Thompson Seeks Win on New Phoenix Layout

JEROME, IDAHO (November, 2011) Brett Thompson, driver of the RTTI/Jerome Truck Service Inc. Chevrolet, will make his 17th career NASCAR K&N Pro Series start at Phoenix Int'l Raceway this Saturday afternoon capping a challenging season for the eleven year series veteran. Since the point's championship has already been decided; this race is all about winning.




Thompson started the 2011 campaign with a fifth place finish at Phoenix, his sixth top ten finish in 16 previous attempts at the one-mile newly paved oval. But this weekend will bring new challenges not only to Brett but the rest of the competitors as the track has been reconfigured and paved since their last visit.



"I know the track will be fast,' Thompson offered. "It is going to be the same for everybody and since there is new pavement, tire wear will not be as big of concern like in years past."



Add in the fact that the race format has also changed with a break added in during the 125-lap contest, negating any need for pit strategy.



"In the past teams would either pit early in order to get track position late, or they would pit late and have the best tires with about 30-laps to go," Thompson offered. "The break pretty much means it will be an all out dash to the finish with everyone on the same strategy."



While Jack Sellers leads all active drivers with more than 250 career series starts, Thompson has racked up 112 career starts making him one of the most experienced drivers in the field. Thompson will lean on every bit of that experience as the series finale at Phoenix always draws a stout field of cars.



"We are usually pretty good at Phoenix and if it were not for some luck, we might have picked up a couple of wins," Thompson said. "I love racing at Phoenix. It is a great track and always a lot of fun. It will certainly be different this year but I know the fans will see a great race."



Thompson has averaged a finish of 10.8 while completing 96% of all laps contested and has been running at the conclusion at twelve of the 13 races this season. Thompson is fighting for a top five finish in the point standings where he is currently in sixth place just 29-points out of fifth place heading into the Phoenix finale. In his eleven year NASCAR K&N Pro Series career, Thompson has started 112 NKNPS races since 2000 scoring one win, one Coors Light Pole Award, 23 top five and 63 top ten performances. His best points finish was fifth in 2009.