Ronnie Williams wins Icebreaker 125 at Thompson

Story By: Matthew Wiernasz

Photo Courtesy of Tom Morris Racing Photography

THOMPSON, CT-  Ronnie Williams took down the win in Saturday’s Icebreaker 125 Outlaw Open Modified Racing Series event at the 49th annual Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

Keith Rocco and Matt Swanson brought the field to the green for the 125 lap race. Swanson took the lead at the start of the race.  Ronnie Williams would then take the lead on lap 25.

Anthony Bello would bring out one of the cautions on lap 72 as most of the field came down to pit road to make adjustments. Williams and McKennedy decided to stay out.

R.J. Marcotte took the lead on the restart from McKennedy and Williams.  The pit stop benefited Matt Swanson and Anthony Nocella as they would both battle for second. Nocella took the lead on lap 78.  Nocella and Woody Pitkat would get a huge lead during the run. Teddy Hodgdon would bring out the caution on the frontstretch on lap 107 as he had issues with his motor.

On the restart, Nocella would lead as there would be a four-way battle for second between McKennedy, Pitkat, Williams, and Mike Christopher, Jr.  The final caution of the event came out on lap 123 as Woody Pitkat hit the turn 1 wall setting up for a green-white-checkered finish.  Williams would take the lead on the restart and hold onto win the Icebreaker 125.

Williams talked about the win.

” This is a big one. This is up there just cause of how it went down. We had a dominant car early and stayed out when everyone else went in which probably wasn’t the right choice. Had to come back through the field. We had a fast car for sure. This is pretty special.” Williams Said

Jon McKennedy finished in second and he talked about his run.

” I mean overall it was good. We started way in the back. We pitted real early for an adjustment. We restarted whatever it was I think 20th. I actually drove up to I think second on that long green flag run. A lot of cars pitted. We stayed out I fell way back again. We got the caution with 15 to go. We restarted right around I don’t know 12th or 14th. We had the chance there at the win. I was just too tight. Good solid run for us. Just disappointing.” McKennedy Said

” I’ve never won a tour type modified race here. I won in ISMA Supers. I’ve always run very well in a modified. We’ve got so many seconds. Like nine or ten maybe looking back over the last several years. A few seconds with Tommy Baldwin’s car on the tour. A couple seconds here last year. A few with Art Barry years ago. We run good. I just can’t seem to get that win year.” McKennedy Said

Anthony Nocella finished in third. He talked about his run.

” We had a real good car. I think for the most part did all of the adjustments right. Made the right calls. We got beat by better tires at the end.” Nocella Said

Mike Christopher, Jr finished in fourth driving for Tommy Baldwin Racing

” The tires fell off that first run. I don’t know why. Didn’t feel like I killed it or anything. Just fell back there. No rear tires. Once we pitted, we came out a little tight and was able to pick people off. Proud of the effort. I am always happy to race for Tommy.  He always put his foot forward.” Christopher, Jr Said

Todd Owen rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Chris Pasteryak, Matt Swanson, Anthony Bello, R.J. Marcotte, and Artie Pedersen.

Trevor Sanborn dominated the 75 lap PASS Super Late Model race on Saturday. He talked about his race win.

” At the beginning, the top is the preferred groove here on restarts. Its hard to go on the bottom pinch down. Derek (Griffith) had a pretty good damn car to run up on the inside of me like that. He ran me clean. We just capitalized on the last restart and got him and didn’t look back.” Sanborn Said

Gabe Brown finished in second. He talked about his race.

” Our rear end started leaking a bunch of oil out of the right rear. We got free up and off. Killed the drive and we just couldn’t going anywhere from there. Trevor (Sanborn) had a really good car. Derek (Griffith) did to but we were able to hold Derek off. We know what we got to do the next time we come back here.” Brown Said

Derek Griffith finished in third. He talked about his run.

” We were pretty good. It seemed like whoever fired off good on restarts, especially up top. Set the pace and he had the top side on that last restart. It’s so tough to pass here right now and I am not sure why. I don’t think tire related or track related. It was fun today. I just got super tight. I think if we were free. We could’ve raced with those guys.” Griffith Said

The PASS Super Late Models will head to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway this upcoming weekend for the 3rd annual Northeast Classic. Sanborn talked about what it means to race at the Magic Mile

” Honestly it’s the coolest thing to do. It is absolutely awesome and with us winning here at this big track. Going to New Hampshire, I know we can run the top groove there. Excited to go there.” Sanborn Said

Derek Griffith gave his thoughts about running at the Magic Mile

” It’s so cool. There’s not one place in the country that does anything like that. Maybe North Wilkesboro this year, You got Street Stocks and Late Models  A one-mile race track is pretty damn cool.” Griffith Said

The Sunoco Modifieds ran two features during the weekend.  Keith Rocco won the first race on Friday night and Troy Talman won the second race on Saturday.  The Sunoco Modifieds will return during the 61st annual Sunoco World Series of Racing in October.

Corey Fanning won the Limited Sportsman race. John O’Sullivan won the SK Lite Modifieds. Jared Roy also won in the Mini Stocks on Saturday.

On Friday, Derek Gluchacki won the Late Model race.  Kris Watson won the Street Stock Open. Duane Noll won the Evolve Bank and Mortgage Pro Truck Challenge Jim Boyle Memorial and Cody LeBlanc won the ACT Mighty Mini Series race.

The next event on the oval at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park will be on Wednesday, June 21 featuring the Outlaw Open Modified Dash For Cash 50 lap race along with the New England Supermodified Series and the Thompson Speedway track divisions that will include Late Models, Limited Sportsman, SK Lite Modifieds,  and the Mini Stocks. More details regarding the event will be announced at a later date.