BY KYLE SOUZA/SOUZA MEDIA 

THOMPSON, Conn. — While 19 different divisions get ready to battle in the 58^th annual Sunoco World Series at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, October 9-11, there is quite the group of variety of race cars planned for fans. There will be a mix of touring series divisions, local classes and open shows to make up three days of racing, with everything from Modifieds, to Midgets, Late Models, Mini Stocks and more.  

Headlining the weekend will be the season-finale for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour — the Sunoco World Series 150. Although their 2020 season has been shortened due to COVID-19, they have put together nine races, including two at Thompson. In September, Ron Silk went to Victory Lane in the Thompson 150. For the Sunoco World Series 150, however, the story will surround the championship battle. 

Justin Bonsignore, looking for his second series crown, leads by 27 points over six-time champion Doug Coby. The two drivers are no strangers to Thompson victory lane – with Bonsignore winning 12 events and Coby six on the high-banks. The two of them will be joined by a stout entry list to be released next week that will keep fans sticking around until the very end. The Whelen Modified Tour race will also air live on NBC Sports Gold, NASCAR’s TrackPass platform. 

However, they aren’t the only invading division looking to steal the eyes of Thompson race fans.  

On Friday night, the Senior Tour Auto Racers (STAR) are bringing two divisions – the Modifieds and Late Models – to give fans a look back in time. The cars that compete with STAR are some of the oldest but best-kept in the New England region. Many have competed in some of the top events in the history of Northeast racing. They will be joined by the Open Vintage Modifieds, another division that flashes fans back up to five decades. 

On Saturday night, four other touring divisions will take the green flag. They are by the EXIT Realty Truck Series, which has quickly become one of the top tours in the upper part of New England. The Trucks return to Thompson with a championship battle on their hands. They will off a battle at Lee USA Speedway’s Octoberfest weekend, before heading to Thompson for their second-to-last race of the season. Winners this year so far include names like Randy Burr, Connor Souza, Duane Noll and Gerard Giordano Jr. The latter is no stranger to Thompson’s high-banks as Giordano picked up the big win last year.

The North East Mini Stock Tour has been busy in 2020, not letting COVID-19 slow down their championship battle. They have recently competed at Riverside Speedway, Star Speedway, White Mountain Motorsports Park and Oxford Plains Speedway with multiple different winners. As part of their current schedule, Thompson’s World Series 20-lap feature will be the last of the season, allowing them to crown a champion on the big stage.

The Pro 4 Modifieds continue their trend of World Series success with another 22-lap race on Saturday night, October 10. A former weekly division at Thompson, the Pro 4 group gives upcoming competitors a chance to dabble in the Modified ranks while also playing host to some veteran competitors looking to keep costs down. The race is the Harry Kourafas Memorial, remembering one of their longtime supporters. 

The winged-warriors are also coming back to Thompson with three different winged divisions set to compete at the World Series. The ISMA Supermodifieds were recently added with another 50-lap feature for the fastest division of the weekend. The International Supermodified Association had originally planned on closing shop for the year after their race in September but have extended their schedule to include the prestigious Thompson weekend for the 45^th time. 

The NEMA Midgets and NEMA Lites are also headed back to the 0.625-mile oval with the NEMA Midgets running on Saturday and the Truly NEMA Lites competing on Sunday afternoon. Both divisions have a 25-lap feature race and are fan favorites.

On top of it all, the Pro All Star Series (PASS) returns to Thompson with their championship battle heating up. After a crazy, COVID-filled year, PASS is happy to add Thompson’s World Series to their schedule in 2020 as the second-to-last race of the year. PASS will crown their champion with a return to Oxford Plains Speedway the weekend after the Thompson event. Super Late Models will tour the Thompson oval for 75 laps at the World Series. Names like D.J. Shaw, Derek Griffith and Travis Benjamin will look to score the checkered flag in a stout field. 

A three-day general admission ticket for the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing is $55 for adults and $15 for kids ages 12 and under. Advance tickets can be purchased by visiting https://happsnow.com/event/Thompson-Speedway-Motorsports-Park-YHPQ/WORLD-SERIES–NO2QX. Pit passes will be sold at the track and are $75 for adults and $40 for kids ages 12 and under. 

For more information about the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing schedule, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com/thompson-speedway. You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ACTTour. 

For camping information and general Thompson Speedway inquires, 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. 

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. 

Budweiser, Boston Beer Company Sign on for Division Sponsorships

Thompson, CT – Officials from the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) and Pro All Stars Series (PASS) have announced the addition of several big sponsors for the 58^th Annual World Series of Speedway Racing on October 9-11 at Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. Sunoco, Budweiser, and the Boston Beer Company are partnering with event promoters Cris Michaud and Tom Mayberry to help support the three-day racing festival.

Sunoco has agreed to return as the World Series presenting sponsor. For many years, the auto racing extravaganza has been known as the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing. Along the way, Sunoco Race Fuels have been used by top divisions and series throughout New England. The latest agreement continues this long-standing partnership of the nation’s leading high-performance fuel brand and the Northeast’s biggest auto racing event.

Longtime Thompson Speedway partner Budweiser, part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev brewing company, is also joining the Sunoco World Series program. The 75-lap Tour-type Modified Open on Saturday, October 10 is now known as the Budweiser Modified Open. Entries have already been received from Chase Dowling and Jeff Gallup among others for the $5,000-to-win event.

The Boston Beer Company of Boston, MA is attaching three of their internationally-recognized brands to feature events on Sunday, October 11. Thompson’s local Limited Sportsmen and SK Light Modified divisions will be known as the Samuel Adams Limited Sportsmen and Twisted Tea SK Light Modifieds, respectively, for their 20-lap main events. The visiting NEMA Lite Midgets are receiving sponsorship from Truly Hard Seltzer.

Both Budweiser and Boston Beer Company products will be served in the Thompson Speedway concession area during the Sunoco World Series weekend. Sunoco Race Fuels will be available in the paddock area for all teams.

“We’re excited to have Sunoco, Budweiser, and Boston Beer Company as World Series partners,” ACT managing partner Cris Michaud said. “Support from companies like these is part of what makes it possible for us to go to the race track. We encourage all of our fans and teams to let them know they appreciate their involvement with auto racing.”

The Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing card includes 19 divisions across three days of racing from Friday, October 9 to Sunday, October 11. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, ISMA Big Block Supermodifieds, Budweiser Modified Open, ACT-type Late Model Open, 350 Supermodified Open, and NEMA Midgets are just some of the highlights on the busy card.

A three-day general admission ticket for the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing is $55 for adults and $15 for kids ages 12 and under. Advance tickets can be purchased by visiting https://happsnow.com/event/Thompson-Speedway-Motorsports-Park-YHPQ/WORLD-SERIES–NO2QX. Pit passes will be sold at the track and are $75 for adults and $40 for kids ages 12 and under.

For more information about the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing schedule, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com/thompson-speedway. You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ACTTour.

For camping information and general Thompson Speedway inquires, 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.

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.