Pit Box: Thompson begins a three-race stretch to end the 2024 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season

The next chapter of the intense, three-way battle for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour title will take place at one of the series' most iconic venues: Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

Since the facility opened to the public in 1940, Thompson has become the center of Modified competition in the northeastern United States. In the early days of the Modified Tour alone, Thompson hosted as many as five races in one year.

Many big names took checkered flags at Thompson. NASCAR hall of famer Richie Evans won the series' first four races at Thompson in 1985, and names like Jimmy Spencer, Mike Stefanik, Jeff Fuller, Steve Park, Ted Christopher and Justin Bonsignore later went on their own winning streaks at the track.

As has been the case throughout much of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Thompson plays a key role in the late-season championship fight. A strong race at Thompson will be essential for three championship contenders before 2024 ends with two straight events in the South.

Below is everything you need to know before Sunday's World Series 150 races at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

World Series 150 w Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

Patrick Emerling's emergence as a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship contender began during the series' second trip to Thompson in August.

No one in the 27-car field could match the blistering pace set by Emerling in the No. 1 car of Rich Gautreau, who led all 150 laps from pole position. This victory was the first of three that Emerling has accumulated over the last four events, and his consistency has him just 16 points behind the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points lead.

Still, Emerling still has work to do if he wants to overtake Ron Silk in the championship hunt. Not only does Silk lead all Modified Tour drivers this season with four wins, but the defending champion has also had plenty of success at Thompson while driving for Haydt Yannone Racing, winning two of the last three events there.

In the championship battle between Silk and Emerling is Justin Bonsignore, who won six consecutive races at Thompson in 2018-2019. Bonsignore chases redemption to agree to the 13th^t Victory for Thompson as missing a change in last year's fall race on the last restart directly cost him a chance at the title.

The three championship contenders will still face a much larger field of talented drivers in Sunday's World Series 150 at Thompson. Matt Hirschman is one of those names as he looks to make his first visit to Thompson's Victory Lane after his father Tony scored eight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victories at the facility from 1989-2005.

Other drivers scheduled to start at Thompson on Sunday include Jon McKennedy, Woody Pitkat, Chase Dowling, Matt Swanson, Anthony Nocella and Tim Connolly.

You can view the full entry list for the 150 World Series here.

REFERENCE RACING

Schedule: Sunday, October 13… Last practice from 12:25 to 13:25 ET… Qualifying at 14:15 ET… World Series 150 pres. via FloSports at 4:30 PM ET.

Qualifying: Two more qualifying laps. The faster lap determines the qualifying position. Once a vehicle has passed the green flag at the start/finish line, no adjustments or repairs may be made to the vehicle. NASCAR reserves the right to allow more than one vehicle to participate in qualifying runs at a time. Starting grid for the World Series 150 pres. by FloSports.com is limited to 30 starters, including interim positions.

Tire allocation: The maximum tire allocation available for this event is eleven (11) tires per team. All tires used in qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier unless otherwise approved by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used to qualify and start the race. All eligible tires must remain impounded until issued by NASCAR authorities. The remaining tire allocation can be used for training and/or replacing tires during competition. The tire replacement rule is two (2) tires per warning.