American-Canadian Tour (ACT) and Pro All Stars Series Officials announced today a new format for the SK Light Modifieds at Thompson Speedway throughout the rest of the 2023 season. The purse for the open-wheeled division has been increased to $750-to-win each event, up from the previously $350-to-win regular breakdown, with the number of laps also increasing to now 30 lap features. Because of these increases, the SK Lights will now pit in the infield of the 5/8-mile oval in the events to come for the ease of these teams and competitors and spectacular action for the fans at hand.
“We really wanted to bring the SK Lights to the level we believe they deserve,” said ACT managing partner Cris Michaud. “They’ve been extremely supportive of Tom (Mayberry) and I since we started promoting Thompson and we feel the time was right to elevate them.”
The new changes will be put in full force for the first Wednesday night midweek event at Thompson Speedway on June 21st. The opening summer season event presented by Twisted Tea will have one of the most spectacular billings of the season. The SK Light Modifieds, Limited Sportsman and New England Supermodified Series are all going for 30 lap feature events along with the Late Models and Mini Stocks plus the first 50 lap Dash for Cash for the Thompson Outlaw Open Modifieds! The full schedule for Wednesday, June 21 is available at www.acttour.com/thompson-speedway-schedule.
Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park opens its summer racing season on the iconic oval Wednesday, June 21st with a trifecta of special events! The Thompson Open Outlaws will feature the region’s top open-wheel racers for the $5,000-to-win prize with the new Dash for Cash 50 lap format, guaranteeing plenty of thrills with racers having limited time to jump to the front. The Limited Sportsman will tackle one another for the EdenRafferty Clash for Cash with special cash bonus’ along with the winged, open-wheeled New England Supermodified Series on the Thompson highbanks once again! The always exciting Thompson Late Models, SK Light Modifieds, and Mini Stocks also join the card for a spectacular summer season opener!
Post Time for Wednesday, June 21 is set for 6:00pm with Adult General Admission tickets available for $30, kids 12-6 for $10 and children 5 and under free! Pit Gates will open promptly at 2:30pm with Adult Pit Passes on sale for $45 with kids 12 and under available for $20. Streaming on Pay-Per-View through Racing America is also available for $30.
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.
Excellent move,…. SK lights now can get experience pitting like an SK team. They can change a tire or make small repairs along with maybe an adjustment or two… It’s hard to watch someone have to park it in the infield for just a flat tire and have to watch the race stuck out there.. This will be great for small fixes to get back out on the track quickly..The 750 $ to WIN should also be applauded by everyone… These guys are making sensible changes as needed … Reward those who are supporting the Track …I would like to see Meagan Fuller grab a WIN at Thompson… She runs strong on the ” High Banks” and hopefully can give her season a Boost…. The Supers at the big T are awesome to behold… Hopefully the car counts are improving in the new series started last year … Should be Fun…
I agree with everything Suitcase said. It is terrible to watch a driver sitting on pit row for something easily fixable. The SK lights havr some of the best racing at Stafford and has consistently had the best car count this season. I believe the SK lights run for 750 to win at Stafford if you include all the contingency sponsors so this increase will get them on par. Hopefully the division comes out and supports Thompson,
As far as the Supers go, the NESS had a race at Vermont’s Thunder Road and they drew 10 Supers. its better than last year. I believe the series had only one race so far. I think Thompson might be a little closer for some of the Super teams so maybe they will do a little better. Then again it is a Wednesday so maybe not. Those cars are really cool looking. I would love to see a race with a good field. The 350 SMAC supers are part of Open Wheel Wednesday at the Konk this year. Looking forward to that one.
I agree with the SKl changes except the new purse structure- 10 more laps and not increasing the purse down the line…. Top 5 should increase $100 instead JMO
Tell you what I love is watching good management and promotion in action. These two guys playing chess against all the challenges the Wednesday night format presents. The king being the tour mods with a bit less power strategically moving the other pieces to compensate for the loss.
Is this a good thing, search me. A lot of these Light teams are one or two people, they don’t have carts to take out and what are the rules on pitting anyway?
“the SK Lights will now pit in the infield of the 5/8-mile oval in the events to come for the ease of these teams ”
What’s that mean? Are we talking the better resourced teams with yet another advantage?
We’re only talking a few races so by all mean experiment away. As for the format that exists for the majority of teams that race Lights at whatever track just stick with what they seem to appreciate where less can be more. Lower number of green flag laps with lower overhead, no spotters and no infield pitting. They can afford more move up to SK’s or Tour Mods.
Hey SK Light team. That’s right I’m talking to you. I know you race for fun, that your window of competitiveness is in the teens. Did the $750 to win motivate you to load up and give this event a shot? Just asking.
Racing America coverage you say. You might want to get the word out on that all you race fan home gamers. The Racing American web site shows no tour mod races under “Live Events” coming up.
Steve,
Do you want participation trophies for everybody in the field too? I understand everybody wants bigger purses for everybody, but when did you lose sight of the fact that this is still a competition? Ultimately the goal is to win. You win the competition and you get the big payoff.
Suitcase and csg, completely agree! The SKL’s have had some great racing at Thompson,] hopefully this makes it even better! Doug, great comments about management, trying to make what is working even better!
OK point taken. Racing is a competition and the goal is winning. But how many people or teams do actually have a chance to win?
I’m clearly biased on this issue based on experience. Racing is a recreational choice as well as a competition. Within the competition realm a racer competes not only for the win but those down the field compete in their window. Knowing full well they may never have the money, knowledge or skill to make the podium much less win.
Do those teams have value? I would argue yes who wants to watch a race where only the potential winners enter an event. You’ll never notice them in all likelihood and they’d never be interviewed but for some a top ten can be a win they’re joyous over. Does that make the sport better even though they go unnoticed? I would argue yes.
Should there be a discussion about how much money they get in the purse to offset the money they lose helping put on the show? I would argue yes. Not so much participation trophies but perhaps a bit of respect recognizing that they do have value to the product being offered.
Gentleman, Ladies, let’s not forget… In this Sport … SEAT TIME is what your after.. You learn from the TOP DOGS … You have so so much to learn as a Driver and Team.. You need everyone to compete to their level …The SK lights are a perfect division to get that all important seat time …. You learn restarts from being left in the dust on the start… You learn to run side by side and hold your lane.. You learn to wave your hand around when the yellow comes out so you don’t get RUN OVER by the car behind you.. You learn how the BIG GUYS pass you or use a nerf bar to bounce off you in the turn to get by…You learn how they run you up the track and take away your racing groove… You learn to use mirrors properly and peek at Starter stand each time around to see how many laps or instructions with passing flag ETC…You learn how they squeeze you down off the turns… There is competition going on from the front to the back.. Each race is different..The lessons are all there for you to learn your trade as a Driver and try and improve each week…That is the ultimate Goal . TO WIN.. but to Win you must first finish every lap, then a top 15 , top 10 top 5 .. When you start finishing in the top 3 – 5 and keep improving then a Win is in your Future.. When you get a shot on a Front Row starting spot you gotta be ready to take it and jump out there and Run like a scared Rabbit and drive away from the field and Get that First Win… The Crew is also in the same learning curve on the set ups and preparation to improve every week… Get the stagger right each week. get the fuel load set for properly getting over the scales after running all the laps after the Feature..get your driver comfortable with the car and comfortable sailing it into the corner and confidence it will stick and turn..Communication with driver on how is car handling on , entry , center , exit of turns…All these thing have got to be mastered before you WIN. So these things take time. So seat time is so so valuable, and that’s what you get in SK Lights…You may be in a fierce battle for 12th place, but it’s winning the battle for 12th that will help you Win the next battle , Until your the TOP DOG winning races.. You gotta put your seat time in to get to the next level..Don’t be in a HURRY to move UP… Learn all your lessons well and try to Win and grab a Championship or 2 before jumping up to the next level ..One of the biggest mistakes is moving up to soon,, It gets twice as hard to have success against an SK REGULAR with a TON of seat time and thousands of laps under their belts already with Chassis men dialing in their cars to the greatest degree…. get in an SK Light and learn everything you can and dominate before you even think of moving up the ladder…
Interesting situation going to see what this experiment results in.
Could be great racing.
Could be only a few teams actually have equipment to go to pit road since no one has planned on this.
Could be green to checker.
Could be more risks since the crew can just slap on a new tire.
Could be more damage since a cut down tire you can now change and go back out and wreck worse coming through the field (most likely candidate)
Time will tell
I probably left a few out
I`m sorry don’t agree with infield pitting for SKL..give them courtesy laps let them visit the pits for a tire or minor repairs ..some of these crews don’t need the extra pressure. will have to buy helmets and without experience for drivers and crews injuries can result . some crews might be minimal at best numbers wise. plus the need to keep up with the joneses will have them running out and buying more stuff. sorry cant agree with this…