Derek Gluchacki Wins The Battle, Nick Johnson Wins The War In Late Models At Thompson 

THOMPSON – Nick Johnson made the championship chase in the Late Model division dramatic on night one of the Sunoco World Series weekend at Thompson Speedway. 

Johnson rallied from a turn one spin on a lap nine restart to finish fifth and clinch his third Late Model championship at Thompson Speedway. 

“On that restart there we had a right rear tire go down,” Johnson said. “Right when I hit the gas I felt it. Wasn’t really sure what to do, so I guess I kept driving it. Luckily kept it off the wall just enough that it didn’t seem like it did any major major damage. The car was still drivable. Third championship here and they are always like the biggest fight in the last race and it’s always like, you never know if you’re going to get it. It feels good to do it.” 

Johnson, of Rehoboth, Mass., came into the event holding a 12-point lead over Brian Tagg in the standings with Derek Gluchacki third in the standings, 20 points off the lead. 

Gluchacki, of Darmouth, Mass., won the 30-lap feature. Ryan Kuhn of East Bridgewater, Mass. was second and Ryan Morgan of North Franklin was third. Tagg, of Oxford, Mass., was fourth. 

“I can’t thank my crew enough,” Gluchacki said. “We had a tough one here last time in the 75-lapper so that kind of put us behind. Congrats to [Johnson]. Hate to see him [spin] there. But congrats to them, they worked hard. I can’t thank my crew enough.” 

Johnson went by Morgan for the lead on lap four. A lap later Gluchacki moved past Morgan to take over second. 

By lap seven Gluchacki was all over the rear bumper of Johnson. Gluchacki made a diving move low into turn three on lap eight and came off of turn four with the lead. 

On lap nine Matt Lowinski-Loh and Corey Fanning wrecked hard in turn two to bring the first caution out. 

On the lap nine restart Gluchacki controlled out front. Behind him second place Johnson spun and nearly backed into the wall. On the second attempt at a lap nine restart it was Gluchacki controlling out front once again and Ryan Kuhn overtaking Morgan for second. 

By lap 20 Johnson had rallied back to fifth place. 

Check the RaceDayCT Insider Page for full results from the Late Model feature and other results from Thompson Speedway on Friday

Tyler Chapman of Mystic held off the closing laps charges of Duane Noll to win the 35-lap Evolve Pro Truck Series feature. 

Noll got under Chapman on the final lap in turn three, but Chapman was able to win the race to the checkered flag. 

Noll, of Monroe, held on for second. Jaysin Beal of Ledyard was third. 

Ryan Lineham of Warwick, R.I. won the 50-lap R&R Race Parts Street Stock feature. Gluchacki was second and Andrew Gillis of Ashland, Mass. was third.