-duty with the same car and chase the lucrative purse. In the Icebreaker feature, Paul Newcomb, a regular at multiple tracks across the region in Legends Cars and Late Models, stole the victory.
The SK Light Modifieds and Mini Stocks will also be back in action. The Mini Stocks, originally eliminated from the card for the June event, banded together as a group to increase turnout. A large number of them were on the property for the July 7 race day before Mother Nature struck. Most, if not all, are expected back for their 15-lap feature.
Thompson Speedway action returns with the Truly Hard Lemonade Midsummer 75 on Wednesday, August 11 at 6:00pm. The Outlaw Open Modified Series will go 75 laps for a $5,000 top prize. The card also includes the Late Models, Vandi Auto Supply Limited Sportsmen, SK Light Modifieds, Mini Stocks, and a $1,000-to-win Street Stock Open. Admission is $30 for adults, $10 for kids ages 6-12, and free for ages 5 and under. A live pay-per-view will be available on Speed51.TV.
For more information about the American-Canadian Tour, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, [email protected], or visit www.acttour.com. You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ACTTour.
For technical information concerning all PASS divisions, and for media or marketing questions, please contact [email protected] or visit www.proallstarsseries.com. Don’t forget to “Like” the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook or follow on Twitter @PASSSLM14 to keep up with breaking news as it happens.
For general Thompson Speedway inquiries, call (860) 923-2280, email [email protected], or visit www.thompsonspeedway.com. You can follow Thompson Speedway on Facebook and Instagram at @ThompsonSpeedway or on Twitter at @ThompsonSpdwy.
“You may see a few surprise entrants on the day of the race as well —one you will not want to miss.” Now that is certainly a tease. Anyone know who they might be referring to here? Was Preece at the first couple of races. He was there in July so I wouldnt expect him to be the surprise they are referring to though he is not specifically named in the presser. I just pulled the timing for practice session of the July race which was ultimately rained out. Here is who was there. You would think most of them would show up they are already paid up.
1 #25 Ronnie Williams
2 #12MA Rob Richardi Jr
3 #46 Craig Lutz
4 #79 Jon McKennedy
5 #7NY Mike Christopher Jr
6 #6NY Ryan Preece
7 #81X Josh Zentek
8 #07 Patrick Emerling
9 #36 Dave Sapienza
10 #75 Chris Pasteryak
11 #3 Matt Swanson
12 #31C Andrew Charron
13 #57 Keith Rocco
mentioned in article not present in July
14 CP 75
15 Goodale
noticeably misssing
Owen
Nocella
Silk
Oops Chris Pasteryak CP 75 was there in July. So that would make Goodale the only one not present in July that they mentioned. 14 cars. If I remember the weather looked horrible for that night. So I expect had the weather looked a little better more cars may have showed up. I think they need a few more cars to make a good show. I dont think they are running SK’s for this event because the tire shortage. Not sure if they are still running the SK bonus. Didnt look like anyone took them up on the offer last time.
Really need entry lists for these open events. The one good thing about Whelen you generally know who will be there. These opens its kind of like a box of chocolates. You dont know what you will get.
trying to set the record for posts on a singular topic. Dereal I am coming for you. How am I doing?
csg, you can’t touch me. 😉
I was at the July event, it was awesome. I think the early weather forecast kept some away. It was a great event, weather turned out to be spectacular.
Preece is in the area this weekend, so he might stick around and show up.
Maybe Dug Kobe or Matt Hirschman? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I sooooooooooooooooooo want to go to Thompson next week but the entry list not knowing scares me with 15 cars last 2 events, Very EXCITED for Stafford and watching Bobby Labonte run MADHOUSE on trackpass Sat Night
Dareal, what planet were you on? The weather at the last thompson race was HORRIBLE!!! I can’t remember the last time I got drowned that bad at a race track. Had to sit in my car soaked waiting for 1/2 hour for the rain to slow enough to see to drive home!
Fast Eddie, must have been the earlier race… the one when everybody was chatting about what a great event it was. A beautiful, seasonable, clear skies, gentle breeze, gorgeous New England weather night. All the races blend together…
wmass01013, don’t fret over a lack of entry list… just look who showed up at previous races. Pretty good list. Although the Outlaw series should get with it and put out an entry list.
I got this on the down low it’s going to be Dale Earnhardt Junior surprise
Preece is in.
SORRY Dadumb you just blew yur cover with lies you spout, the last Thompson race was rained Out, so you couldn’t have been there, Lies Lies Lies
WELDING WONDERS enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mister modified motormouth tries to switch gears after being spanked again!
Dadumbdumb when will you ever learn you pathetic 😭 👶.
“Can’t make this stuff up…. Truth is stranger than fiction.”
STARRING DAREALGOODFELLA
darealgoodfella says
August 5, 2021 at 8:52 pm
csg, you can’t touch me.
I was at the July event, it was awesome. I think the early weather forecast kept some away. It was a great event, weather turned out to be spectacular.
Thompson Speedway Spirit Of 76 Event Cancelled Wednesday
July 7, 2021 by Shawn Courchesne
darealgoodfella says
June 17, 2021 at 9:38 am
I had Uncle D’s Blazin’ BBQ for dinner last night at the track(THOMPSON). Had the Black & Bleu sandwich… delicious. The slaw was perfection.
APPARENTLY THE BBQ AND SLAW NOT THAT MEMORABLE
CAN’T COUNT MONTHS NOW CAN’T REMEMBER THEM
“Can’t make this stuff up…. Truth is stranger than fiction.”
You people are idiots…. the June 16th RACE was the last Outlaw race… Oops, I wrote July, the July 7 SCHEDULED EVENT was cancelled due to rain, hence it was not a race, IT DID NOT HAPPEN. Therefore the LAST RACE was June 16, and I was there. I don’t go to rained out events like idiots do. For those of you that rarely go to the track, it’s easy for you to remember the rare times you get out of your basement. Must be so exciting.
You people are idiots. The last thing you want me to do is start nit-picking your idiocy and lack of literacy. You’re lucky I only go after the big instances of idiocy. Really, is that all you got? You should be ashamed of yourselves. But then, even that requires what you don’t have.
Idiots.
The June 16th race was awesome, most excellent weather. I was there. And I brought some friends, first timers. They loved it. I think I had some good BBQ with notable slaw.
“Can’t make this stuff up…. Truth is stranger than fiction.”
STARRING DAREALGOODFELLA
😷😷😷 darealgoodfella 😷😷😷 says
August 5, 2021 at 8:52 pm
I was at the July event, it was awesome. I think the early weather forecast kept some away. It was a great event, weather turned out to be spectacular.
😷😷😷 darealgoodfella 😷😷😷 says
August 6, 2021 at 8:28 am
Fast Eddie, must have been the earlier race… the one when everybody was chatting about what a great event it was.
😷😷😷 darealgoodfella 😷😷😷 says
August 6, 2021 at 3:01 pm
You people are idiots…. the June 16th RACE was the last Outlaw race… Oops, I wrote July, the July 7 SCHEDULED EVENT was cancelled due to rain, hence it was not a race, IT DID NOT HAPPEN.
HENCE DAREALGOODFELLA DID NOT MAKE A MISTAKE.
“Can’t make this stuff up…. Truth is stranger than fiction.”
Well, I guess we all have our own interpretations of what constitutes a race. In my world, if the race is on the schedule, and racecars show up, and they practice, and heat races start, that is a race in my book. It stunk that Mother Nature ruined it, particularly so early in the evening and made it an incomplete race, but it was still a race that was cut short by bad weather.
It’s OK Darealgoodfella to make mistakes, you’re not the only one getting up there in years it happens. You lost track of when you went to a race no big deal.
This extensive vocabulary and grammar you like to refer to you might want to dial back as well. You repeat yourself constantly and use the word idiot so much it seems like it’s the only word you know to express your displeasure. As the years have clicked off you use emoji’s more and more not only to hide vulgarities but to finish thoughts probably because you struggle to find the right words to express yourself..
It’s only funny because you take yourself so seriously and project a air of infallibility when it’s evident it not the case at all.
The June 16th race was awesome, he brought some friends, first timers .you know he meant first time friends not first time at races because there’s no way they’re sticking around to be long time friends with this guy
I’m sure field sizes are on ACT’s mind. They posted a few more additional entries on Twitter for the open race and posted rosters as well for the local divisions. Since they’re honoring the pit passes from the rained out event I’m sure most of those drivers and crews will be back. I’d bet behind the scenes they’re working to get a few more cars to come. ACT is not a minor-league operation. They want to put together a good program.
ANY MODIFIED RACE AT THOMPSON HIGH BANKS IS WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION,!!!! If I only had one Chance to WIN a new FAN to RACING, I would bring them to THOMPSON for a MODIFIED TOUR or TRI – TRACK Race… The SPEEDS the very visible especially if you sit in the TURNS 3 & 4 Or TURN 1 or Backstretch Area pit Grandstand.. The pit road is very Visible also so you can see who is out of the pits FIRST or Last….. The High Banks Chess Game that goes on throughout the field is Awesome to be-hold , IT SEPARATES the MEN from the BOYS,, Who is gonna lift first at 150 mph into the turns is full of DARING and DANGER !!!! Rocco seems to have a FAST HORSE and rides it as well as ANY ONE . McKennedy also has a STONE COLD EDGE with the HIGH SPEED TRACK with TWO or THree Recent SUPER MODIFIED WINS & a TOUR WIN around his Waist … Don’t FORGET . Before NHIS put in the 1 mile track, Thompson was the FASTEST TRACK IN NEW ENGLAND. I witnessed many a driver pull into the pits WHITE FACED & WHITE KNUCKLED after their “FIRST TIME ” driving down those long straight away’s , By the way the Backstretch is slightly LONGER that the FRONT stretch … For those of you who haven’t Driven the Track. The Rev Limiter we ran on the ENGINE would sound off on Back Stretch dropping off cylinders thru the Chip installed on MSD BOX, SAY at 7200 rpm. But not get activated on front strech , A little interesting fact many FANS are not aware of, Any way The place I would bring a first Timer would be THOMPSON , Always seems to produce fantastic FINISHES and DRAMA builds in the RACE for the Winner’s Trophy .. !!! See you WEDNESDAY ….anyone can show up and race , they will just have to join the rear of the qualified cars, But at Thompson 75 laps is plenty of time to get to the front if you have a Fast Horse you can pick off 1 or 2 cars every lap and zoom razzle dazzle you are in the TOP 5… With a chance to Win .. THE OUTSIDE GROOVE is the place to BE. . But you also can pull a bottom shot slide job entering the TURNS.. Or the CROSS OVER Coming down off the HIGH BANKING . The Fuller’s were Amazing at that, Go in High up in middle of the turns and dive under the other cars coming off the corner with great Success… Oh is my love for Thompson showing ???? LOL it’s just an Amazing track to drive and watch a Mod RACE.!!!!!
Suitcase, I always thought the back stretch was “faster” because the exit from 2 was better than the exit from 4, and that better exit from 2 allowed better rolling starts to hit the back stretch. Sometimes, cars can’t roll through 3-4, and have to make a sharp left turn up high in the 3-4 apex, after drastically slowing down. Some of the spotty repaves in 3-4 may have helped that, and allowed cars to roll through 3-4 as they do today for the most part. But cars definitely hit the chip on the backstretch.
And sometimes they use illegal rear gears to help the exits which makes them hit the chip on the straights.
Suitcase, great description and some cool facts! Great “first-timer” vision!
Speedbowl14, agreed. ACT and PASS want this to work. I think the weather threat last time ruined the car counts. They were pretty good overall at the June race, and the racing was really good.
ok FAST EDDIE do you think they really want this to work with 28,800 purse for Wednesday shows and 108k purse for Thompson 300, the 300 will get cars because its late in the yr and the Historic return of the 300 but everyone keeps saying no cars showed in July because of weather when 16 showed up in June??
Not trying to say they are terrible purses but Stop Blaming weather for not a great purse for a 5/8 mile track Midweek.
No rain so far for Wednesday night.
Insipid Cybil, where you sitting?
wmass, not blaming weather for anything other than the July race. $5K may not be a huge payout, but it’s not horrible either. I think the June car count could have been due to the race falling in between 2 WMT events at opposite corners of NY. Oswego followed by Riverhead the following weekend doesn’t make it easy to get to a mid-week event in CT. Some of the TriTrack teams aren’t going to run Thompson or Stafford so I think those Open car counts are affected to some degree by what the WMT is doing. Stafford has the benefit of being on Friday; possibly easier to take Friday off and make it a long weekend than taking 1.5-2 days off for a midweek race.
Going to be interesting on who shows up on Wednesday. Hoosier has NO tires. If they didn’t save the set from the rained out show they’ll be running (practice, heat and feature) on used tires.
AN INTERVIEW WITH DAREALGOODFELLA
STARRING: THE “KIRK” OF NORTHEAST MODIFIED RACING DAREALGOODFELLA
WE’RE HERE WITH DAREALGOODFELLA ARGUABLY THE FOREMOST AUTHORITY WITH REGARD TO NORTHEAST MODIFIED RACING. DAREALGOODFELLA PARTICULRLY LIKES THOMPSON SPEEDWAY.
LAST YEAR WAS A ROUGH YEAR FOR RACING DAREALGOODFELLA. WASN’T IT HARD CONTEMPLATING NOT GOING TO THE ICEBREAKER AS IT APPROACHED AND THE PANDEMIC WAS STARTING TO GET WORSE?
” darealgoodfella says
March 9, 2020 at 7:49 pm
I’m going to Thompson. Can’t wait. ”
REALLY EVEN WITH THE RISK OF EXPOSURE YOU WERE STILL WILLING TO RISK GETTING SICK BY GOING TO A CROWDED EVENT?
Darealgoodfella says
March 16, 2020 at 9:12 am
Since this virus first showed up on USA soil (January 21, 2020), we minimized exposure to the public. We didn’t wait. No movies, restaurants, changed errands to times when stores were usually less occupied, etc. (EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF THOMPSON SPEEDWAY) We started social distancing a long time ago, before it was even announced. (EXCEPT AT THOMPSON SPEEDWAY)
WELL AS WE ALL KNOW THAT EVENT WAS CANCELLED BUT WHAT ABOUT 2021? WERE YOU ABLE TO ATTEND THE ICEBREAKER THIS YEAR DAREALGOODFELLA?
darealgoodfella says
April 13, 2021 at 9:05 am
Given that very few people were wearing masks, , this was not a safe place to be, at all. Those few people that were wearing a mask were being relentlessly assaulted with the emissions of those not wearing masks. How many people were there? There were indeed many, many infected people there. A statistical fact. Connecticut never fully recovered from the ’21 holiday season surge, and Connecticut is one of the states with high and *increasing* active cases.
OH MY GOODNESS THAT SOUNDS PRETTY BAD. BUT YOU DID OVERCOME YOUR FEARS AS THE VACCINE ROLL OUT TOOK ROOT AND ATTENDED THE JUNE RACE DIDN’T YOU DAREALGOODFELLA? WHAT STRUCK YOU THE MOST ABOUT THE ONE EVENT YOU’VE BEEN TO FOR A LONG TIME.
darealgoodfella says
June 17, 2021 at 9:38 am
I had Uncle D’s Blazin’ BBQ for dinner last night at the track. Had the Black & Bleu sandwich… delicious. The slaw was perfection.
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT FROM THOMPSON’S BIGGEST FAN. THERE MAY STILL BE RISKS ATTENDING RACES WITH COVID19 STILL IN PLAY ACCORDING TO DAREALGOODFELLA. BUT IF THERE IS ONE TRACK WORTH THE RISK IT WOULD BE THOMPSON AND IN LARGE PART DUE TO UNCLE D’S BBQ WHERE THE “slaw was perfection”.
i AGREE WITH all you say Eddie but with Thompson your dealing with a 5/8 mile MOTOR track and a 28 k payout doesn’t attract lots of teams it seems, this ain’t WMMP!!!!
SEE the open NHMS race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can always make points about timing, weather, other races BUT $$$$$$$$$$$$$ draws the Interest
wmass01013,
Last year, the Whelen Modified Tour got more cars for a $6,000-to-win event at White Mountain (31 cars on July 4) than for a $20,000-to win event at NHMS (30 cars). The same year, ACT got more cars for a $2,500-to-win event at White Mountain (42) than for a $10,000-to-win event at the same track (34). Less than two weeks ago (July 31), Oxford got 32 Super Late Models for an event that paid maybe $2,000 to win on the same night that Claremont got 16 SLMs for a race paying $10,000 to win. Big payout numbers look nice, but when it comes to actually getting drivers in the pits, it’s about more than just the money.
OK Mr Oblivious track size matters, i am sure you have heard size matters before, 20 k to win at Loudon when u have to go 200 laps (212) miles compared to 51 miles AT WMMP matters for engine and Tire Cost.
I dont Follow Late Models so car counts in that series i have no reasons why but wouldnt The OXFORD 250 coming up soon that usually get BIGGGGG car counts be a reason for your answer?????????
First of all. I lost miserably to Dareal on posts on this topic. It happens.
Captain makes a good point. Money paid doesn’t always produce car counts. You would think it should but it often doesn’t. He brought up several good examples. In my opinion, points seems to be the best incentive to draw a consistent and predictable driver roster. I probably could tell you with about 80 percent accuracy who will be at Beechridge or Monadnock. Other than the drivers who were at the July rain out (already paid)and drivers mentioned in the press release I have no idea who will be at Thompson tomorrow. I am guessing it probably isn’t going to be much more then what I speculated above. Especially if there aren’t tires to be had for new teams as someone posted above. I hope they get more but Wednesdays are tough and modifieds dont go well on bare rims..
Stafford puts out a list which will give you a good idea of who will be there. I wish Thompson would do that as well but without tire sales to go off of (TRI Track) or a pre registration process(Stafford) I am not sure thompson has a complete list.
That being said, that is one major endorsement for BBQ and slaw. Even if the car count isn’t all that great. At the very least. you know you are going to have a good meal. I hope Dereal is getting some extra slaw on the side for sending RacedayCT readers to Uncle D’s.
Have a great time at the races tomorrow.
wmass01013,
You literally just said that money is what draws interest from drivers. The specific quote, to be exact, was “You can always make points about timing, weather, other races BUT $$$$$$$$$$$$$ draws the Interest.” Then when I point out several cases where lower-paying events actually drew more cars, you go into a diatribe about how there were other factors involved. Which is it? Is the money what attracts drivers, or is it not?
Regarding the Oxford 250, that has drawn low-to-mid-50s in cars counts the past several years for a race that pays $25,000 to win and about $130,000 in total awards. A “regular” PASS event at the track, which pays $3,200 to win and about $19,000 in total awards according to the series entry blanks, typically draws about 35-40 cars. I’ll let you decide if you think the extra 15-20 cars is worth the money.