By Peter Preble

Finally a Thursday Night Without Any Rain

July 13, Thompson, CT--- It seems like it has been forever, and you know I think it has, since my last column.  I last wrote in March after the Ice Breaker Event here at the Big T and since then it seems like the God’s of racing have conspired against me.  Between the rain and sickness I have not been able to get here for regular Thursday night racing but that has all changed. 

Thursday, July 9^th at Thompson, bright blue skies and all is well.  A fifty lap Sunoco Modified Special Event and all of the regular events of the night. 

First up on this great night of racing was the Limited Sportsman with twenty two cars showing up to race.  At the half way point it was Number 64 driven by Paul Coutu, Jr. of Thompson, Connecticut followed by number 36 with Scott Sundeen of Douglas, Massachusetts behind the wheel and number 73 Larry Barnett of Moosup, Connecticut.  After 13 laps the number 3 car driven by Kevin Bowe of Pawtuckett, Rhode Island spun out just outside of turn number 4 and left a wee bit of his car on the track so the caution flag came out and the race slowed to a crawl.  It was too bad as he was in fourth place after ten laps.  Lap 17 saw car 26 Driven by Nick Sundeen of Douglas, Massachusetts the younger of the three Sundeen’s driving tonight and 31 driven by Patrick Bendiak of Hopkington, Massachusetts in a little fender bender in turn 4.  So the caution flag came out again for a little slow down in the action.  The caution flags are good for this writer as it gives me a chance to catch up on this fast moving sport. 

I was thinking about the car that is always at the back of the pack.  In this race it was car number 10 driven by Hank Stott of Medway, Massachusetts.  I feel that since he is at the end of the pack he never gets any ink so Hank this is a shout out to you.  Hang in there man! 

Taking the checked flag was the home town boy Paul Coutu, Jr. from Thompson, Connecticut.  This was his first win after a year off of the racing circuit.  After the checked flag he took a little bit of a wrong turn and ended in the wall between turn one and two.  In victory lane after the race he said he had no brakes for the last two laps and he was so excited with his win that he was driving with one hand and he just hit the wall.  In the pit after his crew got right to work fixing the car. 

Thompson Modifieds took the track next.  A small group tonight with only 19 cars running in this race.  After 10 laps Number 31 driven by Glen Boss of Danielson, Connecticut was in the lead and close on his bumper number 53 driven by Leo Oliveria of Raynham, Massachusetts. 

Taking the checkered flag on the Thompson Modified race was car number 31 driven by Glen Boss of Danielson, Connecticut Sponsored by Mohegan Sun with number 53 close on his tail driven by Leo Oliveira of Raynham, Massachusetts and rounding out the field in third place number 8 Cam McDermott of Scituate, Rhode Island. 

Mini Stocks take to the track for the third race of the night.  I happen to like these little cars as they come in all shapes and sizes.  This is when I wished my mother still had her Pinto Hatchback!  In lap number five, a three car pile up between car 05 driven by Randy Churchill, the 85 car driven by Mike Viens, and car 04 driven by Nathan Taylor.  All three drivers walked away but their cars did not fare so well.  So the caution flag was flown and the race slowed right down.  I like the contrast with these cars they range from the cool expensive paint job to the taped on numbers of some other cars.     

Just after the race resumed, another little pile up in turn three.  Car 20 driven by Billy Pomposelli, Chepachet, Rhode Island, car 87 driven by Eric Bourgeois East Haddam, Connecticut, car 23 driven by Lloyd Anderson, Jr. of Wauregan, Connecticut, and car 19 driven by Keith Ballou Chepachet, Rhode Island, who limped off into pit road.  After 10 laps car 64 driven by Tim “Tool Man” Taylor of Waurengan, Connecticut was in the lead, with number 15 driven by Brad Caddick New London, Connecticut in second.  Another yellow flag as Steven Michalski, Brooklyn, Connecticut driving car number 3 took a hard hit into the wall on the straight away in front of the grandstand. 

Taking the checkered flag was car number 64 with Tim “Tool Man” Taylor, this being his third win in four races and his fourth win this year.  Number 15 driven by Brad Caddick in second and rounding out the field in the number three spot number 51 driven by Scott Michalski. After the race was completed the cars were checked on pit road and Tim Taylor’s car was found to be underweight and therefore disqualified.  Number 15 driven by Brad Caddick of New London, Connecticut was declared the winner.  I always find these situations very strange and feel a little bad for the guy that actually won the race.  He did not get to stand in the winners circle with his family and supporters and hear the crowd cheer.  Maybe next time Brad!  

Super late models 

Two false starts for the number 14 car driven by Jay Macedonio of Somerset, Massachusetts and finally the race began.  A long green flag saw Rose with a large lead over Jeff Connors of Ellington, Connecticut who was in second.  At the halfway point in the race, Rose had once again pulled to a sizable lead over Connors, with Jay Macedonio in third.  

After 30 laps it was Les Rose, Jr. of Southbridge, Massachusetts who took the checkered flag driving car number 62.  Following behind him was Mike O’Sullivan of Springfield, Massachusetts, driving the 08 car and battling for the third spot in a three wide finish was number 16 driven by Rick Fuller of Auburn, Massachusetts.  All of the top three winners are from Massachusetts… 

As the sun set at Thompson, it was time for the main event of the night the Sunoco Modified 50 lap race. Keith Rocco driving car number 6 of Wallingford, Connecticut was able to beat out Ted Christopher near the end of the race to take the checkered flag.  This was the race that never seemed to end.  The caution flag was out numerous times and saw the field dwindle from 19 down to 12.  In the end it was Keith Rocco, followed by Ted Christopher driving car 00 from Plainville, Connecticut, and in third was Woody Pitkat in car number 99 of Stafford, Connecticut. 

And thus a night of racing came to an end.  It has been awhile since I have written and I apologize for that.  Between the rain and all of the other stuff that life sends ones way, it has been difficult to get to the track.  Well we are all up and running again, so stay tuned to this very space for more from The Big “T” 

Final Results 

Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Keith Rocco, Wallingford, CT; 2. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT; 3. Woody Pitkat, Stafford, CT; 4. Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ; 5. Harry Rheaume, Oakdale, CT; 6. Eric Goodale, Riverhead, NY; 7. Andy Gaspar, Andover, CT; 8. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, PA; 9. Dave LaCroix, Fitchburg, MA; 10. John Catania, Agawam, MA.  (Unofficial results as of press time) 

Super Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Les Rose, Jr., Southbridge, MA; 2. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 3. Rick Fuller, Auburn, MA; 4. Jeff Connors, Ellington, CT; 5. Derek Ramstrom, Worcester, MA; 6. Jim Banfield, S. Glastonbury, CT; 7. George Bessette, Danbury, CT; 8. Larry Gelinas, Buxton, ME; 9. Dennis Maxfield, Fitchburg, MA; 10. Dave Silvia, Warwick, RI. 

Late Model Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Tommy O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 2. John Materas, Voluntown, CT; 3. Jeff Zuidema, N. Brookfield, MA; 4. Jay Stuart, Preston, CT; 5. Mark Oliveira, Blackstone, MA; 6. Mike Scorzelli, Malta, NY; 7. Randy Waterman, Killingly, CT; 8. Jeremy Sadowski, Voluntown, CT; 9. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 10. Damon Tinio, Mendon, MA.  

Limited Sportsman Feature Finish (Top Ten):  1. Paul Coutu, Jr., Thompson, CT; 2. Larry Barnett, Moosup, CT; 3. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 4. Joe Arena, Bristol, CT; 5. Joe Coates, Eastford, CT, 6. Chris Douton, Waterford, CT; 7. Jay Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 8. Tom Shea, New London, CT; 9. Chris Bisson, Putnam, CT; 10. Joe Plonski, Worcester, MA.  

TIS Modifieds Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT, 2. Leo Oliveira, Raynham, MA; 3. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI, 4. Brian Sullivan, S. Windsor, CT; 5. Brian Tagg, Oxford, MA; 6. R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA; 7. John Studley, Framingham, MA; 8. Richie Ferreira, Raynham, MA; 9. Jay Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 10. Jeff Barrows, Worcester, MA. 

Mini Stock Feature Finish Feature Finish (Top Ten):  1. Brad Caddick, New London, CT; 2. Scott Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 3. Mike Romano, Chepachet, RI; 4. Fred Michalski, Dayville, CT; 5. Nick Anderson, Oxford, MA; 6. Chad Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 7. Alicia Thatcher, Pascoag, RI; 8. Mike Gorgievski, Auburn, MA; 9. Lloyd Anderson, Jr., Wauregan, CT; 10. Trevor Michalski, S. Killingly, CT.

Peter may be contacted at ppreble@charter.net.

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