Thompson’s LM Title On William Wall’s Radar Again In ’17

Column By: MATTHEW WIERNASZ / RPW – SHREWSBURY, MA – William Wall will be back to defend his title in 2017 in the Late Model division beginning this weekend with the Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. Wall is planning to run the seven event schedule as well as the ACT Tour races at Seekonk and Thompson.

The Late Models will have some tough competition this season with Keith Rocco, Woody Pitkat, Brian Tagg, Ray Christian, III, Tom Carey, III, and Ray Parent to just name a few.

” All these guys their top notch in the Late Model field. Its definitely going to be exciting to watch. Will definitely be doing a lot of battle on the track and I am excited to learn a few things from some of these guys that have been around it. Hopefully we will give them a run for their money. ” Wall Said

One of the biggest sellers for Wall when he went to the Late Models was the fact that he could go to any track with the ACT Late Model and that he would not to have change anything on the car tech wise. He would tell you the only thing you would have to change is rear end gear and maybe shocks and springs and a different setup. The big thing for Wall it kept the cost down.

” You look at some of these other divisions. One track has this rule and you have to implement it for another track and then your changing too much. Almost becomes like you have two cars. A lower budget team like we have is definitely a selling point for us to get into the crate engine that last forever. Its a great all around series. I am really happy with the way ACT runs their program.” Wall Said

Thompson had 10 events in 2016. This year they are going to run seven. Wall could feel either way about it. Wall feels seven races is great financially and that way he can include other races on his schedule that he really wants to participate in. One race he would like to run in the New Hampshire Motor Speedway ACT Tour Invitational. He was hoping to do it last year. The only downside he sees to a seven race schedule is if Wall is running for points which each driver runs for and keeps an eye on.

” If you have one bad week. It kind of throws the whole championship out of it. You really have to be perfect in those seven races. If you really have a bad day. It really sets you back. You don’t have that 20 race schedule to make it up.” Wall Said

ACT Tour President Tom Curley has been involved in the racing industry for 40 years. Curley has been strict but fair over the years and the teams and drivers respect him.

” Going to my very first ACT race was at Thompson two years ago and going to his drivers meeting and he really emphasized on if you really want to go out and spend all the money on a motor. There are divisions you can go race. If you want to put tires on every time the car goes out on the track. There are divisions that do it but the way he kind of reels everybody in to keep affordable and to keep it as competitive.” Wall Said

Wall believes with most divisions the ACT Tour has the most competition and feels the playing field is so level and that it puts the responsibility into the driver and crew setting the car up and getting little every extra out of it but also keeping it within a budget. Wall definitely has a lot of respect for Curley. He feels he definitely makes you read the rulebook over and over again to see if you can find that one loophole anywhere but Wall feels that Curley has the rulebook pretty tightened up and that their is not much you can do with these cars that wouldn’t give you a huge advantage but for that Wall definitely respects him and that was one of the biggest things he liked about it was the playing field was so level. Wall will definitely miss Curley when he retires but feels he will definitely be at the races and that he is a long time racer and that he will sill be there and great to have.

Some of the local racers may have the chance to race against some of the biggest competitors on the ACT Tour from the Northeast and parts of Canada. One of the things Wall emphasized to Thompson General Manager Josh Vanada was Wall loved of how they did the late model race Friday night of World Series weekend. That way the next day the Thompson Late Model teams could have an opportunity to qualify for the ACT race on Saturday.

Wall clinched the 2016 Late Model championship at Thompson on Friday night of the World Series last year. Wall had planned on running the ACT Tour event the next day. They had everything pre planned in the garage so after the race on Friday night. The team went back to the shop in Shrewsbury and made the changes they needed to run the 75 lap race with the ACT Tour drivers. It was good planning on the teams part beforehand. He did have time to celebrate the championship. One of his sponsors always brings a camper to the World Series and the Icebreaker. Wall had a burger with them and hung out for a while. It was very special but still a lot of work to do both races. It was a lot to handle but definitely doable.

To Wall it is honestly unbelievable that he won a championship at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

” I still wake up in the morning and say man I won the championship at Thompson Speedway. Its one of the greatest short track racing around. The 5/8’s high banked track. Everyone knows what local short track. The first track that pops in is Thompson Speedway. To win there against Rick Gentes and racing with him and some of the best exciting champions Brian Tagg in 2015. It was almost emotional. I am not an emotional guy. I kind of keep my head and everything but it was still unbelievable. One of the greatest accomplishments in my racing career.” Wall Said

To start off the 2016 season, Wall came out of the gate strong winning three races in a row which gave the team a lot of momentum for the rest of the year. The good forward bite. There were a few times where Wall got roughed up or got into a couple wrecks. It would not set the team back but it would make them work harder and earn that championship. Wall was more focusing on his health where he would exercise and stay in shape so he could stay focus.

” Its hard to find a tenth in the race car but when I could go out and exercise and make sure I am sharp on that first lap as well as that last lap so I really worked myself as a driver. We really didn’t have to many ups and downs. It was pretty much the same tone all year.” Wall Said

Wall will go into 2017 like he did in 2016 with solid top 5 finishes and make sure to keep the car in one piece.

” Its a lot easier to work on the car when you’re not fixing it every week. As a driver we’re focusing on keeping the car in one piece. Kind of go from there. Hoping for consistent finishes and the points will sort themselves out and will be there at the end I hope.” Wall Said

His goals are definitely get a few wins and just run a good late model team.

The 2017 Icebreaker will kickoff this weekend at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park with qualifying on Saturday and the 25 lap feature on Sunday.