THOMPSON, Conn. — No race track has held more NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races than Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
The 0.625-mile asphalt oval will welcome the series for the 159th time Sunday for the running of the Icebreaker 150.
Winning at Thompson is no easy task, which is why of the previous 158 Modified Tour events at the track, only 38 drivers have found their way to victory lane.
Among those are legends like Mike Stefanik, Ted Christopher, Jeff Fuller, Rick Fuller and Tony Hirschman, as well as modern drivers like Justin Bonsignore, Ron Silk, Doug Coby and Patrick Emerling.
In fact, in the last eight Modified Tour events at Thompson only Silk, Bonsignore and Emerling have found Victory Lane. Silk has won four times, while Bonsignore and Emerling have each won twice.
It’s been nearly 10 years since Boehler Racing Enterprises and the Ole Blue No. 3 have been on top of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour standings.
That drought is over thanks to a strong start by the team and driver Tyler Rypkema, who find themselves on top of the standings following finishes of second at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway and third at Martinsville Speedway to launch the 2026 season.
Rypkema, who is in his second full season as the driver of the legendary Ole Blue No. 3, earned his first Modified Tour win last season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Now, for the first time in his career, he leads the standings. He’ll be looking for another strong run Sunday at Thompson to keep himself and Ole Blue on top of the heap.
Speaking of the top of the heap, victory lane at Thompson is a very exclusive club. Since the 2023 season, only three drivers have scored Modified Tour wins at Thompson.
Those drivers — Ron Silk, Patrick Emerling and Justin Bonsignore — are all entered Sunday, and each hopes to add another victory to his resume.
Another driver looking for continued success is Austin Beers, who is riding an incredible 32-race top 10 streak entering the Icebreaker 150. His streak began in 2024 at Thompson during the Icebreaker 150, meaning the reigning Modified Tour champion hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in a series event in two years.
One notable driver joining the Modified Tour field for the first time this year is six-time series champion Doug Coby, who will be making the first of nine scheduled starts for Jett Motorsports in the No. 28 entry.
Coby, who enters the event tied with five-time Modified Tour champion Tony Hirschman for fifth on the all-time wins list, is a six-time Thompson winner.
Other notable entries include Ronnie Williams, who will be making his first Modified Tour start in two years, Martinsville winner Stephen Kopcik, Matt Hirschman, Jon McKennedy, Craig Lutz, Chase Dowling, Eric Goodale and Matt Swanson, among others.
