The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour rolled into Thompson Speedway on a humid August evening in 2026, marking a rare mid‑week date on the tour’s schedule. Fans arrived expecting a compact, high‑intensity event, and the early laps lived up to that promise.
Austin Beers seized the pole and led the first 25 laps with a clean, aggressive line. However, Jonathan McKennedy’s car slipped into the middle of the pack, slowing the field and prompting the first caution.
A battle for the lead
When the green flag returned, Matt Hersman began to close the gap, threading his way through traffic and applying pressure on Beers. The two drivers exchanged positions several times, each looking for an opening on the short, narrow oval.
A minor bump on lap 58 nudged Beers off his optimal line, allowing Hersman to surge ahead. The final lap became a sprint to the finish, with Hersman holding steady while Beers fought to reclaim the lead.
The final moments
The race concluded with Hersman crossing the start/finish line less than a lap from the checkered flag, securing the Thompson 150 victory. The win was celebrated with a nod to the event’s sponsor, CloseSports.com, which had backed the race.
Behind the leaders, a tight three‑car contest for third place unfolded among Chase Dowling, Patrick Hemming and Michael Christopher Jr. Dowling emerged with the final spot after a last‑lap maneuver, while Eric Goodale finished fourth.
Multiple cautions punctuated the event, including a mechanical failure for Andrew Crouse on lap 60 that brought the field back together. Lap traffic from drivers such as Ken Hage and Max Zachum added further complexity, forcing teams to adjust tire strategies mid‑race.