THOMPSON, Conn. — With weather conditions cooperating one week later than expected, the 49th Icebreaker Weekend at Thompson Speedway successfully opened the New England racing season with plenty of heart-pounding thrills.
The Thompson Outlaw Open Modified Icebreaker 125 came down to a stunning green-white-checker in one of the most spectacular open-wheeled races in recent memory while winners in the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models and the Thompson local divisions proved themselves as the class of the field.
The 49th Icebreaker 125 included some of the Northeast’s best modified pilots ready to tackle the high banks for the $10,000 winner’s share of the $46,000 guaranteed purse. Keith Rocco and Matt Swanson brought the 22-car field to green with Swanson getting the jump in the Gary Casella-owned No. 25.
Swanson would hang tough before a hard charging Ronnie Williams overtook the lead on lap 25 followed by Woody Pitkat and Chris Pasteryak as Swanson slid to fourth. Carl Medeiros Jr. brought out the first major caution on lap 55 with several mid-pack teams taking advantage and heading pit-side for adjustments.
Realigned side-by-side to return the field to green, Williams got the jump on a slip-sliding Pitkat with Rocco coming around to steal second. While Williams, Pitkat and Rocco battled hard in the top-three, last year’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Jon McKenney joined the top five.
McKennedy would make it to third with Anthony Nocella also joining the top-five before Anthony Bello’s spin on lap 72 would bring the first crucial caution. While all the top runners jumped pit side for fresh Hoosier Race Tires, Williams and McKennedy elected to stay on the field to lead the impending restart.
RJ Marcotte stole away the lead from McKennedy and Williams as the tire strategy helped Swanson and Nocella battle for second.
Nocella would take the lead on lap 78 with Pitkat following and stretching out their lead before the caution flag flew on lap 107 as the engine expired on Teddy Hodgdon’s machine. Nocella kept the lead while a four-way battle for second saw Pitkat, McKennedy, Williams and Mike Christopher, Jr. toss and turn for position.
Pitkat brought out the final caution on lap 123 after backing into the turn one wall to set up a green-white-checker between Nocella, Williams, McKennedy, Christopher Jr. and Chris Pasteryak. Nocella gave it all he could, but Williams rounded the long-standing leader to claim the $10,000 49th Icebreaker 125 over McKennedy and Nocella.
Mike Christopher Jr. brought the Baldwin Racing No. 7NY home in fourth and Todd Owen powered up to round out the top five.
PASS Super Late Model Recap
There were 22 PASS Super Late Models that made the trip from across New England to join Icebreaker Saturday at Thompson Speedway. ‘The Outlaw’ Eddie MacDonald and Gabe Brown brought the field down for the green flag with Trevor Sanborn having a strong showing from fourth-place before taking over the lead just five laps in.
After quelling a challenge by Derek Griffith, Sanborn continued to lead the charge through the very end to take his first win with Richard Moody Racing since July 31st, 2010, and the first of their rekindled partnership for 2023. After a thrilling three-way battle for second place through the final 15 circuits, Gabe Brown would bring his family team a second-place run followed by Derek Griffith.
Eddie MacDonald finished a fourth-place run followed by Johnny Clark for fifth. Honorable mentions go to Maine’s Garrett Hall who tackled a sixth-place run after starting shotgun on the field in 22nd.
Icebreaker 125 Feature Results (125 Laps)
1.         50W     Ronnie Williams          Ellington, CT
2.         79        Jon McKennedy           Chelmsford, MA
3.         92        Anthony Nocella         Woburn, MA
4.         7NY      Mike Christopher, Jr.  Wolcott, CT
5.         81        Todd Owen                 Somers, CT
6.         5CT      Chris Pasteryak           Lisbon, CT
7.         25        Matt Swanson             Harvard, MA
8.         179      Anthony Bello             Newtown, CT
9.         5MA    RJ Marcotte                 Millville, MA
10.       01NY    Artie Peterson Center Moriches, NY
11.       1          George Bessette, Jr.    Danbury, CT
12.       57        Keith Rocco                 Berlin, CT
13.       31C      Andrew Charron         E. Greenwich, RI
14.       88        Woody Pitkat              Bellingham, MA
15.       55CT    Teddy Hodgdon           Danbury, CT
16.       28        Buddy Charette           Woodstock, CT
17.       4NH     Tommy Barrett           Millis, MA
18.       50M     Carl Medeiros, Jr.        Westport, MA
19.       33        Paul Buzel                   Trumbull, CT
20.       43        Devin O’Connell          Madison, CT
21.       17        Kevin Folan                  N. Attleboro, MA
DNS     08        Nick Halkowicz            Shelton, CT
PASS Super Late Model Feature Results (75 Laps)
1.         44        Trevor Sanborn           E. Parsonsfield, ME
2.         47B      Gabe Brown                Center Conway, NH
3.         12G      Derek Griffith              Hudson, NH
4.         17MA  Eddie MacDonald       Rowley, MA
5.         54        Johnny Clark               Hallowell, ME
6.         94        Garrett Hall                 Scarborough, ME
7.         39        Max Cookson               Pittsfield, ME
8.         88        Brandon Barker          Westbrook, ME
9.         60        D.J. Shaw                     Center Conway, NH
10.       7CT      Cory Casagrande         Stafford Springs, CT
11.       12        Dennis Spencer, Jr.     Oxford, ME
12.       73D      Joey Doiron                 Berwick, ME
13.       21        Josh King                     Vernon, VT
14.       20        Joe Pastore                  Gorham, ME
15.       27NH   Wayne Helliwell, Jr.    Dover, NH
16.       40RI     Mike Mitchell              Cumberland, RI
17.       18        Michael Scorzelli         Feura Bush, NY
18.       17        Kevin Folan                  W. Attleboro, MA
19.       24J       JP Josiasse                   Ennismore, ON
20.       29        Austin Teras                Gray, ME
21.       28        Rowland Robinson, Jr. Steuben, ME
22.       50        Andy Shaw                  Center Conway, NH