Make it two for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson Speedway in 2022.
On Nov. 3 NASCAR announced the bulk of the 2022 schedule for the Whelen Modified Tour, but it’s become clear in the days following that it’s a schedule that continues to be a work in progress.
And one more quite unexpected piece of that schedule is set to be added soon.
Multiple sources have confirmed to RaceDayCT that NASCAR will announce a second date for the Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson Speedway in 2022.
The Whelen Modified Tour is expected to return to the Sunoco World Series weekend schedule for the 2022 season with a Saturday Oct. 8 event at Thompson.
Thompson Speedway operators Cris Michaud and Tom Mayberry were not available for comment on Friday.
Whelen Modified Tour series director Jimmy Wilson could not comment specifically on the Oct. 8 event.
“Thompson is obviously a valued track on our schedule,” Wilson told RaceDayCT Friday. “We’re looking forward to racing there next season.”
An official announcement of the Oct. 8 Whelen Modified Tour event at Thompson is expected in the coming days. The Whelen Modified Tour will share the weekend card with the return of the Thompson Outlaw Modified division running the Thompson 300 on Sunday Oct. 9.
It’s a return to a long tradition for the Whelen Modified Tour. The 2021 season marked the first year in the history of the Whelen Modified Tour that the series was not part of the World Series weekend at Thompson.
From 1985 to 2020 the Whelen Modified Tour had held multiple events annually at Thompson Speedway. The series did not run any events at Thompson in 2021. Thompson has hosted 148 Whelen Modified Tour events since 1985, which is more than any other facility. On Oct. 19 it was announced that the Whelen Modified Tour would return to Thompson for an Aug. 17 event in 2022.
NASCAR announced a 16-event schedule for the Whelen Modified Tour last week, which included three dates on the schedule listed as “To Be Announced.” One of the dates was filled this week with the announcement of an event at Claremont (N.H.) on July 29. The other two TBA dates listed on the schedule released by NASCAR were Aug. 6 and Sept. 24.
Multiple sources have indicated that Whelen Modified Tour officials are also working to secure an event at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H. for May 2022.
Thompson will join Riverhead Raceway as the only tracks that will host multiple Whelen Modified Tour events in 2022. Riverhead will host the series three times in 2022.
Under the direction of Michaud and Mayberry, Thompson Speedway introduced the Thompson Outlaw Modified division in 2021, which utilizes Tour Type Modifieds for events. The operating group put on five Thompson Outlaw Modified events in 2021, including the return of the Thompson 300, which was run on the Sunday of World Series weekend on Oct 10. The Thompon Outlaw Modified events are expected to once again be a regular part of the schedule at the track in 2022 and the Thompson 300 is expected to return to the schedule as part of the Sunday World Series racing card on Oct. 9, 2022.
That will be one hell of a weekend.
I feel this is just a dig into Stafford. Fine. Well if Stafford doesn’t want to host us, let’s go elsewhere. They are both playing a game. Stafford will win.
The NWMT will be the undercard!!!!
😝😝😝😝😝😝😝
WHOA !!!!!!
No Seekonk this year. Does that mean Thompson has given up on the Thompson 300 for this year?
Jimmy,
Did you actually read the story you’re commenting on?
Well, that makes 2 egg on my face for Connecticut modified tour events this year, that I thought would not happen in the state. Just manning up.
Interesting that they will be the Saturday card, with a Sunday open 300 lap modified event as well. What a ride this year!
So as of now the schedule has 12 tracks on it. If/when Lee is announced, that is 13. TBA’s could bring it up to as many as 15.
By my count, the last time the tour had more than 10 tracks on the schedule was 2001 with 12. The lowest (non covid) years had 7, which happened 5 times.
18 would also be the most amount of races since 2005.
Really not a bad schedule for a tour some say is scaring off tracks left and right.
Not front page news but curious why GSPSS is not back at Stafford for a second year and Tom Mayberry’s Pass gets the nod. In any event the Arutes and Mayberry hashing out a deal early for the Sizzler is interesting in light of everything that followed including this announcement.
One might speculate in the negotiations they talked about the advantages and disadvantages of having big events without the NWMT. Mayberry surely knew a lot about that as he and Michaud were the pioneers of it for 2021. Experiencing some difficulties on the way but in the end committing early to doing it all again with no mention of the NWMT.
October 16 Stafford announces a NWMT-less Sizzler with Pass on Saturday. On or about November 1 Wilson announces the Langley date and the game is on. You like to think much of the schedule is already blocked out with the details to be worked out but this year I don’t believe that was the case.
Ms Arute made it clear they were disappointed in the Langley date even though it was they that fired the first shot shutting out the NWMT for the Sizzler. Nascar still holding a grudge having their sanction unceremoniously dropped the year prior and now the Sizzler slap in the face and they aren’t budging on the Langley date. Stafford in turn feels disrespected thinking they deserved a little consideration after decades helping make money for NASCAR. The two sides each with their backs up make the rest predictable with no NWMT races at the track for 2022.
No tour for Stafford was a big move. Perhaps they were a bit more confident having talked to Tom Mayberry that holding events devoid of the NWMT might not be so bad at all. Perhaps thinking they had a united front against NASCAR with two former staples of the NWMT schedule now going their own way.
Meanwhile Tom Mayberry who is busy working on the PASS schedule as well as with Michaud on the Thompson program they’ve committed to for a second year is talking to Wilson and trying to make something work. They do come to a meeting of the minds for a mid week race announced on October 19. A little bit of a surprise but not earth shattering. The shocker the second race and being added to the World Series. It’s not hard to imagine that Wilson’s motivation was extremely high to make that second date work after being shut out at Stafford. To be clear the Saturday race at the World Series is a stand alone event but it’s also not the weekend headliner.
I’m thinking Tom Mayberry may come up at the Arute’s Thanksgiving dinner table at some point. The point man that made the PASS event at Sizzler weekend happen. Half of the team that pioneered a complete Thompson season without the NWMT. That guy half the team that ends up negotiating not one but two dates with the NWMT. At least one of which wouldn’t have happened had Stafford taken dates as many expected going in.
Except for the dates mentioned all the proceeding is pure speculation from one lowly fan. One that wants to believe that there is a measure of good will between the competing groups to divide the available dates up responsibly. Being respectful of the teams that put on the show and the fans that pay the bills to not have to chose against competing events in close proximity to each other.
Unfortunately it appears it’s now turned into a yearly brawl with fragile ego’s in play and petty countermoves.
Fun following in the silly season. Kind of bad for the actual season.
Shawn, please confirm or clarify…
The NWMT Thompson Aug 17 event is being promoted by the ACT/Outlaw guys, and the alleged Oct 8 NWMT Thompson event is being negotiated directly between NASCAR and Thompson without a promoter?
Please confirm, I don’t remember the details from the Aug 17 NWMT-Thompson deal.
Thanks
Darealgoodfella,
Both of the Whelen Modified Tour events at Thompson in 2022 (Aug. 17 & Oct. 8) have been negotiated and will be promoted by the operating partnership of Cris Michaud and Tom Mayberry.
WRONG AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Doug, the GSPSS had to cancel several races this season due to expected low car counts. And some of races the did run had poor fields. Their big $10,000 to win race at Claremont had 15 cars show up. One of the races at Beech Ridge was essentially a glorified Beech Ridge weekly race with 3 or 4 Granite State regulars in the event, but not really being competitive. I believe they also had another race or 2 with single digit entries. . I would guess at least half the drivers who ran the Granite State race at the Spring Sizzler this season would have still showed up if it was a PASS race.
Shawn, thanks… truth certainly is stranger than fiction.
@shawn. My apologies for missing the last paragraph. But thought your tone was a little harsh in response.
Jimmy,
Ok.
Jimmy, the tone was harsh???? You deserved every bit of it. You are your own victim. Shawn’s response was incredibly restrained and appropriate. You deserved any and all perceived and reserved tone.
I would have replied with something like, “Hey Jimmy you big idiot, WTF are you talking about? Did you run out of attention?” And then I would have quoted the info from the article that you failed to read or comprehend.
And you deserved every bit of it. You are your own victim.
When you are dead, you don’t know that you are dead. It is only difficult for the others. It is the same when you are stupid.
Wow now thats UNCALLED for!
Thanks for the heads up on why the GSPSS is not back at Stafford for 2022. Turns out they appear to have all but given up at this point. The web site badly outdated in the aftermath of what must have been a hugely disappointing 2021 season.
Much is made of the limited number of teams that race for the NWMT championship like it’s a weakness. As far as I can see it’s in line with that of the PASS and ACT Super Late Models. Act had 9 cars that raced all or missed just one event and for PASS the number was 6. The NWMT had 14 cars racing the full schedule or missing just one event. PASS and the NWMT had large numbers of teams racing in a hand full of events.
What I’m seeing digging further in the weeds is that touring series are losing their relevance as a whole. An awful lot of teams across all the tours treat the schedule more like opens where they pick and chose races. I’ve noted the large number of race teams sprinkled throughout Connecticut that race in everything from Street Stocks, to Minis, Super Late Models, trucks and modifieds all throughout the Northeast and beyond with no regard for points or any particular loyalty to one series.
The die may be cast especially for Super Late Model and tour modified teams. They race where they want, when they want with little loyalty or regard for points. ACT, PASS and the NWMT might consider tailoring their events more to the open model then expecting teams to show up simply because it’s a points race.
wmass01013 contributed, “Wow now thats UNCALLED for!”
Since you are one of the leading idiots around these parts, let me tell you what’s uncalled for: playing the victim card.
When a person does something idiotic, then plays the victim card when it has been pointed out they did something idiotic, playing the victim card is uncalled for. It only makes the self-owned idiot look like a bigger idiot.
And really, there is no nice way to let someone know they are an idiot, they always take offense and get all huffy. 😝😝😝😝🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😝😝😝🤣🤣.
Like it’s everyone else’s fault they are a big idiot. 😝😝😝
So Dareal insults every other post but I get booted because of an opinion?. I’ll take it as a compliment from someone who cant debate with facts
no one is rushing to see the GSPSS OR the NWMT ! the fact you guys are arguing about it is sad.. Stafford can do whatever it wants so can Waterford and Seekonk or any other track/promotor. . I believe these tracks are making decisions on what is best financially for the front and rear of the house ..BODIES on the premises = MONEY.. Anyone who runs the tour is wasting huge amounts of money . Hey DaReal the day will come mark my words where your favorite and fan favorite Melissa Fifield will finish the season top ten in points at the rate its going ! . Stick a fork in it !
Wmass I thought you let him know nicely what a fool he sounded like (again) and he got all offensive and huffy , I guess he falls into the idiot clASS which most of us already knew . WHAT A TOOL
You can call me anything you want, your opinions MEAN NOTHING to me as you are nothing But a wannabe, who thinks he knows something but prove time and time again your Nothing!!
Hey, NASCAR GETS IT WRONG BUT STAYS RICH 🤑, a few weeks ago, after the NWMT schedule preview was released, I posted something like the 01 will be finishing in the top 5 in 2022 because the only cars that will do the whole tour are JBon, Emerling, Silk, and Fifield. 🤑
This is for Earl, Elect, wmass01013 and the other ankle-biter idiots…
I’M RUBBER YOU’RE GLUE!!!!!!
Nyah-nyah-NYAH-nyaaaah-nyah
😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝
Here is a direct quote from the article, “Under the direction of Michaud and Mayberry, Thompson Speedway introduced the Thompson Outlaw Modified division in 2021, which utilizes Tour Type Modifieds for events. The operating group put on five Thompson Outlaw Modified events in 2021, including the return of the Thompson 300, which was run on the Sunday of World Series weekend on Oct 10. The Thompon Outlaw Modified events are expected to once again be a regular part of the schedule at the track in 2022 and the Thompson 300 is expected to return to the schedule as part of the Sunday World Series racing card on Oct. 9, 2022.”
Let me repeat the pertinent section from the article, “The Thompon Outlaw Modified events are expected to once again be a regular part of the schedule at the track in 2022 and the Thompson 300 is expected to return to the schedule as part of the Sunday World Series racing card on Oct. 9, 2022.”
Here is a post by Jimmy, “No Seekonk this year. Does that mean Thompson has given up on the Thompson 300 for this year?”
To which Shawn replies, “Jimmy,
Did you actually read the story you’re commenting on?”
And then Jimmy replied, “@shawn. My apologies for missing the last paragraph. But thought your tone was a little harsh in response.”
Do you have any idea how many times Shawn has to point out that the question was answered in the article, and the person asking the question failed to read or comprehend the info in the article that was the answer to the question being asked?
Remember what the dumb kids in grammar school looked like when they had to give an oral book report on the book they never read? They never learned, and now they just try to play the victim card. The victim card has limits.
Atomic Punk,
Your preoccupation with this website and me personally has quite literally crossed the line to unsettling and very unwelcome.
How many months ago was it made clear that your comments wouldn’t be posted here any longer? And since then you’ve continued to submit anonymous comments weekly, most being just childish insults directed at me and made up accusations about my work. It’s bordering on disturbing obsession at this point. You were given plenty of chances here and each time you were given another chance you came back angrier and eventually you hung yourself.
I don’t really get how or why you think you’re going to get a free pass to come on here and insult the work presented, insult the site overall, accuse me of being a plagiarist and accuse me of celebrating tragedy and dead people. At least if you’re going to throw all this out there have the courage to put a real name behind your accusations. Until then, please just go away.
Perhaps it’s a reach but I’d suggest this may be consistent with a common theme these days.
Attacking school board and town council members using erroneous information and doing it as the loudest voices in the room. Attacking Congressional representatives that stray outside the party line even though the legislation benefits their districts. A large percentage of voters suggesting that armed conflict may be necessary to right the grievances they have with the existing system.
The theme is over the top, irrational reactions frequently based on completely fabricated information and assumptions that ends up manifesting itself as rage. It filters into everything we do and apparently right here.
It’s a freakin sports site for crying out loud. How do you get so wound up you need to stalk the guy running it. The guy that is giving us access for nothing, is the only real full time racing reporter covering local racing and spent yesterday getting an award in recognition of his contributions.
It’s nuts!