ICEBREAKER 2011 THIS WEEKEND AT THOMPSON
Thompson, CT. The much anticipated opening of the 2011 racing season at Thompson International Speedway is set for this weekend. The seven-division, two-day Icebreaker is a New England tradition and marks the beginning of another exciting racing season at the historic speedway.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour tops the bill on Icebreaker weekend. Defending Champion, Bobby Santos III will lead a star studded field of NASCAR Modified drivers when they line up for their 150-lap season opener at Thompson.
Joining the 2010 champion will be such standouts as Mike Stefanik, Ronnie Silk, Woody Pitkat, Matt Hirschman, Chuck Hossfeld, Rowan Pennink and many, many more. In all, some thirty one of the very best Modified drivers will line up Sunday afternoon for the first race of their new season. To be part of that lineup, drivers will need to qualify through time trials that will begin at 3:30 PM on Saturday.
Saturday’s activities begin with practice for all seven divisions that will be in competition for Icebreaker 2011. Once the WMT time trials have been completed, qualifying races will be held for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions. The qualifying races will determine starting positions for main events for each of those divisions. Once all qualifying has been completed, the Sunoco Modifieds will compete in the first of two feature event races slated for Icebreaker weekend. The Sunoco Lite Modifieds will also race their main event on Saturday.
Sunday’s race schedule has the first of seven exciting feature races slated to take the green flag at 12 Noon. The action packed Sunday lineup has Sunoco Modifieds, Super Late Models, Thompson Modifieds, Late Models, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks leading the way to the 150-lap WMT race. The Icebreaker has earned the position of being one of the premier racing events of the year and this year will only add to that incredible reputation.
The racing at this weekend’s Icebreaker is the main attraction. However, the social activities surrounding this traditional season opener play a major role in the atmosphere that makes this event so special. Thompson Speedway has the unique ability to provide a host of activities that put the Icebreaker in the must see category. The sprawling facility offers free camping, a championship golf course, driving range, restaurant and lounge and a tremendous number of nearby activities. The Raceway Restaurant and Lounge is the center of activity both before and after the races. Dinner is offered from a special Icebreaker menu on both Friday and Saturday nights along with music for listening and dancing as part of the traditional Saturday night Icebreaker party. Breakfast is also offered on Saturday and Sunday mornings beginning at 7 AM.
Grandstands open at 10 AM on both Saturday and Sunday of this weekend. Race fans are urged to arrive early on Sunday so that they can avoid long lines at the ticket booths. The Speedway also offers fans the opportunity to purchase their tickets ahead of time for pick up at the main ticket booth’s Will Call window. A phone call to the track office before this coming Friday is all it takes to secure tickets in advance. All major credit cards are accepted.
The entire schedule for Icebreaker weekend is posted on the track’s web site. Race fans will also find a listing of accommodations, driver’s rosters for all of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions and a complete list of WMT drivers who have entered the event. Virtually everything race fans would like to know may be found at www.thompsonspeedway.com.