RPW Exclusive: Strong Icebreaker Weekend for Mike Christopher Jr with podium finishes
RPW Exclusive Column By: Stephen Durham – RACEPROWEEKLY – THOMPSON, CT – Nothing like coming back home and competing on your local track and putting together strong finishes to build confidence. Mike Christopher Jr. did just that this weekend at Thompson Speedway with the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series on Saturday and then again on Sunday with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour with a pair of podium finishes.
Over the last several months, Christopher Jr has been traveling back and forth between his home state of Connecticut and down to North Carolina as he races select races with Halmar Friesen Racing on the NASCAR Craftsmen truck series. Christopher Jr. even discussed on the BlackFlagged Podcast about all the traveling he has had to do in preparing for the truck races.
“A lot has happened since we left Connecticut racing back in October last year. So, you know, I’ve been here, been there all over the place. I finally come back to Connecticut, see everyone again. It feels really good to have 2 strong runs, not only today in the NASCAR modified tour race, but yesterday in the tri track race, so I think we have 2 really good teams put together,” a very happy Christopher Jr explains.
Starting off the 52nd Annual Icebreaker weekend, Christopher Jr was unsure what to expect with the Monaco Modified series race, as they battled with different sets of tires and consistency.
“Practice we were last, then put a different set of tires on, and it just made the 00 modified, so much better,” a confused Christopher Jr says, “not sure what’s going on with the tires, different drivers had different issues, ‘one set was slow, another set was fast’ or some type of polar opposites when tires were changed.”
At the end of the day with the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series, Christopher Jr. was battling it out with McKennedy, and came away with a runner-up finish.
“On that final restart, I knew the tires were smoked, I just wanted to see where I would end up by the end of turn 1, he(McKennedy) drove it in there and passed me, I knew then it was just a battle for 2nd” a happy Christopher Jr. explained, “I’m happy with it, this modified was destroyed last year the last time we ran it. I’m really thankful for Jimmy Paige and all his guys to put it back together and get me back out here this year.
On Sunday’s portion of the Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway, Christopher Jr. was piloting the Elite Racing/Baker Racing 31 for Alan Derling. Christopher Jr. was fast in qualifying, have fast time set until the end, when he was knocked back to fourth. Christopher Jr. ran within the top 10 to top 5 most of, if not all of the 150 laps.
“It was a really strong day, we got backed up on pit-road there, and that’s something we’ll just work on, but we’re also in the back of pit-road, where guys are just all over, it’s a cluster back there,” Christopher Jr. explains, “I had to put in reverse and get out of my box, so we lost spots there on pit-road.”
Even with the issues on pit-road, Christopher Jr. had confidence in his Elite/Baker Racing machine to make his way back through traffic.
“Once the flag dropped again, I knew we were really good and just didn’t waste any time getting by anybody. The car was really, really good and got up to third. Probably could have got second, but, you know, ran out of time,” a very happy Christopher Jr said.
After these strong finishes with the Jimmy Paige owned 00 tour type modified and the Elite/Baker Racing NASCAR modified, it has Christopher Jr. looking forward to the upcoming races with those teams. Along with running well with the modifieds, it’s helping build confidence overall for his season whether in the modifieds or the NASCAR Craftsmen Truck series.
“This is a confidence booster. We got a week off and then the Sizzler and truck stuff is, you know, sporadic. So that’s always a work in progress, but I feel confident pretty much on all ends right now, so it could be dangerous,” a confident Christopher Jr says.
Mike Christopher Jr. was especially thankful for Alan Derling with the 31 team, Darryl Baker, Dave, Gino, all the guys that help put it together on the 31 team, and then thankful for Jimmy Paige and his team that do it for the 00 modified as well.
