Tom Morris Myracenews photo

By Michael Jaworecki Myracenews

Westbury NY,-  Before the season started there were many questions , would Doug Coby garner another champion, would Ryan Preece in a shortened schedule still help Ed Partridge win another owners championship, who would take the next step and challenge Doug  Coby for a championship, who would have breakout season?

The last 6 month have answered many of those questions. Doug Coby was unseated as champion by a scorching hot Justin Bonsignore.  Ryan Preece had his highs and lows and during the season  but only won twice. Chase Dowling had a breakout year showcasing his talent race after race even garnering his first win in the Musket 250 at New Hampshire.

The season started in March at the Myrtle Beach Speedway,  Jon McKennedy in the Tommy Baldwin Racing #7 started off 2018  strong with a win at Myrtle Beach then at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park was in the running for a second win then everything would change.  Jon ran out of gas late in the race under caution,  Justin Bonsignore  took the race lead then went on to win his first of 7 races and his first NASCAR WMT championship.

While the 2018 championship will be anti climatic the World Series weekend will not.  36 cars have entered and with most points positions settled and several top teams hungry for wins it will be an all out battle for the first place prize.

Sunoco 150 Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park who to watch:

Justin Bonsignore: Just because he has won the championship doesn’t mean he will not be shooting for win number 8. I asked Justin if this week would be any different than others. ” It will be a little different, we can race as hard and be aggressive with our strategy without worries of it backfiring or costing us a lot of points.”

Ryan Preece: This season Ryan has seen the highs in a part time schedule  in the Ed Partridge TS Hauler #6 with wins at Stafford and Langley  and the lows, a big crash on the last lap in the Musket 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. But this year was about showcasing  his talent in the NASCAR Xfinity series  and getting to the top of our sport. Ryan signed  on to race the #47 Monster Energy NASCAR Series in 2019.  With a full time commitment in the #47 car this could be one of the last times he comes back to run the NASCAR WMT, Ryan is always a threat at Thompson and with a rebuilt car after Oswego will be a favorite this weekend.

Chase Dowling: Take away a couple of bad finishes Chase would be entering the final weekend with a chance for a championship. With the announcement that his team will only run part time next year a win at Thompson would show other team owners that Chase belongs on the tour full time.

Timmy Solomito- Timmy although in 4th in points has had a frustrating year with a zero in the win column. He has shown improvement in the second half of the season but taking the gas can with him after a pit stop in the Musket 250 and a disappointing  9th place at Stafford have slowed that momentum. The Starrett Tools #16 Ford will be loaded for bear.  Timmy’s only comment about the race “1 race to go nothing to lose! Go out and win!!”

Doug Coby:  Doug was in the running for the win late in the going at both New Hampshire and Stafford and came away empty. This is the first year since 2013 that Doug will not take the Champions trophy home from Thompson. Doug  and the team will be ready.

Bobby Santos III: While running a part time schedule he won the July New Hampshire race but other than a 5th place finish and 9th place at Thompson his best finish was an 11th at Stafford. After a 22nd place finish at NH and a 23rd at the Fall final Bobby will be hungry for a good finish.

Craig Lutz: Since finishing 8th at Thompson in  August Craig has finished out of the top 10 in every race  until a chassis change to LFR prior to Stafford garnered a 2nd place finish. Craig would defiantly like to finish 1 position higher this weekend.

Matthew Swanson: Matt is one of the up and coming young drivers  on the tour. Matt moved into the historic Ole Blue #3 when Rowan Pennink retired prior to the King of Beers 150 at Thompson garnering a second place finish their first time on the track.  Matthew’s last 2 races ended up in the wall and disappointing finishes.  To put the Starrett / Mosquito Free / USNE #3 in victory lane would offset those late season troubles.

Burt Myers: His northern swing opened some eyes this year in the Ed Harvey owned Doug Dunleavy sponsored car.  Burt is a multi time Bowman Gray Stadium champion  and normally stays close to his North Carolina home to race.  This year Burt showed he can race with the best at New Hampshire and Stafford. Can he get his first Thompson win?

Dave Sapienza: A strong run at the Fall final in his new LFR chassis bodes well for a good race at Thompson.

Other notables:

Kyle Bonsignore: 2 in a row?

Eric Goodale: He is due.

Ronnie Williams: He won the pole at the Icebreaker so he can run fast at Thompson. He won the pole and was gunning for the win when he go together with race winner Justin Bonsignore on the last lap;

Ron Silk: Ron and the team have found late season speed and should be a threat.

Woody Pitkat: This has been a disappointing season but Woody might also be due.

Notes: This will be the last race for GM Josh Vanada.  Josh has overseen the Speedway through many changes but what remains the same is the fall World Series weekend still sends the season into the winter with a bang.

Sam Rameau has announced he has purchased the Dave Sapienza Troyer modified and will compete in the Sunoco 150.

Missing from the race:

Max Zachem unfortunately has withdrawn from the event.

Matt Hirschman who won at Oswego but has elected to stay close to home and not race at Thompson this weekend

150 Schedule.

Saturday: Garage Opens: 10 a.m., Practice: 11:15-12 p.m., Final Practice: 12:30-1:15 p.m., Group Qualifying: 4 p.m.

Sunday: Garage Opens: 10 a.m., Driver Autograph Session: 2:15 p.m., Sunoco World Series 150: 3:30 p.m.

Sunoco 150 Entry List

	Nbr	Driver	Owner	Car	Crew Chief	Sponsor
1	01	Melissa Fifield	Kenneth Fifield	Chevrolet	Kenneth Fifield	Truck Stop Northeast
2	1	Burt Myers	Eddie Harvey	Chevrolet	TBA	Dunleavy Truck and Trailer
3	2	Doug Coby	Mike Smeriglio III	Chevrolet	Phil Moran	Mayhew Tools
4	3	Matt Swanson	Jan Boehler	Chevrolet	Greg Fournier	Starrett / Cape Cod Copper
5	04	Cory Osland	Brian Midgett Sr.	Ford	TBA	Keith Grimes Excavating
6	6	Ryan Preece	Ed Partridge	Chevrolet	Jeff Preece	TS Haulers
7	7	Jon McKennedy	Tommy Baldwin	Chevrolet	Tommy Baldwin	Accell Construction
8	07	Patrick Emerling	Jennifer Emerling	Chevrolet	Jan Leaty	Buffalo Auto Auction
9	14	Blake Barney	Richard Barney	Chevrolet	Robert Barney	Atlantic Sprinkler
10	15	Chase Dowling	Rob Fuller	Chevrolet	Steven Kopcik	15-40 Connection / S&S Paving
11	16	Timmy Solomito	Eric Sanderson	Ford	Stanley Szaban	Starrett
12	18	Ken Heagy	Robert Pollifrone	Ford	Desmond Gorman	Buoy One Seafood
13	20	Max Zachem	Ken Zachem	Chevrolet	Timothy Armbruster	Lu-Mac?s / Spafco
14	21	Ronnie Williams	Joseph Bertuccio	Chevrolet	Michael Bologna	Empower Financial
15	22	Kyle Bonsignore	Kyle Bonsignore	Chevrolet	Bobby Foley	Chalew Performance
16	23	Joe DeGracia	Paul DeGracia	Chevrolet	Paul DeGracia	PJ DeGracia Contracting
17	24	Andrew Krause	Diane Krause	Toyota	John Cooke	Supreme Mfg
18	25	Calvin Carroll	Joe Carroll	Chevrolet	Joe Carroll	Power With Prestige / Cruising With Betty
19	26	Gary McDonald	Sean McDonald	Chevrolet	Gary McDonald	Lakeland Landscaping Supply / TRC Electric
20	33	Wade Cole	Wade Cole	Chevrolet	Richard Rodenbaugh	Performance Engines / Kendal Oil
21	36	Dave Sapienza	Judy Thilberg	Chevrolet	Tommy Grasso	DSR Racing
22	38	Dave Salzarulo	Richard Rodenbaugh	Chevrolet	Robert Bourne	Performance Engines / Kendal Oil
23	44	Bobby Santos III	Sully Tinio	Chevrolet	Bob Santos	Tinio Corp
24	46	Craig Lutz	Russell Goodale	Chevrolet	Douglas Ogiejko	Riverhead Building Supply
25	51	Justin Bonsignore	Kenneth Massa	Chevrolet	Ryan Stone	Phoenix Communications Inc.
26	54	Tommy Catalano	Amy Catalano	Chevrolet	Dave Catalano	Catalano Motorsports
27	58	Eric Goodale	Edgar Goodale	Chevrolet	Jason Shephard	GAF Roofing
28	64	Rob Summers	Mike Murphy	Chevrolet	Steve Lemay	Hoosier Tire East / FastTrack Electrical
29	66	Shawn Solomito	Jerry Solomito	Chevrolet	TBA	Elders Service / Finish Grade Excavating
30	75	Chris Pasteryak	Charles Pasteryak	Chevrolet	Nick Walsh	Dawley’s Collision & Custom
31	76	Jimmy Blewett	John Blewett Sr.	Chevrolet	Rob Ormsbee	Starrett
32	77	Gary Putnam	Mike Curb	Chevrolet	Teddy Musgrave Jr.	Curb Records
33	78	Walter Sutcliffe, Jr.	Steven Sutcliffe	Chevrolet	Steven Sutcliffe	Last Minute Racing
34	82	Woody Pitkat	Pamela Hulse	Chevrolet	Jarod Zeltmann	Horton Ave. Materials
35	85	Ron Silk	Kevin Stuart	Chevrolet	Kenny Stuart	Stuart Automotive
36	92	Anthony Nocella	Anthony Nocella	Chevrolet	Jesse Vasconcellos	Nocella Paving