Dan Cugini Claims First Thompson Win on Chilly First Night for Icebreaker Weekend

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

(THOMPSON, CT) - Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park kicked off its 2016 season in style on April 9th with its first series of races as part of the 42nd Annual Icebreaker weekend. In addition to setting the field for Sunday’s events, including the season opener for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, day one of racing was highlighted by a 20-lap feature for the NEMA Lites which offered plenty of competitive racing action to kick off their 2016 season.

The event started smooth for front row starter Ryan Bigelow, who engaged in an intense battle with Jim Chambers through the first five laps of the event before their battle for the lead resulted in contact on turn four. The incident forced an early retirement for both drivers and Anthony Nocelia who was also collected in the wreck and changed the complexion of an already competitive race by taking out the two strongest cars in the early going.

Their misfortune worked to the benefit of Dan Cugini who, after experiencing mechanical issues in the heat races worked his way to the front and took the lead on lap 12. Cugini would dominate the rest of the race and claim his first ever win at Thompson Speedway and what he considers one of the biggest trophies of his career so far.

“This is the Thompson Icebreaker. This is special to anyone. It’s one of those events that everyone wants to win. I’ve got mine, I love it and I want to do it again,” Cugini told reporters after his win. “We’ve been in the top three a bunch of times and we finally got one. It’s tough to win here. You have to have a good setup. If you can’t drive it in deep you’re not going to win.”

Adding to Cugini’s impressive win was the fact that he had to hold off early leader PJ Stergios and last year’s champion and runner-up respectively, Anthony Payne and Randy Cabrel, to get to victory lane. Avery Stoher rounded out the top five.

NEMA LITES: 1. Dan Cugini (Marshfield, MA); 2. PJ Stergios (Candia, NH); 3. Anthony Payne (Fairlawn, NJ); 4. Randy Cabral (Plymouth, MA) 5. Avery Stoher (Lakeville, MA); 6. Paul Scally (Raynham, MA); 7. Jim Cataldo (Sterling, MA); 8. Alan Chambers (Atkinson, NH); 9. Jeff Locke (Chester, NH)10. Scott Bigelow (East Hampton, CT)