For Northwest racers one of the most anticipated events on the drag racing schedule has to be the
NHRA Northwest Nationals as no other track in the northwest corner of the country hosts an NHRA
Full Throttle Series national event. This is the big one where local talent in all sportsman
classes is showcased to the rest of the country. But for the competitive Clint Thompson, the
Seattle race is where he always runs his best having won this event twice in both 2005 and 2007
behind the wheel of the Cascade Auto Group Top Alcohol Funny Car.
Thompson made his bid to win number three by qualifying deep in a field made up of both west coast
and Canadian contenders. When qualifying was complete, Thompson ended up as the number eleven
qualifier with a solid 5.70 at 253 MPH. This would set up a first round showdown with Division Six
rival Brian Hough of Junction City, Oregon. "We're a little off of where the fast guys are running
so we need to see what we can do to get the car to run a little quicker" said the popular Klamath
Falls racer while studying the qualifying data inside his trailer prior to the first round.
Indeed, a lot was riding on this first round match up as both drivers badly wanted a win in
Seattle. At the light, Thompson two stepped it and was off the line too early and red lit. Adding
insult to injury the two step on the throttle caused the car to smoke the tires. Like any racer,
Thompson was disappointed but realized that there is plenty of races left in the season. "That's
drag racing and you need to remind yourself that there's always another race. We're going on to
Brainerd in few weeks so not to worry as we'll have another shot at a Wally there" Thompson
reasoned.
Thompson will forgo the Lucas Oil divisional event in Sonoma and will head to the Lucas Oil
Nationals in Brainard, August 13-16 followed by a division stop in Acton Montana on August 21-23.
