49th annual Icebreaker to be held at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park next weekend

Story and Photo By: Matthew Wiernasz

THOMPSON, CT-  Race teams and fans all over the New England Region are getting ready for the 49th annual Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park next weekend.  For the 2023 season, ACT and PASS will promote the 5/8 mile oval as they will race six times

The 49th annual Icebreaker will have a 10-division race lineup with the Outlaw Open Modified Series headlining the Sunday portion of the program where the race will be 125 laps and the winner will go home with $10,000. The Saturday program will feature a 75 lap race for the Pro All Star Series Super Late Models. It will be the 21st race for the series all-time at the 5/8 mile oval.

This past weekend, they kicked off their season at the Hickory Motor Speedway where Cole Butcher out of Nova Scotia swept the 150 lap races on Saturday.

The Sunoco Modifieds will race both days of the Icebreaker.  The ACT Mighty Mini Series will make it’s New England debut at Thompson as they will race 25 laps. They ran twin features as well at Hickory Motor Speedway.  They will race on Saturday as well along with the Late Models, a Street Stock Open race where the winner will go home with $1,200. The EXIT Realty Pro Truck Series will also be apart of the Saturday program as well.

On Sunday, the program will feature the Outlaw Open Modified Series for the Icebreaker 125.  The Sunoco Modifieds will race for the second time during the weekend. The SK Lights, Limited Sportsman, and Mini Stocks will also race on Sunday.

There will be four Wednesday races for the 2023 season as the Outlaw Open Modifieds will race 50 laps Dash For Cash. The first Wednesday night program will be on June 21.  The New England Supermodified Series will also be a part of the program along with the Late Models, Limited Sportsman, SK Lights, and Mini Stocks.

On Wednesday, July 26, it will be the second Wednesday program as the Outlaw Open Modifieds will have their 50 lap Dash For Cash. The SK Lites will have twin races that night along with the Late Models, Limited Sportsman, and Mini Stocks.

On Wednesday, August 17, it will be the Phoenix Communications 150 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for their first appearance of the season to the 5/8 mile oval The Outlaw Open Modifieds will not be racing that night.  The Late Models, Limited Sportsman, SK Lights, and Mini Stocks will also be racing.

The final Wednesday night program will be held on Wednesday, September 13 that will feature the 50 lap Dash For Cash for the Outlaw Open Modified Series along with the Thompson Late Models,  50 lap Street Stock Open, SK Lights, Limited Sportsman, and the Mini Stocks.

The final event of the 2023 season at Thompson will be the 61st annual Sunoco World Series of Racing that will be held on Friday, October 6-Sunday, October 8 that will feature, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Outlaw Open Modified Series, Milton CAT Modified Series, New England Supermodified Series  350 SMAC Supernationals, and more.

The weekend kicks off on Friday, March 31 with a practice session. The pits will open at 10:00 a.m. with rotating practice from 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. The Friday pit admission will be $25.

On Saturday, April 1, Pit Registration will begin at 7:00 a.m. with rotating practice to begin at 9:00 a.m. and going until 12:30 p.m. The grandstands will open at 9:30 a.m. Qualifying heat races will begin at 1:00 p.m. with opening ceremonies going off at 2:30 p.m.  After the opening ceremonies, it will be feature racing for the Sunoco Modifieds, Pro All Star Series Super Late Models, EXIT Realty Pro Truck Series, Thompson Late Models, Mighty Mini Stocks, and the Street Stock Open.  After the conclusion of racing on Saturday, there will be an Outlaw Open Modified Practice.

On Sunday, April 2, Pit Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. There will be a 30-minute practice for the Outlaw Open Modified Series from 12:05 p.m.-12:35 p.m. Opening Ceremonies will be at 12:45 p.m. with qualifying heat races beginning at 1:00 p.m.

After qualifying heat races, it will be feature races for the Limited Sportsman, SK Lights, Sunoco Modifieds, Mini Stocks, and the Icebreaker 125 for the Outlaw Open Modified Series.

Multi-day pit admission will be $75 for adults and $40 for kids 12 and under.  For a Saturday only pit admission tickets will be $50 for adults and kids 12 and under will be $30. The price will also be the same for a Sunday pit admission ticket.

A general admission ticket for both days will be $60 for adults and kids 6-12 will be $20. For a general admission ticket on Saturday, it will be $30, and for kids 6-12 will be $10. For a general admission ticket on Sunday will be $40 for adults and for kids, 6-12 will be $10. Kids five and under will be free.