DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct 4, 2005) - Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway holds the distinction of hosting the most NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races in series history. Since 1985, 86 Modified Tour events have been held at the historic 5/8 mile speedway and the next two, to be held on consecutive weekends, will determine the 2005 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Champion.

On Saturday, Oct. 8 the rescheduled New England Dodge Dealers Twin 100’s are scheduled to take place. Joining the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be the NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch North Series. The Busch North Series will conclude its season at Thompson and crown their champion. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will wind up its season on Oct. 16 at Thompson’s annual World Series of Auto Racing.

The stage is set for another close race to the championship, featuring two of the Tour’s biggest names. Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn. leads the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour standings by 36 points over defending champion Tony Hirschman.

      Hirschman closed the margin by putting the No. 48 Tom and Bob Kehley owned Kamco Supply Chevrolet in victory lane last weekend, at the Fall Final in Stafford Springs, Conn.

“I’m looking forward to going Thompson,” said Hirschman. “We have run well there in the past. We had a good weekend at Stafford and hopefully that will carry over to Thompson.”

Hirschman, who is attempting to win his fifth series title, remains calm and focused.

“There is no sense trying to worry about things you can’t control,” said Hirschman. “We’ll prepare our car the best we can and try to win the last two events. Ted Christopher has been a tough competitor all year and I expect him to be over the final two races. There is a lot of racing to be done.”

Thompson International Speedway has hosted the final race of the season twelve times. During the 1995 season the series final two events were also held at Thompson. Tony Hirschman won his first championship that season by 3 points over Steve Park which remains the closest margin in series history.

NEW ENGLAND DODGE DEALERS TWIN 100’S NOTES

• Posted awards are $78,355 for the 100-lap race. Bud Pole qualifying is scheduled for 2:30 pm on Oct. 8 to determine positions 1-28. 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 33 cars.

• The New England Dodge Dealers Twin 100’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Portion is scheduled to begin at approximately 6:45 on Saturday Oct. 8

• This will be the fourth of five events at Thompson in 2005. Ted Christopher won the Icebreaker in April, Tony Hirschman was the winner of a 150 lap event in August and Ted Christopher won the Thompson 300 in September.

• The series qualifying record at Thompson is 18.505 seconds (121.215 mph) set by Bob Polverari on April 21, 2001.

• Several season ending awards are still up for grabs. Ted Christopher leads Tony Hirschman in the Tom Baldwin Memorial standings, with five awards to Hirschman’s four. John Blewett, III has collected three Featherlite Most Improved Driver awards; four drivers are tied with two. Dave Etheridge, Zach Sylvester and Jerry Marquis sit atop the Powerade Power Move of the Race standings with two awards each. Tony Hirschman has locked up the Bud Pole title. Tyler Haydt will be the 2005 Sunoco Rookie of the Year.