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THOMPSON --- Bobby Santos III of Franklin, Mass., took over the reigns of the potent Mystic Missile to score a victory in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour opener at Thompson International Speedway for the running of the Icebreaker 150 April 11. Ted Christopher of Plainville, had to use his prowess on restarts to score a victory in the Sunoco Modified feature event. Defending champion, Derek Ramstrom of Worcester, swept the twin bill for the Super Late Models while Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, R.I., scored Late Model honors.
Shawn Monahan of Waterford bested a strong field of Limited Sportsman competitors to score the victory. Another champion, TIS Modified ace Brian Sullivan of S. Windsor made a statement with an opening day victory. Leo Defevers of Brooklyn opened Day Two of the Icebreaker with a victory in the Mini Stock Division.
Bobby Santos III set fast time in Coors Light qualifying with a new track record April 10 and redrew the pole position. He set sail at the start of the race; led from the drop of the green flag until heading down pit road for a scheduled stop at lap 58. The young driver was able to work his way back into contention by methodically moving through the field. Santos made the winning move when he took the lead for the final time on lap 120. He held off the chargers of Ryan Preece in the waning laps of the event to score the victory. Preece came home second followed by Mike Stefanik. Ted Christopher, who pitted out of sequence with the leaders, came back to finish fourth ahead of Todd Szegedy.
Ted Christopher of Plainville held back all challenges to score the victory in Sunday’s installment of Sunoco Modified activity for Icebreaker 2010. After a straight-up start from the finish of Saturday’s 25-lapper, Keith Rocco started from the point for the second race of the weekend for the Sunoco Modifieds. He immediately had company on lap one from Christopher, who took over the top spot before the completion of second circuit. Third running Ronnie Silk had his hands full with Danny Cates and Kerry Malone. The first caution of the event flew on lap three when Andy Gaspar made hard contact with the inside wall. Christopher was able to maintain his lead on the restart.
Over the final laps, Rocco closed on Christopher but could not muster up a challenge. Christopher headed under the checkers for the victory. Rocco settled for second over Pennink, Cates and Silk inside the top five.
Derek Ramstrom completed the sweep of Icebreaker Super Late Model action in a thriller on Sunday. Ramstrom and Mike O’Sullivan went door-to-door to open the first lap of the 25-lap event. A quick caution set up a repeat of the start; this time with Ramstrom taking advantage to take over the top spot. The battle for the third spot back was intense between Norm Wren, Dennis Maxfield, Jim Banfield, and Steve Desmarais.
Rick Gentes crossed under the checkers to complete the Late Model main event in the second position. Following post race technical, Gentes was awarded the victory. The Late Model division followed suit of the sister division with yet another O’Sullivan taking part in a fierce full-fendered battle.
Brian Sullivan began his TIS title defense with a commanding victory in the TIS Modifieds. Sullivan led green to checker to post the victory. In the later stages of the race R.J. Marcotte appeared to apply some pressure to Sullivan but the leader was up to the challenge. Shane Michalski came home third followed by Keith McDermott and John Studley inside the top 10.
Shawn Monahan opened the 2010 season off with a victory in the Limit Sportsman divisions. The 20-lapper for the Limited Sportsman division featured a heated three-car battle for the top spot between Monahan, Scott Sundeen and Larry Barnett. While the top three jockeyed for position, the top three spots remained unchanged when the checkered flag flew. Kevin Bowe and Joe Arena rounded out the top five.
Leo Defevers led green green-to-checker to win the season opener for the Mini Stocks. Defevers capitalized on his pole starting position to take command of the main event. During the stretch run, Defevers, Scott Michalski and Scott Jassaume ran out to a three-car breakaway over the rest of the field that went 27-cars strong.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour 150-Lap Event Finish (Unofficial Top Ten): 1. Bobby Santos, III, Franklin, MA; 2. Ryan Preece, Berlin, CT; 3. Mike Stefanik, Coventry, RI; 4. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT; 5. Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, CT; 6. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, PA; 7. Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon, CT; 8. Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, CT; 9. Eric Goodale, Riverhead, NY; 10. Eric Beers, Northampton, PA.
Sunoco Modified 25-Lap Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT; 2. Keith Rocco, Wallingford, CT; 3. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, PA; 4. Danny Cates, Chaplin, CT; 5. Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, CT; 6. David Salzarulo, Monson, MA; 7. Bert Marvin, New London, CT; 8. Woody Pitkat, Stafford, CT; 9. Glenn Griswold, Vernon, CT; 10. John Catania, Agawam, MA.
Super Late Model 25-Lap Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Derek Ramstrom, Worcester, MA; 2. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA; 3. Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH; 4. Dennis Maxfield, Fitchburg, MA; 5. Dave Darling, Seekonk, MA; 6. Larry Gelinas, Buxton, ME; 7. Jim Banfield, S. Glastonbury, CT; 8. Steve Desmarais, Somerset, MA; 9. George Bessette, Danbury, CT; 10. Daryl Stampfl, Norwood, MA.
Late Model 20-Lap Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, RI; 2. Jeff Hartwell, E. Putnam, CT; 3. Wayne Coury, Sr., Milford, CT; 4. Jeff Hesselton, Auburn, MA; 5. John Falconi, N. Grafton, MA; 6. Mark Jenison, Warwick, RI; 7. Phil Rondeau, Baltic, CT; 8. Jeremy Sadowski, Voluntown, CT; 9. Michael Scorzelli, Malta, NY; 10. Eddie Mistrella, New Hyde Park, NY.
TIS Modified 20-Lap Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Brian Sullivan, S. Windsor, CT; 2. R.J. Marcotte, Millville, MA; 3. Shane Michalski, Woodstock, CT; 4. Keith McDermott, Scituate, RI, 5. John Studley, Framingham, MA; 6. Brian Tagg, Oxford, MA; 7. Jay Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 8. Tyler Poulin, Pascoag, RI; 9. Ryan Morgan, Mystic, CT; 10. Denis Legere, N. Reading, MA.
Limited Sportsman 20-Lap Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Shawn Monahan, Waterford, CT; 2. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 3. Larry Barnett, Moosup, CT; 4. Kevin Bowe, Pawtucket, RI; 5. Joe Arena, Bristol, CT; 6. Joe Coates, Eastford, CT; 7. Jesse Gleason, Lisbon, CT; 8. Moose Douton, Waterford, CT; 9. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, MA; 10. Scott Fanning, Mapleville, RI.
Mini Stock 15-Lap Feature Finish (Top Ten): 1. Leo Defevers, Brooklyn, CT; 2. Scott Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 3. Scott Jassaume, Danielson, CT; 4. Randy Churchill, Oakdale, CT; 5. Eric Bourgeois, E. Haddam, CT; 6. Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA; 7. Chad Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 8. Dwayne Dorr, Ledyard, CT; 9. Trevor Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 10. Chuck Rogers, Quaker Hill, CT.