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Getting Up To Speed With…Brian Thompson

Getting Up To Speed With…Brian Thompson
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Doc’s Photos)
Despite only racing half of the season in 2013 Brian Thompson showed big strides of improvement as a driver. Going into his first race with no dirt track racing experience he was able to build consistency after each night of action and get faster and faster as the rest of the season progressed.

In 2014 the Sweet Home native plans to run in the Super Sport division on a regular basis and hopes to be even more competitive as he begins his sophomore season. We got a chance to sit down and talk with Brian about racing and what sparked his interest in climbing into a cockpit and more. So let’s get up to speed with Brian Thompson.

Driver: Brian Thompson
Home Track: Willamette Speedway
Hometown: Sweet Home, Oregon
Occupation: Owner of Crocker’s Cars
Age: 39
Years Racing: 1

Classification: Super Sport
Car: 44T
Chassis: Swartz Race Cars
Sponsors: Crocker’s Cars, Left Coast Motorsports
Special Thanks: Nikea Thompson (Wife), Jeremy Shank, Norm Davis, Tony Koker

BD: Now Brian if I’m not mistaken last year was your first season competing in a race car, correct?
BT: Correct. I primarily raced in the Super Sports but I did run a couple of races with the Super Late Models. I started in June and made every race till the end of the season.

BD: With that being said how would you say things went in 2013?
BT: I was scared to death the first time out. When I went on to the track to pack it was gooey and I was slipping and sliding all over the place and I wondered what I had gotten myself into. I was terrible in qualifying but got quicker in the heat and by the main event felt more comfortable even passing cars.

Cody Sell drew a map of the track and showed me where the racing line was which helped me a ton. I ran real good until I think lap twenty-two and spun and took leader out so that’s how my first race went.

But the more I race the more confidence I gained and by the end of the year I’d throw the car into the corner a little harder knowing how the car would react. I had a major push problem in the first few races but Steve Moore really helped me out to fix it.

By the last race I started eleventh and finished fifth or sixth. I watched the video and could tell there was a big improvement from the first time out and the last time out.

BD: You ran in the #44 Super Sport mainly last year. Does that number have any significance to you or was it just a random number you selected?
BT: It’s been a number of mine throughout my entire athletic career. In football I was #43 but everything else I was #44. It has just been a number that has stuck with me over the years.

BD: Who are some people helping you out and making sure you’re back each week at the track?
BT: Well Cody Sell got me into racing so I got to thank him. We were talking one night and he said I should get a car and race it. So I got together with Jeremy Shank and he got a car together for me.

I talked to my wife about it and she was all for it and she loves going to the races anyway. I got to thank Jeremy, Norm Davis, and Tony Koker for working on the car because without them I wouldn’t be able to make this thing go.

BD: Looking to the future what are some goals that you have set for yourself in the coming season?
BT: Really to just learn something new each time I go out to the track whether it is car setup, equipment maintenance, etc. I’d also like to get more consistent and gain some more speed.

I have had a lot of fun with the Super Sport division. It gives me a chance to spend time with my family because they do not run every single week. We’ll see how the year is going but I might run with the Late Models a couple of times if the Super Sports have the night off.

The 2014 season is quickly approaching and Willamette Speedway is the place to get your racing fix. Saturday April 5th will kick things off with the test and tune open practice while the “Cabin Fever Season Opener” will be held the following Saturday on the 12th. Be sure and log on to http://www.trophymotorsports.com for the latest information regarding Willamette Speedway.

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