*** Welcome to piglix ***

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
ThompsonInternationalSpeedwayMap.svg
Location 205 East Thompson Road
Thompson, Connecticut 06277
Time zone UTC-5 (UTC-4 DST)
Owner Donald and D.R. Hoenig
Operator Donald and D.R. Hoenig
Broke ground September 21, 1938
Opened May 26, 1940
Former names Thompson International Speedway
Major events NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
International Supermodified Association
Northeastern Midget Association
Oval
Surface Asphalt
Length 5/8 mi (1 km)
Turns 4
Road Course
Surface Asphalt
Length 1.7 mi (2.7 km)
Turns 11

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (TSMP), formerly Thompson International Speedway, is a motorsports park in Thompson, Connecticut, featuring a 58-mile (1.0 km) paved oval racetrack and a 1.7-mile (2.7 km) road racing course. Once known as the "Indianapolis of the East", it was the first asphalt-paved racing oval track in the United States and is now under the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series banner. Each year Thompson hosts one of the great fall variety events "The World Series of Auto Racing" highlighted by the International Supermodified Association and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. This event frequently draws over 350 race cars in 16 separate divisions over three days.

Following cleanup from the hurricane of 1938, John Hoenig built a combined 58-mile (1.0 km) paved oval and 1.6-mile (2.6 km) road racing course on his farmland in the northeast corner of Connecticut.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Thompson's Sunday night program was a who's who of modified greats such as Carl "Bugs" Stevens, Fred DeSarro, Fred Schulz, Ron Bouchard, Ed Flemke, Leo Cleary, Smoky Boutwell, and Geoff Bodine. During this period the track hosted memorable special events which drew legendary Southern drivers like Ray Hendrick in the famous "Fireball" #11 to battle the locals. Other surprise stars included Long Island's Fred Harbach and Rene Charland from Massachusetts.

In the late 1970s, the track drew 55 winged Super Modifieds to their World Series race. By owner's choice, all 55 started. During the energy crisis during the 1970s Thompson hosted a unique division called the "Open Competitive" division which merged the Super Modifieds with the Modifieds. Later, Thompson tried a lower cost stock-cylinder-head modified division which chased away some of the tracks regulars. Until the 1980s the track had a unique barrier outside turns 1-2 and 3-4 made of dirt fill.


...
Wikipedia

...