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| News from our Friends in NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series | by Mark Mockovak
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The opening round of the 2004 NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series season -- the 20th year of racing for this unique series -- is just days away as the stars of NASCAR's only open wheeled touring series ready for the April 4 Icebreaker at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway.
"Thompson International Speedway has been the site of so many incredible moments in the history of this series," said Chris Boals, NASCAR's director of regional touring. "This year's field of Featherlite Modified Series teams and drivers is full of talent that can only add to those great memories.
"For two decades, the teams, tracks and drivers of this series have worked very hard to preserve an important part of NASCAR history -- Modified racing -- while at the same time developing a racing style that is unlike anything else in our sport today," continued Boals. "The Featherlite Modified Series enjoys a strong a dedicated fan following that has learned to love these unique and thrilling machines -- and they are rarely disappointed."
Fittingly, for the eighth time in series history, the Icebreaker will be the opening event. Thompson has hosted 82 Featherlite Modified Series events since 1985. The 150-lap race is scheduled to start at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 4. Bud Pole qualifying is scheduled for Saturday, April 3 at 2:45 p.m. Drivers will be trying to eclipse the track record of 18.505 seconds (121.215 mph) set by Bob Polverari in 2001.
The Icebreaker will be the first of four series races at Thompson during the 2004 season.
The 2003 Featherlite Modified Series Champion, Todd Szegedy, of Ridgefield, Conn., will defend his series' title behind the wheel of the Haynes Material Ford. A host of drivers are ready to replace Szegedy as series champion.
Ransomville, N.Y., driver Chuck Hossfeld, runner-up to Szegedy in 2003, will be looking for his first series title behind the wheel of the Mystic Missile Dodge. Hossfeld was picked in a preseason media poll as the favorite to win the series championship. He is also the defending champion of the Icebreaker.
John Blewett III of Howell, N.J., was the third place finisher in the 2003 title hunt and is also hoping to win his first series championship.
Former series champions Jerry Marquis and Rick Fuller as well as veteran Ted Christopher will no doubt be factors in the championship chase in 2004 and are hoping for early season success at Thompson. Another driver to watch at Thompson is three time champion Tony Hirschman, who has won the series' last two events at Thompson.
The 2003 series Rookie of the Year Donny Lia, joins Nevin George, Doug Coby and Dave Etheridge as some of the rising stars with title aspirations in 2003.
A large filed of NASCAR Featherlite Modified teams are expected as 42 teams had filed entries as of March 26.
ICEBREAKER 2003 NOTES
· Posted awards are $77,973 for the 150-lap race. Bud Pole qualifying is scheduled for 2:45 pm on Saturday, April 3 to determine positions 1-33. Four provisional starting positions (two owner & two driver) based on 2003 Featherlite Modified Series Point standing and one past champion provisional are available for a maximum starting field of 38 cars.
· The Icebreaker will start at approximately 3:00 pm on Sunday, April 4.
· Chuck Hossfeld is the defending champion of the Icebreaker.
· Several other drivers currently competing on the series have scored icebreaker wins. They are: 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 Featherlite Modified Series races than any other speedway. There have been 82 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: Tom Baldwin, Ken Bouchard, Jan Leaty, Rick Fuller, Carl Pasteryak and Jamie Tomaino.
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