NOTE: This is what we posted throughout the day on the front page of EastSeries.com throughout the Thompson International Speedway race day. If you were at the track or not able to get to the site over the course of the weekend, this will give you some idea of how the event progressed from our first arrival on the grounds Saturday morning until we packed up to leave Saturday evening. This is probably best read from the bottom up.

lap 97 restart: 1 leads 11 but side-by-sidedown backstretch. 1 gets lead out fo four, followed by 11 then 55 inside 18, 2 spins turn one but gets going. 37 and 39 bounce off each other in four but keep going. Last lap: 1 11 55 18 8 88 40 03 3 30 16 39 21. We'll post a quick-n-dirty when it's available but now it's time to pack up and talk to some drivers.

one lap of caution is being burned off to deliver the message that next time, not going single-file under caution will not be tolerated. Going green lap 97. "we're going to finish this on a good note"

44 on pit road with krinkled rear while they called off the threat to post 3 and 8. running order, under caution lap 94: 11 1 55 18 88 8 03 37 40 3 30 39 16 52 21 5 71 4 7 22 35 44

running three-wide under caution: 3 40 37 "if you don't get single file, we're going to start posting cars". "guys we're not kidding, if you're not going to get single-file we're going to bring you down pit road and you're going to know where you go". 3 and 8 both posted, big fun!

lap 91: 11 1 55, 44 insdie 18, 35 YELLOW lap 91: 44 spins turn two, 35 spins exiting turn 2 and nobody got collected. not sure how... 44 dinged in rear, 16 right door peeled back somewhat but everybody's rolling

restart: nice and even going to 1. 11 leads down backstretch with 1 55 then 44 inside 18, 35 88 8 37 03

restarting lap 89: this could be ahhh interesting.

under caution lap 86: 15 on pit road. running order: 1 11 44 55 88 18 8 35 03 37 3 40 4 30 16 39 52 22 5 21 7 71

15 posted for juming the restart. on track: 1 11 55 44 99. YELLOW lap 84: 99 slowed coming into turn 3 and half-spun, was hit by 2 who got on the brakes and spun up to hit 99's right side with 2's rear end. 99 is behing the wall, 2 on pit road and now 71 on pit road with flat left rear

restarting lap 81: even restart with 11 and 1 side by side down backstretch. 1 gets nose ahead going into 3, still side by side into 1. 1 again noses ahead going down backstretch and leaves turn 4 with lead

getting one-to-go on lap 80. 11 1 44 55 18 88 8 71 35 37 03 3 99 4 40 16 30 39 22 7 52 5 21 2 15. 08 still on track but suggesting he not be. 21 and 2 on pit road

15 is free pass car as 41 rolls to the entrance to pit road. 41 going on the hook

lap 75: 11 1 44 55 18 88 8 71 35 37 which might be dragging something... nah they say he's OK. YELLOW lap 76: 41 Pritchard slid up and caught turn 3 outside wall and is stopped across the track

lap 73: 11 1 44 55 18 88 8 71 35 37 03 3 99 4 40 16 30 39 22 7 52 5 21

lap 71: 11 1 44 55 18 88 8 71 37 35 03 3 99 4 40 16 30 39 22

lap 68: 11 1 44 then 55 going to the front. then 18 88 8 71 37 and 03 alongside 35. 3 then 99, 16 alongside 4, then 40 30 39 22

lap 65: 11 1 44 18 and 88 enters turn 3 high for a nervous moment.

lap 63: 15 Ickler on pit road. on track: 11 1 44 18 88 8 with 55 coming up the inside. 55 now alongside 8 followed by 71 37 and 3 alongside 03

working lap 61: 11 1 44 18 while 2 does a half spin in the back. No yellow, so lap 62: 11 1 44 18 88 8 then 55 inside 71

restart lap 60: running order 11 1 44 18 8 88 55 71 3 37 99 03

radio chatter says 40 is back on the lead lap. Restarting lap 60 of 100

40 gets free pass, not sure if this puts him on the lead lap or still one down. Pitting: 22 5 21

YELLOW lap 56, 21 Smith spun and stopped in turn two. He now drives away.

working lap 55: 11 1 44 18 8 then 55 inside 88, 71 3 03 16 then 35 inside 39

restarting lap 53: very even start. 11 leaves 1 to fend off 44 then 18, 88 and 8. 96 is out: radiator

40 gets the free pass. pitting: nobody. restarting lap 53 with running order 11 1 44 18 88 8 71 55 99 3 03 37 16 39 35 5 21 22 30 4 52 7... 15 and 2 on pit road

working lap 48: 96 behind wall. on track: 11 1 44 18 88 8 71 55 15 99 3 03 YELLOW lap 49: 15 Ickler solo spun off turn 2, drives away without hitting anything

working lap 46: 11 1 44 18 88 8 71 55 15 99 3 03 16, 41 back on pit road with rear suspension woes

restart lap 44: 11 gets jump on 1. better restart, cleaner: but 11 warned that he was close to jumping

restart next time by (lap 44): 08 black flagged for not having communications with the pits. 40 on pit road with another possible low tire

working caution lap 41 with track crews just about done in turn 2. Going one-to-go next time (lap 44). 41 and 96 on pit road, 41 under hood, 96 doing plastic surgery to nose

pitting: 4. 35 is trying to stay up front, probably won't stay there. He'll restart in front of the 5 which will put him about 20thish.

Restart lap 38: 11 gets jump in outside, 35 spins and they all scramble. Looks like everybody got away but there are some dinged noses and a track in need of dusting off. YELLOW is out, 2 gets free pass.

pitting under yellow (lap 35): 2 96 30 52. Running order: 35 11 1 18 44 71 88 55 8 15 99 3 16 4 37 03 5 21 22 7 39 30 52 96 41 then 40 and 08 lapped. Going green lap 38

CAUTION lap 33: 2 Goess spins in turn three to back into outside wall. Drives away with damage to left rear. 41 gets lap back.

working lap 30: 40 now 3 laps down. 08 being told to pick up the pace. Up front: 35 11 1 18 44 71 88 55 8 15 99 3 16 4 37 03 5 96 2 21 30 22 52 7

working lap 27: 40 slow, flat tire with sparks coming from underneath. 35 takes lead, 40 to pits with flat right front

working lap 25: 40 35 11 18 1 44 71 88 55 8 15 99 3 16 4 5 37 03 96 2 22 21 30 52 7 39 on the lead lap. 41 then 08 laps down, no retirees

working lap 21: 40 35 18 11 1 44 71 88 55 8 15 99 3 16 4 5 37 03 inside 96. 55 Leighton got sideways in turn 2 but recovered, now has both 8 and 15 stacked up behind him

starting lap 19: 40 35 now 1 inside 18 with 11 also there behind 41.

starting lap 17: 40 35 now ahead of 18, 1 11 44 71 88 52 8 15 99 3 16 4 5 96 37 03 2 22 21 30 52 7 39.. 41 is now lapped

starting lap 13: 40 reporting 'funky' brakes but still leads... 40 then 18 battling 35, 1 44 71 11 88 8 55 15 99 3 16 4 5 96 37 03 2 22 21 30 52 7 39 41 and lapped 08

starting lap 11: 40 18 35 1 71 44 11 88 8 55 15.. 35 looking inside 18, 35 inside 18 lap 12, 18 turns back that challenge

starting lap 7: 18 40 35 then 1 71 44 11 88 8 15 55 99 3 16 4 5 96 37... reports of smoke or fluid from 08 Oliver who is about to get lapped. 40 looking inside 18, 40 inside 18 lap 10, 40 takes lead from 18 turn one lap 10

starting lap 6: 18 40 35 1 71 44 11 88 8 15 55 99 3 16 4 5 96 37 03 2

lap 5: 18 40 35 1 71 44 1 88 8 15 55 3 99 16 4 5 96

18 then 1 inside 40, 71 inside 35.. 18, 40, 1/35, now 18 40 35 1 71

Fireworks going off on the backstretch as we're coming to the green

Two laps to green

Engines have been fired

Driver introductions are under way with the drivers in their cars

8:12 p.m. - The PASS race is over with Rick Martin winning. All that's left to run tonight is the East Series hundred-lapper.

7:51 p.m. - We're 50 laps into the 75-lap PASS feature which has turned into a fantastic three-car race between Rick Martin, Derek Ranstrom, and Trevor Sanborn. Jonny Clark, Travis Benjamin, and Ben Rowe are also in the mix. Once that's done, the East Series gets the track for 100 laps. Stay tuned and we'll bring updates from that race, though with our bring-your-own Internet it's not going to be quite as smooth or frequent as they were in say NHMS.

6:11 p.m. - The first lap turned in time trials wound up being the fastest as Trevor Bayne got his first career pole here at Thompson International Speedway. Bayne's fast lap of 20.357 seconds held up as 27 other drivers took a shot at the top spot, but it was not bettered. Marc Davis starts second, followed by NHMS winner Eddie MacDonald, Watkins Glen winner Matt Kobyluck, and Peyton Sellers. Qualifying results are Here. Race time is set for 8:30, after a number of local track divisions and the Pro All Stars Series, and we'll do our durndest to provide updates in this space during the running of the race.

5:07 p.m. - Qualifying will probably be delayed somewhat as there has been an accident with some track clean-up needed in the first of two PASS heats. In the meantime, here's a picture of Rogelio Lopez' accident from earlier today. Dave Davis builds them fast, and he builds them safe. Lopez will race later tonight.

4:30 p.m. - Qualifying will be held at 5:15 p.m. The qualifying order: 1, 37, 96, 88, 55, 39, 30, 7, 8, 08, 71, 2, 5, 52, 03, 22, 21, 99, 15, 41, 16, 11, 35, 44, 05 (scratched), 4, 3, 18, and 40. We'll have live coverage of qualifying in this space as it happens.

4:20 p.m. - The field has been reduced by one since we last talked as #05 Guy Pavageau has withdrawn from the event. There's precious little else to report aside from the continuing sniping from the row behind me in the pressbox as representatives from The Backstretch and Green-White-Checker snipe back and forth with each other. It's kinda entertaining in a bizarre 'are mom and dad gonna split up?' kind of way.

2:46 p.m. - The second session is over and while it was very good for Trevor Bayne and Brian Ickler, it was very bad for Rogelio Lopez who reported a stuck throttle which sent him hard into the first turn wall. The TELMEX Chevrolet is about as badly crashed as I've seen in a long time, but Lopez walked away from the wreck. A backup car has been unloaded. Second practice times are posted Here.

1:15 p.m. - First practice times are posted Here.

12:58 p.m. - Just a lap and a half into the first practice session at Thompson, Matt Kobyluck blew a right front tire and hit the third turn wall. We all got to sit and cool our heels for a good fifteen minutes until a tow truck arrived: welcome back to the short tracks. Jody Lavender also blew a right front but did not hit anything, instead limping to pit road to wait for his crew to arrive with a jack, a wrench, and a spare. We're awaiting practice times. In other news, we should say hi to Jeff Anton's mom who's we imagine should be checking in here every once in a while throughout the race day.

11:30 a.m. - We're a couple of orders of magnitude removed from the cushy mohagany-lined pressboxes and media centers we've been enjoying for the last couple races, but there's something to be said about spending a quality Saturday at a hometown 5/8-mile track and sharing it with street stocks and the like. We're back to our roots here at Thompson with 29 cars unloaded and getting ready for practice. Guy Pavageau breaks his streak of showing up on entry lists but not showing up at races with his 2008 debut here. Dustin Delaney and Bryon Chew must have conspired with each other during the off weekend as both are here in uncharacteristically white cars. Alex Kennedy is back in Spraker's No. 37 and it's good to see Joe Oliver back to take another shot after not making the show back at Greenville. Add a second Eddie Sharp Racing Toyota for newcomer Eric Lux and we've got a wide open field for a relatively short blast of racing later tonight. Stay tuned here for updates throughout the day and maybe even during the race itself.