Midweek showdown awaits Whelen Modified Tour teams at Thompson

 Midweek showdown awaits Whelen Modified Tour teams at Thompson

August 3, 2026

By Adam Fenwick

For the NASCAR Wire Service

For the second time this season and 160th time overall, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park this Wednesday for a special midweek show (8 p.m. ET on FloRacing).

The Thompson 150 presented by FloSports.com is the 11th of 16 events on the 2026 Modified Tour schedule as competitors seek to build momentum heading into the stretch run. Championship leader Patrick Emerling returns to Thompson as the two-time and defending winner of the annual midweek show at one of Modified racing’s most historic venues.

Winners through the years at Thompson include of the greatest Modified racers in history, including Richie Evans, Mike Stefanik, Justin Bonsignore, Jeff Fuller, Ron Silk, Tony Hirschman, Rick Fuller, Doug Coby, Steve Park and Reggie Ruggiero, among others.

Tickets to Wednesday’s Thompson 150 presented by FloSports.com are available trackside. Below is everything you need to know about the 11th race of the 2026 season.

Thompson 150 presented by FloSports.com at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

Can anyone or anything stop Patrick Emerling right now?

The Modified Tour championship points leader has been unbeatable for the last month with victories at Claremont Motorsports Park, White Mountain Motorsports Park and Monadnock Speedway. Now a chance at history awaits Emerling if he can win Wednesday’s Thompson 150 presented by FloSports.com at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

In the history of the Modified Tour, a driver has won at least three consecutive races 18 times. However, only two drivers — Richie Evans and Mike Stefanik — have won four consecutive races or more. Emerling has a chance to join those two Modified racing icons in the record books with a victory Wednesday. That’s convenient since Emerling has won the last two midweek summer races at Thompson in 2024 and 2025.

Emerling will face stiff competition from a stacked field Wednesday night, including Stephen Kopcik, the most recent Thompson victor after his triumph in the Icebreaker 150 in April.

Seven-time Thompson winner Doug Coby will once again be in the field at the wheel of the No. 28 for Jett Motorsports, as will 2022 Thompson winner Eric Goodale. Jon McKennedy will continue his pursuit of his first Thompson victory, as will defending Modified Tour champion Austin Beers and perennial contender Matt Hirschman.

Other notable entrants include Tyler Rypkema, Ronnie Williams, Paulie Hartwig III, Chase Dowling, Mike Christopher Jr., Matt Swanson and Cory DiMatteo, who is making his first series start of 2023.

Race: Thompson 150 presented by FloSports.com

Date: Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026

Track: Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

Layout: 0.625-mile oval

Location: Thompson, Connecticut

Start time: 8 p.m. ET

Laps: 150

Posted Awards: $117,881

Tickets: Trackside

How to Watch: FloRacing

SCHEDULE: Wednesday, Aug. 5: Practice from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. … Final practice from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. … American Racer Pole Award qualifying at 7:15 p.m. … Start of the Thompson 150 presented by FloSports.com (150 Laps / 93.75 Miles) at 8 p.m. ET.

QUALIFYING: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the Thompson 150 presented by FloSports.com is limited to 26 starters including Provisional Positions.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is eleven (11) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by NASCAR Officials, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. Maximum of three (3) tires of the allotment may be used for change tires. The tire change rule is two (2) tires per stop. This includes “swapping” tires front to back.