THOMPSON, Conn. — The most well liked driver on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour to open 2026 is definitely Stephen Kopcik.
After incomes in his twenty third profession begin, Kopcik collected one other checkered flag on Sunday at . Kopcik earned that victory because of a late-race pit cease that catapulted him to the race lead.
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Observe place proved pivotal through the Icebreaker 150 and Kopcik knew his greatest likelihood at usurping McKennedy would seemingly come on pit highway. Kopcik credited his Wanick Motorsports crew not just for their effectivity at Thompson, however for the exhausting work they‘ve proven via the primary three occasions.
“That pit cease was essential,” Kopcik mentioned. “They killed it as soon as once more. By popping out first, that provides you lane alternative and which means quite a bit right here with 40 to go. It‘s unbelievable as a result of yesterday I used to be questioning if I knew the best way to drive this place. To come back right here and win on the Whelen Modified Tour is unbelievable.”
Kopcik now joins a small, however elite group of drivers who’ve received a Thomposn NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour occasion. That features the all-time sequence wins chief Mike Stefanik, together with Justin Bonsignore, Ted Christopher, Jeff Fuller, Richie Evans and lots of others.
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The pace Kopcik possessed at Martinsville carried over into a chilly day round Thompson‘s quick, banked format. He certified three one-thousandths of a second behind entrance row starters Jon McKennedy and Matt Hirschman, neither of whom have received a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour occasion at Thompson.
It didn’t take lengthy for Kopcik to seek out his manner round Hirschman, however passing McKennedy proved to be a extra arduous process. With McKennedy receiving the good thing about clear air, Kopcik was compelled to comply with him for many of the Icebreaker 150‘s center portion, all whereas he patiently waited for a chance to materialize.
Ronnie Williams‘ crash within 45 laps remaining was the break Kopcik and Wanick Motorsports wanted. Kopcik‘s crew did their job with an environment friendly cease that bought their driver the lead, which means Kopick simply had to determine the best way to keep the highest spot with McKennedy making use of strain behind him.
Each try McKennedy made at Kopcik proved fruitless, which finally led him to lose the second place to two-time sequence champion Ron Silk. Though he step by step erased Kopcik‘s benefit, Silk didn’t have sufficient laps at his disposal to earn his first victory of the 2026 season.
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Had Silk chased down and overtaken Kopick, he would have change into the fifth driver to amass double digit NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour wins at Thompson alongside Stefanik, Bonsignore, Christopher and Fuller. As a substitute, Silk was left disenchanted with a runner-up end.
“[It all comes down] to trace place,” Silk mentioned. “We‘re all working the identical pace. In that final run, there was a component at the start of it the place Jon [McKennedy] was the very best, there was a component the place Stephen [Kopcik] was the very best and a component the place my automobile drove nice too. It‘s very robust to go, however it was a very good race with everyone and congrats to Stephen and his staff.”
through the Icebreaker 150 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on April 12, 2025 in Thompson, Connecticut. (Rachel O‘Driscoll/NASCAR)
Kopcik is one among many drivers Silk might want to cope with to acquire a 3rd title, particularly for the reason that former has now received two of the primary three races to open the season. The wins have helped Kopcik overcome a minor factors deficit that stemmed from a thirteenth within the season-opener at New Smyrna Speedway to now lead the standings for the primary time in his profession.
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“We‘re going to maintain working exhausting and attempt to present up with quick vehicles we will construct on,” Kopcik mentioned. “Momentum is big, however nothing goes to beat exhausting work. You‘ve bought to maintain working exhausting and preserve ensuring our vehicles are prepared and ready to the very best that we will put together them. We‘ll see what occurs.”
Mike Christopher Jr.‘s stable day at Thompson ended with a third-place end. McKennedy settled for fourth after a powerful begin to his day, with Hirschman finishing the highest 5.
, Justin Bonsignore, Craig Lutz, Chase Dowling and Tyler Rypkema had been sixth via tenth, respectively.
Up subsequent for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour would be the sequence’ lengthy awaited return to Oxford Plains Speedway on Could 2. The inexperienced flag will wave at 6:15 p.m. ET that night, with FloRacing offering reside protection of all of the on-track motion.
