Uncategorized

Sunday program set for final Thompson Test & Tune prior to October’s Sunoco World Series 

Eagle Times Staff 

BARRE, Vt. & NAPLES, Maine — The 0.625-mile oval at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park is back to rip-roaring action this Sunday, Sept. 8 for the Back to School Bash. Headlined by the Back to School Bash 75 for the Thompson Late Models featuring a $17,000 purse, including a $5,000 winners share, the Thompson Sunoco Modifieds, AZ Roofing SK Light Modifieds, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks make it a full card of Sunday afternoon racing at the Big-T. 

The Thompson Late Models are expecting quite the invasion for Sunday’s Back to School Bash 75. Top runners Nick Johnson, Derek Gluchacki and Brian Tagg will be among the weekly track championship faithful ready to hold back the flood gates and battle hard on the highbanks for the $5,000 winner’s prize. Longtime hot-shoe Tom Carey III will make his return to Thompson Speedway in the Brookside Ride while the top American-Canadian Tour rookie Kasey Beattie will also make the trek southward for some practice at the northeastern Connecticut oval.  

Five-time winner Jon Puleo leads top rookie Isaiah Newcomb by 59 points in the Thompson Sunoco Modified track championship standings. Puleo put on quite a show last time out, holding back a pair of longtime Thompson Speedway aces in Keith Rocco and Todd Owen, showing no matter the pressure Puelo can perform in the Mr. Rooter Plumbing machine. 

After wrecking out in the feature, Tyler Chapman’s win-streak in the AZ Roofing SK Light Modifieds was finally broken by year-long rival Nick Hovey. Meghan Fuller and John O’Sullivan both smelled blood in the water last time out, neither driver having a chance at their first win of the season at Thompson and now look forward to a chance at redemption on Sunday’s Back to School Bash. 

Possibly the most exciting track championship showdown of the summer is found in the Street Stocks. Longtime veteran ‘Leadfoot’ Larry Barnett holds a slim nine-point lead over Al Stone III. Stone started the season on top in Icebreaker victory lane while Ol Leadfoot jumped headlong into the championship chase with his win on Twisted Tea Midsummer night back in July. While these two still have plenty of battling to do, last year’s runner-up Ryan Waterman and defending champion Corey Fanning are right there in the mix as well. With just two more point-counting events left, these top dogs are sure to leave everything on the track for the ultimate prize. 

Jared Roy continues to successfully defend his 2023 Mini Stock title with five wins in six starts, defeated just one time so far by 2022 track champion Kevin Moore. Waiting in the wings is young Ryan Pomposelli, still searching for his first win on the Thompson oval and has just two more chances remaining this season. 

Thompson Speedway returns to oval racing action on Sunday, Sept. 8 with the Back to School Bash. The Sunday special is headlined by the $5,000-to-win Back to School Bash 75 for the Thompson Late Models plus continued track championship action for the Thompson Sunoco Modifieds, AZ Roofing SK Light Modifieds, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks to ring in the end of summer fun at full speed. Post Time is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8 with the full schedule of events available online at thompsonspeedway.com/event-schedule! 

Adult general admission is set at $25, kids 12-6 for $10 and children 5 and under free with grandstands opening at 1:15 p.m. 

For more information about the American-Canadian Tour, contact the ACT offices at 802-244-6963, [email protected] or visit acttour.com.