NASCAR Modified Tour Breaking the Ice in Thompson

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 (4:30 p.m. ET on FloRacing).

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.

Below is everything you need to know about the third race of the 2026 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.

Championship Standings

1. Tyler Rypkema
2. Austin Beers -2
3. Patrick Emerling -3
4. Stephen Kopcik -4
5. Eric Goodale -9
6. Ryan Newman -13
7. Justin Bonsignore -14
8. Craig Lutz -14
9. Trevor Catalano -15
10. Matt Hirschman -19

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.

Race Details

SCHEDULE: Sunday, April 12: Practice from 12 – 12:50 p.m. ET … Final practice from 1:25 to 1:55 p.m. ET … American Racer Pole Award qualifying at 3:30 p.m. ET … Start of the Icebreaker 150 at 4:30 p.m. ET (150 Laps / 93.75 Miles)

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 52nd Annual Icebreaker 150 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 NASCAR Officials, 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. A maximum of three (3) tires of the allotment may be used as change tires. The tire change rule is two (2) tires per stop. This includes “swapping” tires front to back.

Entry List