NWMT: Dream Comes True For Solomito

First Career Whelen Modified Win Comes At Icebreaker

THOMPSON, Conn. — Timmy Solomito’s dreams came true Sunday afternoon.

The 24-year-old from Islip, New York, ran away with the 42nd Annual Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park to secure his first career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory. Solomito powered past former champion and current NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Ryan Preece to lead the final 34 laps of the Icebreaker 150 en route to the checkered flag.

“I never thought this day would come,” Solomito said. “You lie in bed thinking about things like this. This is a dream come true.”

The victory came in Solomito’s 36th career start. He is in his second full season driving the No. 16 Diversified Metals/R.B. Enterprises Ford for Flamingo Motorsports. The team had won tour championships with Mike Stefanik (2006) and Preece (2013) before turning to the Long Island native. Solomito’s previous best finish was third, four times, including the final two races of 2015.

Preece settled for a runner-up finish, while Justin Bonsignore finished third. Defending tour champion Doug Coby, who was looking for his fifth straight win at Thompson, won the Coors Light Pole Award Saturday but faded late Sunday to finish fourth. Ron Silk rounded out the top five.

The race went green for the first 81 laps. The first caution allowed for all the teams to come down pit road, and Solomito gained three spots to move up to fourth on the restart. Preece, who led the first 85 laps, gave up the lead to Bonsignore, before Solomito powered into the lead for the first time. Preece got the lead back briefly, but Solomito regained the point and steadily pulled away. He won by 3.512 seconds.

Donny Lia, Eric Goodale, Jimmy Blewett, Rowan Pennink and Woody Pitkat rounded out the top 10.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will race next in the NAPA Spring Sizzler 200 at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway on Sunday, April 24.

RESULTS | RACE CENTRAL LIVE REPLAY

Timmy Solomito led 50 laps en route to his first career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory Sunday at Thompson (Conn.) Speedway Motorsports Park. Adam Glanzman/NASCAR via Getty Images