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By Adam Fenwick NASCAR.com
(Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)
For the first time since 2019, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will invade Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park as part of the annual IceBreaker weekend this Sunday for the running of the IceBreaker 150 (4:30 p.m. ET on FloRacing).
Thompson is one of the Whelen Modified Tour’s most prolific race tracks. Dating back to the Tour’s formation in 1985, the series has competed at Thompson 152 times leading into Sunday’s 150-lap event, which is more than any other track in series history.
Mike Stefanik has won more Whelen Modified Tour events at Thompson than any other driver, earning 15 victories between 1988 and 2013. Ted Christopher earned 13 victories at Thompson during his career and Justin Bonsignore, fresh off a win one weekend ago at Richmond Raceway, also has 13 Thompson victories.
Other notable Thompson winners include brothers Jeff and Rick Fuller, Tony Hirschman, Doug Coby, Steve Park, Reggie Ruggiero, Ron Silk, Mike McLaughlin, Bobby Santos III and Richie Evans, among others.
Tickets to the IceBreaker 150 are available at the track on race day. Below is everything you need to know about the third of 16 races on the 2024 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule.
IceBreaker 150 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
What to watch for:
It’s been five years since the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour last competed during IceBreaker weekend at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
A lot has changed in those five years, but one thing that hasn’t is the fact that Bonsignore continues to win races. Bonsignore was the last Modified Tour competitor to win at Thompson on IceBreaker weekend, and he’s also the most recent Modified Tour winner following his victory Friday at Richmond Raceway.
He now has 41 series victories, one behind Ted Christopher for third on the all-time Modified Tour winners list. He’ll look to tie Christopher for that mark while also surpassing him in career Thompson victories with a win Sunday.
There will be plenty of competitors looking to deny him that honor during the 50th IceBreaker weekend, including defending series champion and most recent Thompson winner, Ron Silk. The two-time Whelen Modified Tour champion is a six-time Thompson winner following his victory last October during the World Series 150. With finishes of first and second to start the 2024 season, Silk is expected to be Bonsignore’s primary competition Sunday.
Two other potential contenders Sunday at Thompson are Craig Lutz and Eric Goodale. Lutz and Goodale captured victories at Thompson during the 2022 season, and both would like to return to winning form during IceBreaker weekend. Lutz will be in the Goodie Racing No. 46, while Goodale will be in the Goodie Motorsports No. 58.
Austin Beers will be looking to rebound from a dismal performance at Richmond that saw him crash out of the race early. Trevor Catalano, with two top-five finishes in his first two starts during his rookie campaign, will look to continue his positive momentum in the Catalano Motorsports No. 56. Jake Johnson, who was second last October at Thompson, will continue his pursuit of his first series victory in the Boehler Racing Enterprises No. 3.
Other notable entries include Patrick Emerling, Matt Hirschman, Matt Swanson, Bobby Santos III, Kyle Bonsignore and Tyler Rypkema, among others.
The full entry list for the IceBreaker 150 is available here.
RACE FACTS
| Race | IceBreaker 150 |
| Date | April 7, 2024 |
| Track | Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park |
| Layout | 0.625-mile asphalt oval |
| Location | Thompson, Connecticut |
| Start time | 4:30 p.m. ET |
| Laps | 150 |
| Posted awards | $98,197 |
| Tickets | At track |
| How to watch | FloRacing |
Schedule: Sunday, April 7 … Final practice from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. ET … Qualifying at 3:30 p.m. ET … IceBreaker 150 at 4:30 p.m. ET (FloRacing)
Qualifying: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the 50th Annual Icebreaker 150 is limited to 30 starters including Provisional Positions.
Tire allotment: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is twelve (12) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is four (4) tires, any position.
