DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Thompson
International Speedway’s Icebreaker has
been a part of NASCAR Whelen Modified
Tour history since the series' inception
in 1985. In fact, the Icebreaker is the
first chapter in the series record book
as the 5/8 mile oval in Northeastern
Connecticut hosted the inaugural race of
the fledgling touring series 21 years
ago. Since then no driver has been able
to win three consecutive Icebreakers.
Ted Christopher is hoping to change
that. Christopher, the two-time
defending champion of the Icebreaker,
will look to make it three in a row on
April 9, when the series begins the 2006
season.
“As a driver you want to win every
race", said Christopher. “But the
Icebreaker is especially important as it
can set the momentum for the rest of the
season. In 2004 and 2005 we started out
the season with a win at Thompson and
continued winning through out the year.”
Christopher is in select company as a
repeat winner of the Icebreaker. The
only other series driver to win back to
back Icebreakers was Jeff Fuller who
turned the trick in 1992 and 1993.
“I guess I was surprised to hear no one
has won three in a row,” said
Christopher. “I would like to put my
name in the record book as the first to
do it.”
Even though it will be the first series
race for Christopher and the rest of the
Mystique Motorsports race team it will
not be the first race of season for the
always busy Plainville, Conn. driver. He
has already competed in close to 20
races this season including the
prestigious Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona
International Speedway. Just recently
Christopher won the NASCAR Whelen
Southern Modified Tour opener at Caraway
Speedway on March 25, driving for Joe
Brady. Christopher also won the opener
on that series last season.
The green flag for the Icebreaker will
fall at approximately 3:15 on April 9.
ICEBREAKER 2006 NOTES
• Posted awards are $89,573 for the
150-lap race. Bud Pole qualifying is
scheduled for 2:45 pm on Saturday, April
8 to determine positions 1-32. Four
provisional starting positions (two
owner & two driver) based on 2005 Whelen
Modified Tour point Standings and one
past champion provisional are available
for a maximum starting field of 37 cars.
• The Icebreaker will start at
approximately 3:15 pm on Sunday, April
9.
• Ted Christopher is the two time
defending champion of the Icebreaker.
• As of March 31, 2006 45 teams have
filed entries for the Icebreaker.
• The Icebreaker will be the first of
five series events scheduled to be held
at Thompson in 2006.
• Several other drivers currently
competing on the series have scored
icebreaker wins. They are: Chuck
Hossfeld (2003) Tony Hirschman (1990),
Mike Ewanitsko (1988,1999), Rick Fuller
(1991, 1997, 2001), Jerry Marquis (2002)
and Mike Stefanik (1998).
• Thompson International Speedway has
hosted more Whelen Modified Tour races
than any other speedway. There have been
86 series events at Thompson since 1985
including the first series race on March
31, 1985.
• Drivers currently competing in the
series who raced at the 1985 Icebreaker
are: Ken Bouchard, Jan Leaty, Rick
Fuller, Carl Pasteryak and Jamie
Tomaino.
• Special Awards for the 2006 season
include the $450 Bud Pole Award to the
driver with the fastest qualifying time.
The $300 Featherlite Most Improved
Driver Award will go to the driver who
improves their finishing position the
highest from the previous event. And the
$500 Powerade Power Move of the Race
Award will be paid to the driver who
advances the most positions during the
race.