THE LATEST NEWS

Eric Goodale Wins NWMT Phoenix Communications 150

Kopcik, Barnett and Chapman Take 2022 Track Championships

Thompson, CT — The epic end to the 83rd season of racing at Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway featured plenty of thrills and spills in all six-divisions running on Sunoco World Series Sunday presented by Budweiser. Three track champions were crowned alongside the Weston’s Automotive Sunoco Modified Triple Crown champion, the NEMA Lites, EXIT Realty Pro Truck Series and, of course, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in their penultimate event leading to their championship event at Virginia’s Martinsville Speedway on October 28th.

The Sunoco Modifieds came into Sunoco World Series Sunday presented by Budweiser with two championships on the table. While one dug deep to hold onto the Thompson track title, several were ready for glory as the Weston’s Automotive Triple Crown Champion. 2021 Triple Crown champion Todd Owen led the early way until lap 7 when Troy Talman and Mike Christopher Jr. dove underneath him in turn three to take over the top spot. Meanwhile in 6th-place, Stephen Kopcik cautiously went along with the pace to protect his title hopes.

After following Talman for a few cycles, Christopher Jr. motored around the No. 3 machine to take the lead on lap 12 and never looked back. In the caution-free event, Mike Christopher Jr. doubled up on Sunoco World Series Weekend presented by Budweiser winning both the Saturday and Sunday Sunoco Modified 30-lap events. With the wins, Christopher also took down the Weston’s Automotive Triple Crown. Todd Owen hung on for second place with Corey DiMatteo taking third around Troy Talman. With his fifth-place finish, Stephen Kopcik was able to secure the 2022 Thompson Speedway Sunoco Modified championship after a dominant season at the 5/8-mile speedplant.

Continuing the track championship events, the always popular Limited Sportsman took the track to wrap up their 2022 season. Cautions came early with contenders Aaron Plemons and Brett Gleason motoring into the turn two grass broadside on the fifth lap. The restart soon found fellow title contender Corey Fanning with a flat right rear on lap 8, almost giving ‘Leadfoot’ Larry Barnett the championship until Fanning returned from the pits with fresh Hoosier rubber.

It wasn’t until the final caution on lap 18 with Fanning and Tyler Trott coming together in the middle of turns one and two that Barnett had the clear lead in the standings. Scott Sundeen would take the Limited Sportsman Sunoco World Series win over hardnosed competitors Zach Robinson and Ryan Waterman to round out the podium. After sandbagging and playing safe throughout the 20 lap feature event, ‘Leadfoot’ Larry Barnett took down the 2022 Thompson Speedway Limited Sportsman championship with his 9th-place finish.

One of the strongest SK Lite Modified fields of the season entered Thompson’s high banked surface next to wrap up 2022 championship festivities on Sunoco World Series Sunday presented by Budweiser and it started with a bang. Coming down to the green flag a massive pile-up blocked the frontstretch with nearly 10 SK Lites involved. After the smoke cleared, Dylan Liseo’s No. 47x laid atop the Josh Carey and George Bessette Jr. machines leaving the wrecker crews quite the challenge. After clean-up the field again met disaster, this time in turn two with several cars skidding across the beginning of the backstretch.

Once again under the restart green, the field was able to complete two laps before Cassandra Cole got loose and broadside in the high groove of turns three and four, creating a road block and bringing out the caution yet again. Race Control opted for single file restarts. Through two more cautions, Alexander Pearl would take down the Sunoco World Series win in his first turn at Thompson in 2022 followed by Tyler Barry and John O’Sullivan. After being a dominant force in the SK Lite Modifieds all season long, Steven Chapman had the biggest point lead of the day but that didn’t stop him from getting on the wheel. Chapman was involved in at least three cautions in the plagued event but continued to drive up through the field, taking a 5th-place to secure his 2022 Thompson Speedway SK Lite championship.

The annual Sunoco World Series presented by Budweiser for the NEMA Lites proved to be a fast one. The green to checkers 20 lap main event was dominated by Avery Stoehr en-route to the Sunoco bonus in victory lane followed by Dan Cugini and Dylan Coutu to round out the podium.

The EXIT Realty Pro Truck Series made their second Thompson Speedway visit of the season on Sunoco World Series Sunday presented by Budweiser. After Tyler Chapman and Shawn Monahan led the early goings, Seekonk Speedway Legends car champion Devin Deshaies motored around the two of them to take the lead. The first caution would fly on lap 7 as the No. 5 of Chris Taylor spun and got struck by ‘Dangerous’ Dave Koenig in turn two.

Chapman would best Deshaies under the restart green flag with Monahan waiting in the wings. The final caution would come out for Bert Ouelette after a hard smash into the turn one wall following either a flat right front tire or suspension issues on his Pro Truck. Chapman would again get the jump on the restart but would dust up into the frontstretch wall with five laps remaining, the damage slowly eating into his successful run over the final laps. Shawn Monahan would take over the lead and win the EXIT Realty Pro Truck event followed by Duane Knoll and Gerard Giordano.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Phoenix Communications 150 rounded out the 60 Sunoco World Series weekend presented by Budwesier and the 83rd season of racing at Thompson Speedway. After taking fast time in yesterday’s qualifying session, Ronnie Williams led the 24-car field to green and held on until former Tour champion Doug Coby dove underneath him to steal the lead on lap 3. Another former Tour champion and national standout, Ryan Preece, would use the same move to take second under Williams on lap 11.

The lone caution on lap 13 saw Tommy Catalano sideways on the frontstretch and almost claimed narrow-lead point leader Jon McKennedy. Coby would set off against Preece on the restart and a seemingly endless game of chase was on. Eric Goodale charged up through the top-five to steal away the lead from Coby just before the halfway mark and never looked back. Eric Goodale took down the Phoenix Communications 150 win for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour to wrap up the 60th Sunoco World Series presented by Budweiser. Mike Christopher Jr. took second place and earned car owner Tommy Baldwin the 2022 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour owners championship with Anthony Nocella rounding out the podium.

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.

For technical information concerning all PASS divisions, and for media or marketing questions, please contact passracing@roadrunner.com or visit www.proallstarsseries.com. Don’t forget to “Like” the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook or follow on Twitter @PASSSLM14 to keep up with breaking news as it happens.

For general Thompson Speedway inquiries, call (860) 923-2280, email oval@thompsonspeedway.com or visit www.thompsonspeedway.com. You can follow Thompson Speedway on Facebook and Instagram at @ThompsonSpeedway or on Twitter at @ThompsonSpdwy.

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park – Thompson, CT

60th Sunoco World Series presented by Budweiser

Sunday, October 9, 2022

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour – Phoenix Communications 150

1.         58        Eric Goodale                            GAF Roofing                                                    150

2.         7          Mike Christopher, Jr.             Stuart Automotive                                          150

3.         92        Anthony Nocella                     Nocella Paving/K&D Associates/Airgas          150

4.         07        Patrick Emerling                      Captain Pip Marina & Hideaway                     150

5.         22        Kyle Bonsignore                      Chalew Performance/MTT/Munn’s Auto       150     

6.         79        Jon McKennedy                       Middlesex Interiors                                         150

7.         15        Kyle Soper                               Eastport Foods                                                149

8.         10        Doug Coby                               Mayhew Tools                                                 149

9.         16        Ron Silk                                   Blue Mountain Machine and Future Homes  149

10.       44        Bobby Santos III                      Harshaw Paving/Olivas Market                      149

11.       64        Austin Beers                           Dell Electric/Lumiere Electrical                      149

12.       36        Dave Sapienza                         Sapienza Enterprises                                      148

13.       18        Ken Heagy                               Buoy One Seafood Market & Restaurant       148

14.       51        Justin Bonsignore                    Phoenix Communication Inc.                         148

15.       54        Tommy Catalano                     FX Caprara                                                      148

16.       50        Ronnie Williams                      Empower Financial Services/RB Enterprises 147

17.       3          Ryan Preece                            Propane Plus/ACG/Island International         147

18.       32        Tyler Rypkema                        Northeast Drilling/MUSCO                             146

19.       78        Walter Sutcliffe, Jr.                 Last Minute Racing                                         146

20.       34        J.B. Fortin                                Johns Fuel/John Tree Removal                       144

21.       27        Gary McDonald                       Lakeland Landscape Supply                            139

22.       26        Ed Brunnhoelzl III                    Lakeland Landscape/TRC Electrict                  136

23.       82        Craig Lutz                                Horton Avenue Materials                               121

24.       01        Melissa Fifield             Pine Knoll Auto Sales                                     30

Sunoco Modifieds  – 30 Laps

2022 Sunoco Modified Track Champion – Stephen Kopcik

2022 Weston’s Automotive Triple Crown Champion – Mike Christopher Jr.

1.         82        Mike Christopher Jr.   Wolcott, MA

2.         81        Todd Owen                 Somers, CT

3.         6CT      Cory DiMatteo            Farmington, CT          

4.         3          Troy Talman                Oxford, MA

5.         179      Stephen Kopcik           Newton, CT

6.         57        Keith Rocco                 Berlin, CT

7.         5          RJ Marcotte                 Millville, CT

8.         1x        Tyler Leary                  Hatfield, MA

9.         18        Tyler Berry                  Griswold, CT

10.       28        Rich Gautreau             S. Windsor, CT

11.       27A      Adam Gada                 Bozrah, CT      

12.       02        Paul LaPlante              Scituate, RI     

13.       62        Cody Rose                   Worcester, MA                                  

14.       26        Jason Sundeen            Douglas, MA                           

15.       08        Nick Halkowicz            Shelton, CT     

16.       44        Darin Renihan             Woodbury, CT            

17.       34        Tom Fox                      Stafford, CT                

18.       88        Mark Bakaj                  Lebanon, CT

Limited Sportsman – 20 Laps

2022 Limited Sportsman Track Champion – ‘Leadfoot’ Larry Barnett

1.         36        Scott Sundeen             Sutton, MA

2.         89        Zach Robinson             Putnam, CT

3.         7          Troy Waterman          Danielson, CT

4.         1          Nathan Taylor             Brooklyn, CT

5.         51        Bert Ouellette             Ellington, CT

6.         01        Brett Gleason              Griswold, CT

7.         11        Corey Fanning             Maplewood, RI

8.         22        Tim Poulin                   N. Grosvenordale, CT

9.         73        Larry Barnett               Moosup, CT

10.       75        Ryan Waterman          Danielson, CT

11.       45        Tommy Shea               New London, CT

12.       37        Kevin Mason               W. Warwick, RI

13.       33x      Jacob Coutu                 Moosup, CT

14.       52        Al Stone III                   Durham, CT

15.       38        Jon Porter                   E. Lyme, CT

16.       10        Hank Stott                   Medway, MA

17.       31        Nick Bendiak               Pepperell, MA

18.       7x        Jason Chicolas             Sutton, MA

19.       43        William Rheaume       Uncasville, CT

20.       80        Tyler Trott                   E. Hartford, CT

21.       67        Aaron Plemons            Uncasville, CT

22.       66        Tyler Cinamella           Willimantic, CT

23.       13        Jeff Van Pelt                N. Providence, RI

DNS     28        Ed Flanagan Jr.            Warwick, RI

DNS     46CT    Jason Finkbein             Manchester, CT

DNS     23        Bill Porter                    Canterbury, CT

DNS     46        John Carpenter           Danielson, CT

SK Lite Modifieds – 25 Laps

2022 SK Lite Modified Track Champion – Steven Chapman

1.         7          Alexander Pearl          Salem, CT

2.         18        Tyler Barry                  Griswold, CT

3.         15        John O’Sullivan           Norwich, CT

4.         02        Meghan Fuller             Auburn, MA

5.         14        Steven Chapman         Ellington, CT

6.         24        Nathan Pytko               Oxford, MA

7.         09        Cassandra Cole           Westbrook, CT

8.         41        Tyler Chapman            Ellington, CT

9.         22        Isaiah Newcomb          Plymouth, MA

10.       15x      Amanda West             Colchester, CT

11.       34MA  Dalton McCarthy        Oxford, MA

12.       26        Steve Kenneway          Hampton, NH

13.       31        Trent Goodrow            Carver, MA

14.       52        Anthony Forino           Waterbury, CT

15.       07K      Cole Kugler                  Bradford, RI

16.       27        Corey Caddick             Richmond, RI

17.       16MA  Todd Douillard            Palmer, MA

18.       47        Zach Sangermano       Plainfield, CT

19.       46        Nick Hovey                  Chaplin, CT

20.       16CT    Ethan Durocher           Canterbury, CT

21.       03        Jaden Brown               Kunkletown, PA

22.       69        Josh Carey                   Belchertown, MA

23.       39        George Bessette Jr.     Danbury, CT

24.       78        Evan Bourgois             E. Haddam, CT

25.       76        Ron Milford Jr.            Ellington, CT

26.       47x      Dylan Liseo                  Windsor, CT

27.       75       Casey Vogt                  Windsor Locks, CT

DNS     56x      Derek Debbis               Oakdale, CT

EXIT Realty Pro Truck Series – 35 Laps

1.         55        Shawn Monahan         Waterford, CT

2.         2          Duane Noll                  Monroe, CT

3.         15        Gerard Giordano Jr.    Freeport, NY

4.         10        Andrew Morin            Old Saybrook, CT

5.         02        Jim Boyle                     E. Windsor, CT

6.         32        Randy Burr                  Middleboro, MA

7.         19CT    Kyle Gero                    Oakdale, CT

8.         81        Tyler Chapman            Quaker Hill, CT

9.         01        Al Leone                      Southington, CT

10.       47        Todd Taylor                 Stonington, CT

11.       6          Andy Pellegrini           N. Grosvenordale, CT

12.       98        Shawn Passero            Oakdale, CT

13.       64        Devin Deshaies           Harrisvile, RI

14.       151      Bert Ouellette             Ellington, CT

15.       5          Chris Taylor                 E. Lyme, CT

16.       97        Dave Koenig                Freeport, NY

NEMA Lites – 20 Laps

1.         10        Avery Stoehr               Lakeville, MA

2.         51        Dan Cugini                  Marshfield, MA

3.         53        Dylan Coutu                 Griswold, CT

4.         4          PJ Stergios                   Candia, NH

5.         48        Todd Bertrand            Danielson, CT

6.         17        Kyle Valeri                   Monument Beach, MA                      

7.         21        Joey Bailey                  Monroe, NJ

8.         29        Jake Trainor                Medway, MA

9.         28        Michael Pernisiglio     Ronkonkoma, NY

10.       35        Randy Cabral              Kingston, MA

11.       59        Brayden Egan              Ashford, CT

12.       8          Ethan Dionne              Oakdale, CT

13.       94        Tiana Kibbe                 Fairfield, CT

14.       16        Eric Bacon                   Brimfield, MA

15.       1          Chase Locke                Chester, NH

16. 26 Lanson Fomoro