THOMPSON, Conn. — For the second time in as many starts at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in the Outlaw Open Modified Series season, Mike Christopher Jr. was in victory lane Wednesday at the Connecticut oval.
Christopher rocketed to the lead with 58 laps complete in the Nutmeg State 75 presented by Twisted Tea and held off multiple challengers on multiple restarts to win the $5,000 prize.
Christopher continued a dominating stretch for Tommy Baldwin Racing, where the team has been to victory lane in three straight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races, and now both Outlaw Open Modified Series events at Thompson.
Christopher held off two of the top names in Modified racing at Thompson in the last decade – Keith Rocco and Ryan Preece – to capture the win. He also won $10,000 at the Icebreaker 125 at Thompson in April.
“Tommy has it hooked up right now,” Christopher said. “The Tour wins and now the Open wins. Two in a row here at Thompson, it feels really good and it’s really cool. I had to go through some restarts there, but the car was really good. That last yellow we had tightened up the car a little too much, but we were still able to put it in victory lane.”
Christopher passed early race leader Preece for the top spot on lap 36 and led until the caution on lap 49, when multiple of the lead challengers pitted.
Christopher was the first of the drivers with new Hoosier racing rubber to get to the front and he was able to take full advantage – driving by Matt Swanson to the lead with 17 laps to go.
A flurry of late cautions slowed the race, which allowed Rocco and Preece to pass onto the podium. Matt Swanson finished fourth, while Chris Pasteryak followed in fifth.
In support division action, Derek Gluchacki made it two-for-two in the Thompson Late Models, dominating the second half of their 25-lap event and rolling to another win. Ryan Morgan finished second.
The Sunoco Modified feature went to Stephen Kopcik, as the Connecticut native also made it two-for-two to open the Thompson season.
Kopcik, Todd Owen and Keith Rocco thrilled fans in a three-car battle for the lead during the middle of the race, but it was Kopcik gapping out his challengers over the final stretch of the 30-lap event. Owen would finish second, with nine-time track champion Rocco in third.
Nathan Pytko won the SK Light modified feature and Dave Treudeau topped the mini stock event. Jason Chicolas won the limited sportsman main event.