'A hell of a good driver'

An early-lap melee at the July 19 Montana 200 super late model race took out local drivers Nicole Behar, Joey Bird and Shelby Thompson, among others. The cars of Behar (Otis Orchards) and Bird (Spokane) should be ready for Saturday's Idaho 200, and hopefully Thompson (Spokane) will be on the track as well.

Thompson has unfinished business in the Idaho 200, after a runner-up finish to Gary Lewis in his last shot at the event in 2009.

Thompson's car, formally driven by Todd Havens, suffered major damage but the Havens crew is optimistic they'll get the car back together and ready for the Stateline race.

Todd said the best part of bringing aboard a driver of Thompson's caliber is what it means for his son Braeden's racing career.

"Braeden just needed something to get him over the top, and Shelby offered that experience and attitude. Shelby is a great kid with a high talent level. He's had some bad racing luck so far this year, but he's been instrumental and a positive influence in getting Braeden to that next step."

Todd added that Shelby has nine more years of racing under his belt, and Braeden has been able to glean a great deal of experience from him.

"Last year Todd asked me if I'd be willing to drive the car and I said heck yeah, I would," Thompson said. "We ran one of the HyDrive Late Model races at Stateline, which Braeden won and I finished second.

"Todd was happy with that and asked if I'd run the car next year and I said of course I would."

"(Thompson's) just a hell of a good driver," Lewis said at the time in the 2009 Idaho 200 winner's circle. Lewis won his third 200 in that event.

Braeden has already reaped positive results from the relationship with his new teammate.

"Shelby has brought a challenge when he came to the team," Braeden said. "The challenge is to beat a guy with lots of experience and just to learn as much as I can. It's friendly competition always."

Braeden finished second to Garrett Evans in the 2012 Idaho 200, with teammate Ryen Tarr right behind.

Braeden points to his recent pole position at the NASCAR Pro Series West race held at Stateline as proof that the new partnership is paying dividends.

"To get a pole against high-budget teams was priceless," Havens said. "These guys each have a stable full of cars at their disposal and when I came in after my run (Havens was the last car to qualify), the look on their faces said it all. Here's this single-car team that shows up and normally is pretty fast and we're able to outrun them."

Braeden said they'll run two more Pro Series races this season, at Evergreen Speedway on Aug. 16 and the Oct. 11 event at Roseville, Calif.

As for Thompson, school should continue to be in session while he tends to unfinished business on Saturday at Stateline Speedway.

Jerry Hitchcock is a sportswriter for The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext 2017, or via email at jhitchcock@cdapress.com