Northwest Motorsports: Thompson changes fortunes
Spokane’s Shelby Thompson had one of those seasons last year that racers dream about. All the pieces – skill, preparation and luck – came together
Thompson was consistent and admittedly lucky as he had his best late-model season. He finished a close second in Late Model Challenge Series points to Tacoma’s Troy Conrad.
In 2007, the luck that showered down on Thompson a year ago has been nowhere to be found – until last Sunday, that is.
“We’ve had kind of a bumpy start this season,” said Thompson’s dad, Bill. “It was nice to have that (win) erase everything.”
There was a time last Sunday, with about 15 laps to go and Thompson comfortably in second place, when that finish would have been just fine.
“Kevin (Richards) had a pretty good lead,” said Bill Thompson. “If we had of caught him, of course it would have been a challenge getting around him. But I don’t think it would have happened.”
In the back of his mind Bill Thompson thought he’d like to see a caution.
“About the time I got that last thought in my mind, here it came and bunched ‘em (the field) up. … Shelby pressured him for a while. I think he (Kevin) might have overheated his tires.”
Thompson will see if this turn in fortunes is permanent when he heads back to Wenatchee and returns to the ARCA/Late Model Challenge wars. The LMCS has seen a lot of crossover between drivers in the ASA Northwest Tour.
Wenatchee’s quarter-mile is a track at which Shelby Thompson has shown his best but also suffered adversity.
Superstocks hurry back
The Inland Northwest Superstock drivers normally have at least two weeks to fix the dents and make the necessary changes for their next race. This week it’s a mere six days.
Fresh off running a Sunday afternoon makeup race at Spokane Raceway Park – following a rainout the night before – INSSA gears up for a return to Stateline Speedway on Saturday.
Moving into Saturday’s racing program, which includes the Northwest Legends and Late Model 4, Dave Garber maintains a one-point lead over Kevin Richards, with Jeff Fenton, Corey Allard and Jeff Little less than 40 points behind. Racing starts with time trials at 6 p.m.
Tour reschedules
After waiting 20 years for the Northwest Tour to return to the Spokane area, what’s another two weeks? With last Saturday’s race called off by bad weather before it started, series officials set June 23 as the new date at Stateline Speedway.
Joining the Northwest Tour is the second annual Northwest Pro 4 Nationals, featuring a combination of local Northwest Late Model 4’s, the Foreign Stock Car Racing Association and drivers representing Northwest Pro-4 Alliance.
Pit stops
Northport International Raceway will feature it midseason championship on Sunday. Racing in four classes – Modifieds, Street Stocks, Fever 4s and Hornets – begins with time trials at 1 p.m.
“Spokane Raceway Park will feature the Northwest Modifieds on Saturday night on the oval with bracket competition on the drag strip. Gates open at 5 pm. The open wheel modifieds expect to see a handful of visiting cars from Wenatchee in the field.
Streaks ‘n’ stats
Stateline Road Runner driver Russell Syverson has used two main event wins this year to forge a 441-394 points lead over the Hatton/Yager team in points through Wednesday. … Despite having scored four main event victories in 2007, Yvonne Lifsey is tied with Vern Dorsey for the lead in Bump-to-Pass at Stateline. … Two wins and some consistency in other races have allowed Tom Plybon to move to a 429-349 points lead over John Vallone in Fever Four Hobbies.