The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is set to return to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on August 5 for the Thompson 150, the eleventh event of the 2026 season. The midweek race draws a passionate crowd and serves as a pivotal moment in the championship battle.
Chasing History
Patrick Emerling, who has surged to the top of the points standings after three straight victories at Claremont, White Mountain and Monadnock, is chasing a piece of history. A win would give him a fourth consecutive win, a feat achieved only twice in series lore and one that would cement his place among the all‑time greats.
Adding extra intrigue, the race doubles as the second round of the FloRacing Connecticut Challenge, a four‑event miniseries that has already seen Stephen Kopcik take the early lead. While Emerling battles for his own milestone, Kopcik aims to extend his advantage in the regional series.
History looms large over the weekend. The last driver to win three races in a row before Emerling was Justin Bonsignore, who closed out the 2024 season with a three‑race streak. Now, if Emerling can add a fourth straight triumph, he would join Richie Evans and Mike Stefanik as the only drivers to reach four consecutive wins, a record that has only been set twice in the tour’s long history.
The track itself is a storied venue. Since 1985 Thompson has hosted more Whelen Modified starts than any other circuit, with 160 events to its name. Mike Stefanik, who holds the all‑time win record at the track with 15 victories, will be watching from the sidelines as the next generation attempts to etch their names into the record books.
The field will also feature familiar faces making their mark. Cory DiMatteo is slated to make his first start since 2023, while Max Zachem, who finished sixth at Claremont Motorsports Park, will appear in his fourth race of the season. Both drivers hope to capitalize on the unpredictable nature of short‑track racing.