Pit Box: Thompson begins three-race stretch to close out 2024 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season

The next chapter of the intense, three-way battle for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour title will take place at one of the series‘ most iconic venues: Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

Since the facility opened to the public in 1940, Thompson has served as a hub for Modified competition in the northeastern United States. During the early days of the Modified Tour, Thompson hosted many as five races in one year alone.

Many notable names have claimed checkered flags at Thompson. NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans won the series‘ first four races at Thompson in 1985, with names like Jimmy Spencer, Mike Stefanik, Jeff Fuller, Steve Park, Ted Christopher and Justin Bonsignore later embarking on winning streaks of their own at the track.

As has been the case throughout most of its lifespan on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule, Thompson serves as a crucial, late-season tilt for the championship. A strong race at Thompson will be essential for the three championship contenders before they close out 2024 with two straight events in the south.

Below is everything you need to know ahead of Sunday‘s World Series 150 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

World Series 150 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

Patrick Emerling‘s emergence as a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship contender began during the series‘ second trip to Thompson in August.

No one in the 27-car field could match the blistering pace set by Emerling in Rich Gautreau‘s No. 1, which led all 150 laps from the pole. That victory was the first of three Emerling has accumulated over the last four events, with the consistency putting him just 16 points back from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points lead.

Despite this, Emerling still has work to do if he wishes to overtake Ron Silk in the championship hunt. Not only does Silk lead all drivers in the Modified Tour this season with four victories, but the defending champion has enjoyed plenty of success at Thompson while driving for Haydt Yannone Racing, having won two of the last three events there.

Nestled in between Silk and Emerling in the championship battle is Justin Bonsignore, who won six consecutive races at Thompson from 2018-19. Bonsignore is chasing redemption to go along with a 13^th Thompson victory, as a missed shift in last year‘s fall race on the final restart directly cost him a shot at the title.

The three championship contenders will still have to deal with plenty more talented drivers in Sunday’s World Series 150 at Thompson. Matt Hirschman is among those names, as he is searching for his first visit to Thompson’s Victory Lane after his father Tony earned eight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour wins at the facility between 1989-2005.

Other drivers set to compete at Thompson on Sunday include Jon McKennedy, Woody Pitkat, Chase Dowling, Matt Swanson, Anthony Nocella and Tim Connolly.

The complete entry list for the World Series 150 can be viewed here.

RACING REFERENCE

Schedule: Sunday, October 13 … Final practice from 12:25 to 1:25 p.m. ET … Qualifying at 2:15 p.m. ET … World Series 150 pres. by FloSports at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Qualifying: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the World Series 150 pres. by FloSports.com is limited to 30 starters, including Provisional Positions.

Tire allotment: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is eleven (11) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is two (2) tires per caution.