Andy Has Strong Run Spoiled at Thompson

Thompson International Speedway is one of the most historic racetracks in the Northeast, especially when it comes to the exciting open-wheeled Modifieds. The Modifieds were seemingly born and raised at the high-banked 5/8-mile track in the Northeast hills of Connecticut. When TIS hosted its first-ever Modified Mania event on Sunday afternoon, it was like a family reunion of sorts, with Modifieds of all shapes and sizes were at Thompson, including the True Value Modified Racing Series making its first-ever trip to Thompson.

Andy Seuss, driver of the #70 Rockingham Boat/Manchester Urology Associates TVMRS entry was amped up for Modified Mania. After getting his feet wet on the big tracks that the series' big cousin, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, earlier this season at New Hampshire International Speedway, Seuss thought he had a leg up on the competition at another big track Sunday.

He was right. Seuss was in contention for a strong finish for much of Sunday’s 75-lap Thompson race, but a little bit of misfortune cost him a strong finish. Overheating problems forced him to lose valuable track position and a late crash ruined what could have been a banner day in Seuss’ career.

“My first experience at Thompson, the crew gave me a great car so I can smile about that,” said Seuss. “We were overheating a little bit, went into the pits three different times and marched to the front three different times. I was in fourth before that last caution came out, but because I just got there they put me back to fifth, and that’s pretty much where it starts.

Seuss had his eyes on a strong finish, but contact with another vehicle cost him a chance for victory and put a hurting on his #70 machine.

“Some people…stupid moves. Can’t really say anything more than that. Everybody wants their win here at Thompson in front of the Whelen Tour guys, but I think a lot of those people who were hoping to put their resumes out there just got written off a lot of lists because they pulled some real bonehead moves out there, and we were on the short end of the stick. Just the wrong place at the wrong time being boxed up on the outside.

“It started down in turns one and two with people getting too aggressive, and it finished for us down in three and four. We get a DNF because of it, but not from lack of effort. Great job by the guys, putting the Rockingham Boat, Manchester Urology Modified to the front.”

Despite the bad luck at Thompson, Seuss is still focused on a return appearance at New Hampshire International Speedway this Friday afternoon in the New Hampshire 100 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event.

“Hopefully we’ll get it back together and go run Loudon. It’s gonna take a little bit of money to fix this. One thing that we were hoping to not have, and to head towards Loudon, have a good car and be able to buy a bunch of tires and go run with those Whelen guys, but we’ll see what happens.”