<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/clintheadshot1.jpg" alt="clintheadshot1" align="right"borders="0"/>
Mission Canada - Clint Thompson, pulled off a "threepeat" victory by winning the Lordco Auto Parts BC Nationals at Mission Raceway convincingly over a tough top alcohol funny car field. Thompson beat Sean O'Bannon to take his third straight title in Mission Canada. The win gave Thompson four final round appearances in four tries as the team did not compete at the race in 2005. Thompson won the event utilizing an engine built by Bob Minor. Joey Severence who races in the Top Alcohol class also won the event using a Bob Minor engine.
Besides winning the event for the third consecutive year, it was a meaningful win as they were without crew member Kelly Mercier who was at the bedside of his son Conrad Mercier, a graduating high school senior who is recovering from heart surgery. "We told Conrad we would go win this race for him and he said if we did he would drag the trophy up to the graduation stage. Now, he really gets to do it." Thompson said. Conrad is expected to be out of the hospital in time for the graduation ceremony.
Thompson, qualified on the pole with a 5.62 ET at 257 MPH. In the first round, Thompson drew no. 8 qualifier Nathan Sitko from Edmonton. Sitko stepped it up in the first round and left on Thompson with a 0.069 light to Thompson's 0.081. But Thompson was able to make up the difference with a 5.63 at 257.06 MPH to Sitko's impressive 5.87 at 242 MPH.
In the semis it was a rematch of last year's final round as Thompson met u p with Oregon rival Brian Hough. This time Clint was out of the gate first with a 0.072 reaction time to Hough's 0.103. At the stripe it was Thompson with a 5.63 at 257 MPH. Hough was closely behind with a 5.71 at 255 MPH. Thompson was then just one round away from a threepeat with only Sean O'Bannon in the Patron car standing in his way. The final round proved to be one of the most exciting races of the day as both cars left nearly together with Thompson getting a slight edge with a 0.090 reaction time to O'Bannon's 0.097. At the finish line it was Thompson by less than a fender with a 5.68 at 256 MPH to O'Bannon's close 5.69 at 257 MPH. "It was a very close race, it shook at the top of low gear and spun the tires. Both O'Bannon and I were both all over the track" Thompson said.
Prior to visiting the winner's circle for pictures Thompson had a few minutes to reflect on the successful weekend. "What a great race for the Dutch Bros - Cascade Auto Group team. We were short handed as it was just Tyler (Thompson), Vic (Miller), Danette (Thompson), and I working on the car. Danette did a lot of the duties that Kelly usually does and it sure helped us get the car turned around between rounds. This is such a great day as the weather was good and there were a lot of spectators here". Thompson said. The team returns to Woodburn for the Fire and Thunder event June 7-8. Then the following weekend they head to Seattle for the NHRA divisional event which they won in 2005.
Thompson Pulls Off an Impressive 'Threepeat' in Canada
Mission Canada - Clint Thompson, pulled off a "threepeat" victory by winning the Lordco Auto Parts BC Nationals at Mission Raceway convincingly over a tough top alcohol funny car field. Thompson beat Sean O'Bannon to take his third straight title in Mission Canada. The win gave Thompson four final round appearances in four tries as the team did not compete at the race in 2005. Thompson won the event utilizing an engine built by Bob Minor. Joey Severence who races in the Top Alcohol class also won the event using a Bob Minor engine.
Besides winning the event for the third consecutive year, it was a meaningful win as they were without crew member Kelly Mercier who was at the bedside of his son Conrad Mercier, a graduating high school senior who is recovering from heart surgery. "We told Conrad we would go win this race for him and he said if we did he would drag the trophy up to the graduation stage. Now, he really gets to do it." Thompson said. Conrad is expected to be out of the hospital in time for the graduation ceremony.
Thompson, qualified on the pole with a 5.62 ET at 257 MPH. In the first round, Thompson drew no. 8 qualifier Nathan Sitko from Edmonton. Sitko stepped it up in the first round and left on Thompson with a 0.069 light to Thompson's 0.081. But Thompson was able to make up the difference with a 5.63 at 257.06 MPH to Sitko's impressive 5.87 at 242 MPH.
In the semis it was a rematch of last year's final round as Thompson met u p with Oregon rival Brian Hough. This time Clint was out of the gate first with a 0.072 reaction time to Hough's 0.103. At the stripe it was Thompson with a 5.63 at 257 MPH. Hough was closely behind with a 5.71 at 255 MPH. Thompson was then just one round away from a threepeat with only Sean O'Bannon in the Patron car standing in his way. The final round proved to be one of the most exciting races of the day as both cars left nearly together with Thompson getting a slight edge with a 0.090 reaction time to O'Bannon's 0.097. At the finish line it was Thompson by less than a fender with a 5.68 at 256 MPH to O'Bannon's close 5.69 at 257 MPH. "It was a very close race, it shook at the top of low gear and spun the tires. Both O'Bannon and I were both all over the track" Thompson said.
Prior to visiting the winner's circle for pictures Thompson had a few minutes to reflect on the successful weekend. "What a great race for the Dutch Bros - Cascade Auto Group team. We were short handed as it was just Tyler (Thompson), Vic (Miller), Danette (Thompson), and I working on the car. Danette did a lot of the duties that Kelly usually does and it sure helped us get the car turned around between rounds. This is such a great day as the weather was good and there were a lot of spectators here". Thompson said. The team returns to Woodburn for the Fire and Thunder event June 7-8. Then the following weekend they head to Seattle for the NHRA divisional event which they won in 2005.
