Shelby Thompson

Shelby started racing at seven years old. In his first year of racing he won Rookie of the Year in SKRA Karting. And for the next five years, in a row, he was crowned champion. At twelve years of age, Shelby went to the next level of karting JR2. Hew was again selected as Rookie of the Year and won the championship. In the last year of JR2, he competed in two series. He won both series championships, one being the World Karting Federation - Northwest Constructors Cup. At the age of 13 he went on to the top level of karting for 3 year, winning various regional & national events capping it of with a Gold Cup Champ.

After his stint in the karting world, Shelby started his career in Late Model Challenge Series. With fuel in his blood he took on the local race world earning yet another Rookie of the Year award. He also won the biggest race of the year and finished 3rd in points out of 45 entries.

Starting in 2006 with a brand new car, Shelby ran 13 races with a 3.7 finishing average, won Rookie of the Year, and 2nd in points out of 95 entries. His biggest win came in the Wenatchee 150 (pictured below). And he was the only driver to finish all the races on the lead lap in one season.

Shelby graduated from Mead High School in 2003. And his favorite hobbies include snowmobiling, snowboarding, riding motorcycles, metal fabrication, and wielding. He continues to excell at the things he does. when he is not out in the shop weilding a frame he's practicing wheelies on his 50cc dirtbike.

Articles

Northwest Motorsports: Thompson changes fortunes

Paul Delaney Correspondent

Spokane's Shelby Thompson had one of those seasons last year that racers dream about. All the pieces ñ skill, preparation and luck ñ came togethe. Thompson was consistent and admittedly lucky as he had his best late-model season. He finished a close second in Late Model Challenge Series points to Tacoma's Troy Conrad.

In 2007, the luck that showered down on Thompson a year ago has been nowhere to be found ñ until last Sunday, that is."We've had kind of a bumpy start this season," said Thompson's dad, Bill. "It was nice to have that (win) erase everything."There was a time last Sunday, with about 15 laps to go and Thompson comfortably in second place, when that finish would have been just fine.

"Kevin (Richards) had a pretty good lead," said Bill Thompson. "If we had of caught him, of course it would have been a challenge getting around him. But I don't think it would have happened." In the back of his mind Bill Thompson thought he'd like to see a caution. "About the time I got that last thought in my mind, here it came and bunched 'em (the field) up. Ö Shelby pressured him for a while. I think he (Kevin) might have overheated his tires."

Thompson will see if this turn in fortunes is permanent when he heads back to Wenatchee and returns to the ARCA/Late Model Challenge wars. The LMCS has seen a lot of crossover between drivers in the ASA Northwest Tour. Wenatchee's quarter-mile is a track at which Shelby Thompson has shown his best but also suffered adversity.

Patience Pays Off For Thompson With INSSA Win

INSSA Correspondent

Late in the rain-delayed Inland Northwest Super Stock (INSSA) event at Spokane Raceway Park (SRP) on Sunday it appeared to everyone, including Spokane?s Shelby Thompson, that Kevin Richards had this one in the bag.

Richards, from Newman Lake, Washington, who had posted a new track record (17.673), took the lead from Sagle, Idaho?s Corey Allard on lap 20. Well into the race, Richards was out for a Sunday drive with nearly a half lap lead over Thompson, Christian Roeder (Ephrata, WA), and Erick Hargraves (Yakima, WA).

The caution flew at lap 84 as Jeff Fenton, who had been running 5th, spun on the back stretch and knocked down a concrete section of the wall ~ a caution Richards was soon sorry to see. With the field tightened up, the green flag flew and Richards appeared to have a tire going down. His hands full with a very loose car, Richards did all he could to hang on to the lead. By lap 90, Thompson took over the lead to the boisterous cheers of the ecstatic die-hard race fans that were all on their feet. Thompson led the way to the checkered, followed by Roeder and Hargraves, who were also able to make their way around Richards before crossing the stripe. Corey Allard rounded out the top 5.

Several of the 22 cars that started the event were unable to return Sunday due to other obligations. Saturday?s start was the largest field of late models to take the green flag at SRP for many years. Among some of Saturday?s starters were ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour drivers Jay Sauls, Matt Hall, Kevin Moland and Brandon Riehl. The Tour drivers were extended a one-time invitation after their race at State Line Speedway was rained out (to be run at a later date).

INSSA returns to State Line Speedway for the 4th event of their season this Saturday night, June 16th. Dave Garber maintains a slim point?s lead over Kevin Richards going into this event.

Jeff Jefferson, Shelby Thompson & Alex Lessor go 1-2-3 in the Montana 200.....

Montana Raceway Park's Website

The Rumble was heard in Montana when the 16th Annual Coors Light Montana 200 was in full action this past weekend. The big boys of the Northwest rolled in to town to show the fans of the Flathead what short track racing is all about. The great fans rolled into the stands making it a record crowd for Montana Raceway Park. Everything kicked off on Thursday the 13th of July with the open practice for all the race teams to get their car set up for the High Banked oval in the Flathead Valley, then it was to the biggest party of the Summer as the Rainbow Bar presented the race and the kick off party as drivers all signed autographs for the fans of the Flathead. That was the the easy day as the drivers were back at the track in the early AM with a new attitude and lots of focus to be in the top 12. The top 12 qualifiers are locked into the Montana 200 on Sat. night and gives a sigh of relief for the drivers and crews of those in the top 12 spots. The top 12 then raced a 30 lap positioning race that would be 30% of their starting position in the Montana 200.

It was a night of short track racing and always full of surprises at this show. The #44 driven and owned by Mark Owens out of Kalispell, MT and the 1995 Montana 200 champion was the overall fast time winner, qualifying in at 12:911. It had been many years since a hometown boy had earned the fast time, a happy Ownes racing team celebrated in the pits on Friday Night. The top 12 qualifiers were #44 Owens, #46 Troy Conrad, #42 Jeff Jefferson, #84 Christian Roeder, #11 Tom Sweatman, #25 Ken Kaltschmidt, #14 Kevin Richards, #51 Eric Hardgraves, #93 Dave Garber, #95 Dan Garber, #71 Don Vickery and #9 Josh Roberts.

In the fast 12 positioning race it was #14 Kevin Richards out of Spokane, Wa taking the win over Jeff Jefferson #42 and #11 Tom Sweatman in the third place spot. With Jefferson's 3rd place in qualifying and 2nd place in the positioning race earned his spot on the pole for the Montana 200.

shelby winning "The Super Fast Super Late Models competed in two trophy dashes for the fans, The slow dash winner was #8 Kevin Goe out of Columbia Falls, MT over fellow race from Columbia Falls #74 Rocky Erickson. For the Fast dash the #84 Christian Roeder out of Ephrata, WA and the 2004 Montana 200 champion took the win in the fast dash over #42 Jeff Jefferson. Also on Friday the next Super Late Model race was the next qualifier for the Montana 200. A 40 lap event with the top 6 making their way into the main event. Shelby Thompson who missed the top 12 by only 2 spots had a goal in mind and nothing was going to get in his way, he would take the win of the 40 lap qualifier with no problems. Comming in second was the #91 Make a Wish car driven by Jason Hendrick, Hendrick was the 13th qualifyer. Rookie driver Alex Lessor driving the #53 car for TSP Motorsports came in third. This was Lessor's first Montana 200 and only his 5th Late Model race of his career. The 4th spot went to #77 driven by Bodie Morton out of Kalispell, 5th spot went to the 1998 Montana 200 champion Tim Elliott out of Creston, BC and the 6th place spot went to the 1994 Montana 200 champion #88 Cory Wolfe out of Ronan, MT. The rest of the field would race on Sat night in the Last Chance Qualifier- 40 laps with the top 5 mocing into the big race.

The Super Late Models that were in would have a short time to regroup to get ready for the Montana 200. After full driver introductions the drivers were strapped in and the engines were started by the official started the Flathead County Sheriff Mike Meehan. Meehan would also give the green flag after the fans were on their feet with the roar of the crowd and rumble of the engines that was sure to be heard all over the Valley. Jefferson who was on the pole took the lead and for the first time in the history of the Montana 200, lead all 200 laps. 23 Late Models would take the stage to go for the $10,000.00 first place money. After only 29 laps past Montana 200 champion #84 Christian Roeder was off with a bad engine, 3 laps later Bob Schweiger #57 was off the track with engine problems, 9 more laps and another engine of the #9 Josh Roberts. With about 40 laps gone a wreck in turn 4 took out 2 past Montana 200 champions and tow of the fastest cars on the track #46 Troy Conrad and #11 Tom Sweatrman. The #1 Agni Howell was also taken off the track a that time and then there was 17, 1 lap late Montana 200 hopeful #14 Kevin Richards off with Engine problems and then there was 16. 16 cars made it to the 100 lap break with the teams given 15 minutes to work on their cars and change tires and then it was back to racing. In the next 60 laps 3 more cars would be off the track #74 Rocky Erickson made it 123 laps until the unforntauate event of an engine break, the #93 of Dave Garber got into a mishap taking him to the turn 3 wall. Then Eric Hargraves would be the next to suffer from engine problems. As the cars were leaving the track Jefferson was staying clear of any carnage and stayed smooth lap after lap. The #3 of Shelby Thompson and the #44 Mark Owens got into a little mishap causing them to go to the back of the pack. Thompson was not in the mood to stay there, lap after lap he moved up positions, he was on a mission picking off one car at a time. As the laps were ticking off the new champion was getting closer and closer to the title. Alex Lessor was was behind Jefferson for many laps finally lost his position to Thompson on a restart and in the end of the Coors Light Montana 200 it was Jeff Jefferson in the spot light, this was Jefferson's first time at the Montana 200 the accomplished driver showed his patience and skill on Saturday night. #3 and team mate Shelby Thompson in 2nd, racing's bad boy, nice wheely on the track Thompson. Rookie driver #53 Alex Lessor in third, this was the first time a rookie driver in the Super Late Models ever finished in the top three. The fans went wild as the drivers were presented their awards

Rising star Thompson ready for Stateline run

Paul Delaney Correspondent

For someone nicknamed "The Kid," Shelby Thompson seems pretty grown up. Thompson, who just turned 18 in May, appears to be on the fast track of stock car racing and he'll test himself again this weekend when he races his 1999 Monte Carlo in the Idaho 200 at Stateline Speedway.

The 2003 Mead High graduate burst on the late-model scene last year when he finished fifth in Northwest Late Model Series points and was rightfully selected Rookie of the Year. After a slow start, Thompson won the final race of the season at SRP, beating a field of 28 cars to the checkered flag. Thompson's high finish in points in the car (sponsored by Can-Am Body and Liberty Tire), came despite not being able to complete three races. He ultimately missed the championship by less than 100 points.

Although he spent the majority of his late-model seat time on the half-mile at Spokane Raceway Park, Thompson has experience on smaller tracks, too. That will come in handy on the tight Stateline Speedway quarter-mile oval. At Ephrata three weeks ago, where the track is almost a carbon copy of Stateline, Thompson ended up third but was challenging for the lead a lot. And at the Montana 200 this year, he just missed making the field by less than a half-second.

Thompson started out kart racing at age 8. When he was able to legally drive, he jumped directly to late models when presented with a deal on the sale of a superstock. After this season, Thompson will be taking time off away from the track, but not from racing. He was recently accepted at NASCAR U- Tech, a comprehensive 54-week school located in Charlotte, N.C., where students train in various phases of race car preparation and operations. "The ultimate goal is to be there (in Winston Cup racing)," Bill Thompson said of his son's goals. Shelby Thompson confirmed that, saying. "it's tough to do (getting to the Winston Cup), but you have to follow your dreams."

Thompson was a five-time Spokane Kart Racing Association champion and a Gold Cup winner. In addition, at age 13, Thompson took the title in the Constructor's Cup, a race he won in Portland that brought together International Karting Federation (IKF) champs from different regions across the country. The move to speedy stock cars from the nimble karts he'd run since such a young age was not that big of a transition. The major difference is that "karts have no suspension," says Thompson, ". . . and I couldn't see over the hood." "There was more to focus on driving late-models," Thompson said. The increased horsepower was also something to which he had to adapt. He spun his car out the first time after just five laps. In kart racing, Thompson reached speeds around 90 miles per hour, while in the late models and racing at SRP he hits 130 to 135 mph. "It doesn't feel that fast," he said. "Speed is speed." While the big tracks provide more speed and more potential for problems for an inexperienced driver, they also offer an advantage. "The half-mile gives you more breathing room. Things don't happen as fast," said Shelby's father, Bill. So far things have also gone well staying out of trouble. "We've only had to replace a fender," said Bill Thompson. "The first time on the Stateline quarter-mile was not so good," according to Shelby Thompson. But in his second outing, a recent Late Model Challenge race, he was the second-best and just a second off the grabbing the pole. He finished third in the main event. As for this weekend at Stateline? "I hope to be a contender and run with the top five and be close," Thompson said. The main goal is "to keep the car together (and) not do any stupid things."

Riehl Wins First LMCS Main

Scott Ellsworth

Saturday night at Yakima Speedway Brandon Riehl of Boring, OR won the Late Model Challenge Series Sea Galley ëCrab Legs 100í. Taking the lead early in the 100-lap main Riehl was not headed until 10-laps to go when his car started to mishandle. Second place finisher Troy Conrad (Tacoma, WA) put a lot of pressure on Riehl in the waning laps to no avail.

In victory circle Riehl stated ìI did not have much car at the end. I knew I would have trouble at the end because the car was so good at the beginning.î Conversely Conrad said ìIf I had a few more laps I could have passed. I hate to say this but I points raced which is not my style.î

The series moves on to Evergreen Speedwayís 5/8-mile on Saturday September 16. Second in the points chase Shelby Thompson (Spokane, WA) slid backwards in the chase falling to 14 back of Conrad. Starting only 5-points in arrears Thompson was penalized for an on track infraction and was sent to the back of the 26-car field. Thompson recovered to finish fifth.

Fast qualifier Eric Hargraves (Yakima, WA) was involved in a first lap incident that ended his race early. Wes Rhodes (Yelm, WA) finished third while Mike Zamora came back from an on spin to finish fourth.

With an extremely tight pointís race for the LMCS 2006 championship the final race at Evergreen is going be exciting. The Evergreen local NASCAR Super Stock Division will also be on the big track to decide their season championship with just 6-points separating the top two.

Late Model Challange Series Coming to an end

LMCS Writer

After a full month off the Late Model Challenge Series gets back to work on Saturday August 5th at Stateline Speedway in Post Falls, ID. On day two of the three day NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 200 the LMCS points chase for the 2006 season continues. Series point leader Troy Conrad (Tacoma, Wash.) and second in the chase Shelby Thompson (Spokane, Wash.) will be shooting for a high finish in the 100-lap Duel for the 200.

The Inland Northwestís largest Late Model Stock Car event not only brings the best of the Westís best stock car drivers together but could be a turning point for Conrad or Thompson. With just three races remaining this season and only a 32-point advantage Conrad needs another strong finish. Series rookie Thompson is still looking for that first win and would like it to come at his home track Stateline Speedway.

The 100-lap Duel for the 200 on Saturday August 5th will be a pointís race for the LMCS Championship and a qualifier for Sundayís August 6th NAPA Auto Parts big money Idaho 200. The winnerís share of the 200-lap purse is $4500.00.

The top six from Fridayís August 4th INSSA 100-Lap main and Saturdayís 100 will get an automatic spot for Sundayís 200. The remaining available positions are filled via qualifying and a Last Chance Race on Sunday afternoon starting at 1:00pm.