Deby
Nitro Member
The Winternationals certainly lived up to their name as cold wintry weather extended the race from a long weekend to a week long marathon. For Clint Thompson, the race‘s location is just a day long tow, all for the chance at winning one of drag racing’s biggest and most prestigious events. Thompson was in it to win it so waiting out the rain was well worth the chance of getting a shot at the winner’s circle and nothing new, living in the Northwest.
With all of the intermittent rain, most classes got only one chance to qualify. Fortunately, Thompson qualified on the provisional pole with a great 5.63 at 253 MPH. By the end of the session Thompson ended up in the number two position just behind Frank Manzo. In the first round, Thompson was to face Daniel Oliver driving Randy Goodwin’s popular machine. But Oliver was a no show. This gave Thompson the unusual chance to test in National event competition.
Unfortunately he was too aggressive and the tires went up in smoke immediately so he coasted down track for the win. In the second round, Thompson had a meeting with California regular Doug Gordon. Gordon got off the line first and never surrendered the lead. By the finish line, Gordon gained a tenth over Thomson and recorded a career best 5.51 at 261 MPH, to Thompson’s 5.61 at 254 MPH, which wrapped up the week long affair for the Cascade Auto Group team.
Next the team travels to sunny Phoenix Arizona for the Division Seven Lucas Oil Drag Race event Feb 27 - Mar 1 to start the divisional points series.
With all of the intermittent rain, most classes got only one chance to qualify. Fortunately, Thompson qualified on the provisional pole with a great 5.63 at 253 MPH. By the end of the session Thompson ended up in the number two position just behind Frank Manzo. In the first round, Thompson was to face Daniel Oliver driving Randy Goodwin’s popular machine. But Oliver was a no show. This gave Thompson the unusual chance to test in National event competition.
Unfortunately he was too aggressive and the tires went up in smoke immediately so he coasted down track for the win. In the second round, Thompson had a meeting with California regular Doug Gordon. Gordon got off the line first and never surrendered the lead. By the finish line, Gordon gained a tenth over Thomson and recorded a career best 5.51 at 261 MPH, to Thompson’s 5.61 at 254 MPH, which wrapped up the week long affair for the Cascade Auto Group team.
Next the team travels to sunny Phoenix Arizona for the Division Seven Lucas Oil Drag Race event Feb 27 - Mar 1 to start the divisional points series.
