Driver Line-Up for 4-24-23

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber 

News, Results, Schedule Tour Up-Dates, Driver Interviews.

Live E-Mail at waynewnri@yahoo.com

Podcast to follow at anchor.fm/wayne-barber

At. 6:05 pm Tentatively Scheduled: WiscasettChampion, Josh St. Clair will discuss short track racing up North

                                                              Photo by Brooke Teras

Driver Line -Up for 4-17-23

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber 

News, Schedules, Tour News, Driver Interviews

E-Mail the program live at waynewnri@yahoo.com

Podcast to follow at anchor.fm/wayne-barber

Derek Gluchaki  will be our first guest.

Driver Line-Up for 4-10-23

 Posted by Wayne G.Barber 

News, Standings, Schedules, Tour News, Driver Interviews

E-Mail the program at waynewnri@yahoo.com

Podcast to follow at anchor.fm/wayne-barber 

  6:20 pm   

SK MOD DRIVER    #  Troy Talman

Driver Line-up for 4-03-23

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber  Photos property of Wayne G. Barber Library

Rick Gentes, Thank You for the great memories Champion !

News, Sponsor Changes, Schedules, Standings, Driver Interviews

E-Mail the program at waynewnri@yahoo.com

Podcast to follow later on      anchor.fm/wayne-barber 

6:05 pm Champion Cory Fanning, Sportsmen and late/model owner/driver

6:35pm 7 time Champion Gerry DeGasparra Jr. late/model

ACT & PASS Announce 2023 Thompson Speedway Oval Schedule

 Posted by Wayne G.Barber  Photo Ice Breaker 2022 by Wayne G. Barber

To keep ahead of tire shortage questions and upcoming point battles at neighboring Stafford Speedway and New London-Waterford Speedbowl, the Sunoco Modifieds have been relegated to five events; Two on Icebreaker Weekend and the return of the Sunoco Modified Triple Crown on World Series weekend.

Barre, VT & Naples, ME — Officials from the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) and Pro All Stars Series (PASS) are excited to announce the 2023 Schedule for the Thompson Speedway oval. The nine-event schedule is highlighted by the iconic Icebreaker and World Series weekends along with four Wednesday night programs throughout the summer. 2023 will mark the fourth year ACT and PASS have sanctioned the iconic 5/8-mile oval in Northeast Connecticut.

The 84th year at Thompson Speedway will start and end with a pair of New England’s premier race weekends. Beginning with the 49th Icebreaker, an optional Friday practice day on March 31st gives a sneak-peak prior to the annual lid-lifter on Saturday, April 1st and Sunday, April 2nd. Saturday will be headlined by the PASS Super Late Models while Sunday will once again feature the $10,000-to-win Icebreaker 125 for the Thompson Outlaw Open Modifieds. Along with the Thompson Late Models, Limited Sportsman, SK Lites and Mini Stocks, a full division line-up will be announced for the Icebreaker at a later date.

The 2023 season will close with the traditional three-day Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing starting Friday, October 6th and ending Sunday, October 8th. In its 61st iteration, the annual stock car extravaganza will once again feature three days of Tour-type Modified racing starting with the Modified Racing Series on Friday followed by the $10,000-to-win Thompson Outlaw Open Modified Sunoco 100 on Saturday and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on Sunday. The World Series will also feature championship action for the weekly Thompson divisions as well as a host of touring series that will be announced in the months ahead.

The Wednesday night showdowns will look a little different in 2023 with the introduction of the all-new Dash for Cash Series for the Thompson Outlaw Open Modifieds. In an effort to cut down on the need for a larger pit crew during these midweek events, the Dash for Cash events will be cut down to 50 lap sprints, leaving the need for change tires and scheduled pit stops behind. The three Dash for Cash events will continue to feature the $5,000 to win, $600 to start purse that has been in effect for the Wednesday Open Modified shows since 2021.

“After talking with teams, we feel the format change to 50 laps without change tires will bring more teams to our midweek shows,” said PASS President Tom Mayberry. “Now it’ll be up to the driver to chase down the cash, not relying on a fast right-rear tire changer.”

The Dash for Cash for the Outlaw Open Modifieds debuts on Wednesday, June 21st alongside the Thompson Late Models, SK Lite Modifieds, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks. The New England Supermodified Series (NESS) will also have their midweek debut on the Thompson highbanks after a stellar run at October’s World Series.

On Wednesday, July 26th the SK Lite Modifieds take center stage alongside the second Dash for Cash. The SK Lites will contend for Double Features alongside the Outlaw Open Modifieds, Thompson Late Models, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks.

Wednesday, August 16th brings the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour back to their midweek tradition at the Big-T. The NWMT Thompson 150 will be supported by the Thompson Late Models, SK Lite Modifieds, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks.

The final Wednesday night showdown on September 13th will feature the final Dash for Cash for the Outlaw Open Modifieds in 2023 alongside an Open Street Stock special and the Thompson local divisions.

Sunoco Modifieds are noticeably absent from the Wednesday shows but will remain part of Thompson Speedway in a big way in 2023. With the ongoing tire shortages still affecting the Sunoco Modifieds in particular, and keeping the upcoming point battles at Stafford Speedway and New London-Waterford Speedbowl in mind, officials have chosen to keep the Sunoco Modifieds to Icebreaker and World Series weekends.

“We didn’t want to get to June or July and begin making Sunoco Modified teams choose,” said ACT managing partner Cris Michaud. “To keep out of their tire inventories and save equipment for the Stafford and Waterford point battles, the Sunoco Mods will race both days of Icebreaker weekend and once again with the Triple Crown on World Series weekend.”

For more information about the American-Canadian Tour, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com.  You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ACTTour.

2023 Thompson Speedway Schedule of Events

#             DAY       DATE     TIME                      EVENT

--             Fri           Mar 31   10:00pm                Icebreaker Practice Day

1              Sat           April 1    6:00pm                  Icebreaker – Day 1 feat. PASS Super Late Models

2              Sun         April 2    6:00pm                  Icebreaker – Day 2 feat. $10k Open Mod Icebreaker 125

3              Wed       Jun 21    6:00pm                  Dash for Cash #1 plus the New England Supermodified Series

4              Wed       July 26    6:00pm                  Dash for Cash #2 – SK Lite Modified Double Features!

5              Wed       Aug 16   6:00pm                  NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour plus Local Divisions

6              Wed       Sept 13  6:00pm                  Dash for Cash #3 plus Street Stock Open

7              Fri           Oct 6      6:00pm                  61st World Series Friday - MRS

8              Sat           Oct 7      6:00pm                  61st World Series Saturday – Sunoco 100 Open Modifieds

9              Sun         Oct 8      7:00pm                  61st World Series Sunday – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour

- Schedule Subject to Change -

ACT Tour 2023 Schedule

 2023 American-Canadian Tour Schedule of Events

#             DAY       DATE    EVENT                                                 TRACK                                                 LOCATION

**            Fri           Mar 17    St. Patrick's Day 125                               Hickory Motor Speedway                       Hickory, NC

**            Sat           Mar 18    Easter Bunny 125                                    Hickory Motor Speedway                       Hickory, NC

--             Fri            Apr 14     Northeast Classic Practice Day               New Hampshire Motor Speedway         Loudon, NH

1              Sat           Apr 15     Northeast Classic - $5,000 to Win            New Hampshire Motor Speedway         Loudon, NH

(Rain Date Sun. April 16)

2              Sat           Apr 29     Spring Sizzler ACT 75                              Stafford Motor Speedway                      Stafford Springs, CT

--             Sat           May 6      Thunder Road Car Show/Practice Day    Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl               Barre, VT

3              Sun          May 7      25^th Community Bank N.A. 150              Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl               Barre, VT

4              Sun          May 21    New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150     Lee USA Speedway                                 Lee, NH

5              Sat           Jun 3        48^th Spring Green 123                             Seekonk Speedway                                 Seekonk, MA

6              Sat           Jun 24      Claude Leclerc 150 - $5,000-to-Win         Autodrome Chaudiere                            Vallée-Jct., QC

7              Sun          July 9       Oxford 125                                              Oxford Plains Speedway                         Oxford, ME

8              Sat.          July 22     CAN-AM 200 - $10,000-to-Win                Autodrome Montmagny                         Montmagny, QC

9              Sat           Aug 5       Milton CAT Midsummer Classic 250      White Mtn. Motorsports Park                N. Woodstock, NH

$10,000-to-Win!

10            Sat           Aug 26     Oxford Plains 125                                   Oxford Plains Speedway                         Oxford, ME

11            Sun          Sep 3       45^th Labor Day Classic - $5,000 to Win    Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl               Barre, VT

presented by New England Federal Credit Union

12            Sat           Sep 16     45^th Fall Foliage 200 - $5,000 to Win       White Mtn. Motorsports Park                N. Woodstock, NH

** Sat/Sun     Sep 30/Oct 1     61^st Vermont Milk Bowl                          Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl               Barre, VT

presented by Northfield Savings Bank

13            Sat           Oct 21     Waterford 150                                        New London-Waterford Speedbowl      Waterford, CT

 - Schedule Subject to Change -

Brandon Ward ends SMART Tour season in Motor Mile Speedway victory lane

 Posted by Wayne G. Barber Live Report by James Snape and Photos by "Simply the Best", Crystal Snape

Brandon Ward ends SMART Tour season in Motor Mile Speedway victory lane.

Caleb Heady claims SMART Tour Pace O Matic Championship

   Brandon Ward driving the Randy Renfrow owned #2 modified, capped off the 2022 Smart Tour season with a perfectly executed strategy on Oct. 22 claiming his second SMARTY trophy. This was Ward's second win in a row at Motor Mile Speedway.

   Burt Myers and Brian Loftin brought the potent field to green and Myers streaked away with the initial lead with Loftin, Jonathan Brown and Ward in Pursuit.

   Points leader Caleb Heady, 20 years old from Shelbyville, KY experienced a suspension failure and retired from the race on lap eight and the first yellow flag flew on lap eleven for a minor spin by Brian Weber.

The restart tightened the field up but Myers showed his strength by pulling away with the lead until Loftin put pressure on the leader racing to the inside where the two ran for a couple of laps. Myers eventually prevailed, leading Loftin and Brown. The three ran nose to tail while Ward was on cruise control in fourth.

   The stage break caution came on lap thirty which allowed a majority of the field to pit for adjustments. The top three of Myers, Loftin and Brown elected to stay on track.

   On the restart Jonathan "Jon Boy" Brown wasted no time and used the outside groove to race past Loftin and Myers to lead by lap thirty one. Jason Myers put himself in contention by getting by Loftin for third place.

   Brown tested his new motor by pulling away and running in clean air while Ward, who pitted on lap thirty and restarted in tenth, methodically worked his way forward. By lap forty Ward ran in eighth, ten laps later he was sixth and by lap sixty he raced into fifth place.

   A lap sixty three caution flag waved when Chris Finocchario and Michael Ritch made contact causing Ritch to spin on the back stretch. Pit road became a busy place when a majority of the competitors pitted. It was a perfect time for a new Hoosier for a run to the finish.

   Ward's pit crew had a perfect stop getting their driver back on track with the lead.

   The final restart of the event now had Ward and Brown race off turn four with Bobby Labonte and Loftin in the next row. Ward's Randy Renfro prepared #2 looked to be on  a rail keeping Brown and the rest in his rear view mirror.

   On lap eighty, Loftin overpowered Labonte taking over third place. The final laps ran incident free and Ward raced under the checkered flag with Brown, Loftin and Labonte trailing.

   Early race leader Burt Myers came back from a slow pit stop on lap sixty three restarting in tenth place but powered his way into fifth by the end of the 99 lap marathon

   Caleb Heady driving the Tommy Baldwin Jr #7NY had a comfortable points lead going into the Motor Mile Speedway event, but that lead diminished quickly when his mount failed him on lap eight but he gained enough points in the event to become the 2022 SMART Tour Champion by Pace O Matic.

Motor Mile Speedway Finish

1   #2-Brandon Ward

2   22- Jonathan Brown

3   15-Brian Loftin

4   25-Bobby Labonte

5    1-Burt Myers

6   21W-Jimmy Wallace

7    8-Chris Finocchario

8    4-Jason Myers

9   18-Daniel Yates

10  6A-Randy Butner

11  17-Michael Ritch

12  13-Chris Fleming

13  45-Gary Young Jr.

14  01-Brian Weber

15  07VA-Dennis Holdren

16  7NY-Caleb Heady

17  3-Craig Young

AWARDS

Brandon Ward won for a second year in a row at Motor Mile Speedway. Along the way, Ward led more laps than anyone else earning him the JOSTEN'S lap leader award

Burt Myers won the Jerry Hunt Super Center stage win leading at the 30 lap mark.

The Shady Grady Racing #15 piloted by Brian Loftin turned the 4/10 mile Motor Mile Speedway at a lap time of 15.256 earning Loftin and team the MJ Printing & Graphics fastest lap of the race.

Jonathan Brown led at the halfway mark earning the Bankers Life Halfway Leader Award.

Jimmy Wallace advanced 6 positions from his starting spot to earn the Pace-O-Matic Harn Charger Award plus Wallace was also the highest finishing non touring winner thus earning him the Carolina Drilling "Blast To The Front" Award.

2022 POINTS

1   7NY- C.Heady-334

2   2-B.Ward-320

3   25-B.Labonte-309

4   15-B.Loftin-275

5   1-B.Myers-267

6   22-J.Brown-266

7   60-M.Hirschman-256

8   4/6A-J.Myers-230

9   07VA-D.Holdren-208

10  14-B.Measmer Jr-181

11  21W-J.Wallace-157

12  77-G.Putnam-157

13  79/8NY-J.Gerstner-155

14  02C-J.Coulter-147

15  01-B.Weber-133

69 different drivers ran the SMART Tour in 2022.

Story by James Snape

Photos by Crystal Snape