THOMPSON’S ICEBREAKER JUST AROUND THE CORNER

THOMPSON, CT The long, hard New England winter has finally lost its grip on the region and one of the first signs of spring, the Icebreaker at Thompson International Speedway, is getting closer by the day. The winter’s snow and ice have finally disappeared. As a result, work on and around the historic speedway has reached a fever pitch in preparation for the season-opening Icebreaker slated for the weekend of April 9 & 10.

Thompson’s Icebreaker, a two-day racing spectacular, is the traditional kick off for the racing season in New England. Winter weary race fans can’t wait for the start of a brand new racing season and it all begins with the eight-division Icebreaker. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will lead the racing line up that will also include Thompson’s Sunoco Modifieds, Super Late Models, Thompson Modifieds, Late Models, Limited Sportsman and Mini Stocks. A new addition to this year’s Icebreaker is the Sunoco Lite Modified division.

Icebreaker weekend at Thompson is one of the most anticipated race weekends of the year. New race teams and new drivers are joined by veterans of the sport to create an all new and exciting atmosphere. Race teams have worked all winter long in preparation for a new season and each team is looking for a good start to their 2011 racing campaigns. Race teams will be allowed to drop off their haulers on Friday beginning at 10 AM so as to ease congestion on Saturday morning.

Fans eagerly anticipate the Icebreaker as both a huge racing weekend and an opportunity to renew old friendships and to make new ones. Thompson is the perfect spot to hold such an event since it offers free camping, great racing and a host of activities at the Raceway Restaurant and Lounge to enhance the excitement of an all new racing season. Campers begin to roll into Thompson’s huge parking area a week or more ahead of the event to secure their favorite spots. The Raceway Restaurant will offer a special menu for dinner on Friday night and breakfast will be served both Saturday and Sunday mornings beginning at 7 AM.

Saturday’s race track action will be devoted to practice for each division. Practice will start and the Grandstands will open at 10 AM. The first qualifying races of the new year will begin at 2:30 PM and time trials for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour are scheduled for 3:30 PM. Once qualifying has been completed, the Sunoco Modifieds will run the first of two races scheduled for the weekend and that event will be followed by the 20-lap Sunoco Lite Modified feature.

Once Saturday’s racing action has been completed and the cars made ready for Sunday’s seven feature event races, competitors and fans head to the Raceway Restaurant and Lounge for the traditional Icebreaker dinner and dance.

Grandstands will open at 10 AM on Sunday. The first NASCAR Whelen All-American series feature event of the day is scheduled for a 12 Noon start. The 150-lap NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, lead by defending Champion Bobby Santos, III, will open its season when their green flag drops at 3:15 PM. Many observers feel that the 2011 season could be one of the most competitive since the Tour’s inception in 1985.

Tickets for the 2011 Icebreaker are now available at the track office. 860-923-2280. More information including the complete Icebreaker weekend schedule, driver’s rosters, nearby accommodations and much more may all be found on the track’s web site. www.thompsonspeedway.com