THOMPSON TO BEGIN ITS 70^TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A CONTEST

THOMPSON, CT. The great hurricane of 1938 devastated everything in its path when it passed over northeast Connecticut. The dairy farm of John Hoenig took a direct hit from the storm known as the Long Island Express. However, from that devastation grew an amazing new concept, the likes of which had never been constructed before. In less than two short years, the gates to the country’s first asphalt race track opened. A huge crowd of people converged upon this new wonder on May 26, 1940. It was opening day at the Thompson International Speedway. Seventy years later the Thompson Int’l Speedway remains one of the premier short tracks in the United States and boasts a history unequaled in the sport of auto racing.

To kick off the 70^th anniversary year, a contest has been designed to preserve 70 years of special memories of competitors and fans alike. Those who participate in the contest will be given the chance to win an Icebreaker VIP package. Included will be a pair of tickets to the 2010 Icebreaker along with a pair of tickets for the Icebreaker Saturday night Icebreaker party at the Raceway Restaurant and Lounge.

Four categories have been selected. The categories are:

1. My fondest memory of Thompson Speedway

2. My favorite race at Thompson Speedway

3. My favorite driver at Thompson Speedway

4. Why Thompson Speedway is my favorite race track.

The contests will be run for four consecutive weeks with a different category selected from the above list chosen as the topic for that week. Entries should be written on the topic of the week in 100 words or less. Those submitting entries in the contest have an amazing seventy years of racing and race drivers from which to express their thoughts. In other words any event, any race, any division, and any driver in the history of Thompson Speedway are welcomed as the topic for an entry. Participants may submit only one entry for each of the weekly contests. Winning entries will be posted on the Thompson International Speedway web page for all to read. Additional entries that are judged as deserving honorable mention may also be posted. The judges’ selections will be final.

To enter, simply send your entry via email, fax or letter to the Speedway. Be sure to include you complete name, mailing address and phone number. It will be a wonderful way to preserve special memories of the past seventy years of racing at Thompson.

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