WENATCHEE, Washington — Rick Thompson hadn’t been behind the wheel of a 4 cylinder car for over 3 years but no one would have known that Saturday night. Thompson, driving for his father Dave Thompson in the Hi-Way Auto/Ashley Machine Pro-4 Alliance Ford set a new Wenatchee Valley Super Oval track record and won the main event at the opening race of the 5 race series.
Thompson had spent the last several months rebuilding the car and thanks to the help of the Rumsey Race team, was able to make practice on Friday night. Off the trailer the car proved to be fast and Thompson proved he had not forgotten how to drive. He was the top of the speed charts giving him momentum going into Saturday’s events.
With rain lingering all day, practice was cut short. Racing was looking doubtful, but the Wenatchee Valley Super Oval management came down and said they were going to do everything they could to get the race in. The rain broke and each group had a quick practice session before qualifying. Thompson shattered the previous record of 13.583 with his time of 13.197. The next qualifier turned a 13.325. He drew a 12 car invert for the main event.
Starting 12th in the 27 car field proved a bit of a challenge early on. The leaders began lapping cars within the first few laps adding to the cars that had to be passed to get to the front. But Thompson found the holes and started charging hard to the front. On lap 22 Thompson took over the 3rd place spot but during a caution was 16 cars behind the leader due to the lapped cars. He continued on and took over the 2nd place position on lap 39 of the 75 lap main event and went to work on the leader. Lap 68 found leader Eddie Secord and Thompson behind a lapped car. Secord picked the high line. “I saw the opening on the bottom and thought this was my chance. I used up everything I had getting through all the traffic so I decided it was now or never.” Thompson said.
It worked and Thompson took over the lead and never looked back. On the checkered flag lap, driving with no brakes and a flat right rear tire, Matt Melby made a last ditch effort to catch Thompson but to no avail.
“It was a great way to start the season. This is the 3rd year in a row that Thompson Racing has won the Alliance opener. It is fun to be racing with family again and I think its going to be a great season.” Thompson added, “I couldn’t have gotten here without the help of Bob, Bud and Johnny Rumsey. They helped prepare one heck of a racecar and I appreciate it very much. I’m disappointed for Steve (Thompson) and my Dad and their motor problems. But they will get it figured out and be the car to beat.”
Thompson and the Pro-4 Alliance can next be seen at Yakima Speedway on June 20th. You can follow the series at their web site: nwpro4alliance.com.
