Thompson Disappointed at Infineon But Happy with Points Move

JEROME, IDAHO (June 27, 2011) Brett Thompson, driver of the RTTI/Jerome Truck Service Inc. Chevrolet, left Infineon Raceway after the NASCAR K&N Pro Series Thunder Valley Casino Resort "200" with a damaged race car but optimism about the rest of the season.


Road course racing in the NKNPS is generally a mixed bag of emotions. You are either thrilled with the finish or disappointed in the result or somewhere in between. Thompson landed somewhere in the middle. After qualifying mid-pack, Thompson stopped early in the 64-lap event and worked his way up into the top ten only to get T-Boned in the right front as he exited the 90 degree turn seven on the back side of the course.

The contact forced the veteran competitor to the pits for repairs where he lost a lap in the process. The team realigned the toe the best they could and got him back out on track. Thompson would end up using the final third of the race as a test session for the upcoming road course event at Portland Int'l Raceway in late July, eventually getting back on the lead lap late and finishing in the 15th position.

"It definitely was not the day we wanted," Thompson said. "I am frustrated that we have a heavily damaged race car but I am happy that we gained points and moved up in the standings."

"I am just happy we did not lose a lot of points here and that is what can happen in the blink of an eye. I am really excited to get this race behind us and head to Irwindale (Toyota Speedway) which is one of my favorite tracks."

Thompson moved up one spot to fourth place in the point standings after six of 14-races this season. He is just 18-points out of third place and 61-points out of second place, but 276-points behind point leader Greg Pursley. Through six races this season Thompson has two top five and three top ten performances but more importantly, no DNF's.

"The way Greg (Pursley) and his team are running this season it will be difficult for anyone to catch him," Thompson said. "We are just focused on scoring the best finish we can at each race and we are heading to a track where we usually run really well."

Last season during a limited campaign, Thompson finished third in the July race at Irwindale for his best result of the season.

In his NASCAR K&N Pro Series career, Thompson has started 105 NKNPS races since 2000 scoring one win, one Coors Light Pole Award, 22 top five and 59 top ten performances. His best points finish was fifth in 2009.