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Updated 1/14/20


(RIP) Dean Thompson


Deano


Deano looking where?


Dean was a winner from the beginning


Dean's sister Barbara


Deano


Deano


Deano with Eddie Wirth


Deano with Tony Simon


Deano in the pits


Dean with Jimmy Sills


Dean with Gary Sokola


Barbara getting interviewed at Don Weavers legends event


Deano and Chris Holt


Dean and Jeff Heywood


Dean with Jeff Haywood


Deano with Tony Simon and Lealand McSpadden


Bruce Jr with Bubby Jones and Dean Thompson


Deano with Bruce Bromme Jr by Owen Richards

Deano with Bubby Jones and Wags


With Bruce Jr (left) and Gary Tanaka, he was in the winners circle


Dean with Jimmy Oskie and Rick Goudy


Dean with Rick Goudy and Jimmy Oskie


Dean with Lealand McSpadden and Jack Hewitt


Deano with Bubby Jones and Lealand McSpadden


Deaan with Bob Hogle, Jimmy Oskie and Billy Wilkerson


Barbara Thompson with Bruce Bromme Jr, Carroll Shelby, Parnelli Jones and Ron Shaver


Barbara Thompson with Bruce Bromme Jr, Carroll Shelby, Parnelli Jones and Ron Shaver


Barbara Thompson with Carroll Shelby, Parnelli Jones and Ron Shaver


Barbara Thompson with Carroll Shelby and Parnelli Jones


Deano winning $125


Deano and Bubby on the podium


Deano on the podium with Lealand McSpadden and Steve Kinser


Dean with Lealand McSpadden and Steve Kinser on the podium


Dean on the poodium again


Dean on podium with trophy girl


Dean and another trophy


Dean in his ride ready to go


Dean with trophy girl and announcer Bruce Flanders


Dean with a trophy back in the day


Dean with Bruce SR and Jr


Dean being interviewed after a big win


Deano with the trophy girl


Dean after another win with JC Agajanian


Dean wins again


Dean with Norma Peabody, Gary Sokola and Steve Vodden


Dean interviewed after another win


Dean with Lealand McSpadden and Steve Kinser on the podium


Dean in the winner's circle again


Dean with Jimmy Oskie and Mike Sweeney


Dean getting a Kraco Car Stereo for cars


Dean getting congratulated


Dean after a 1980 CRA win


Dean getting a trophy from a cute young lady


Dean and another trophy


Dean with Bubby Jones on the podium


# 48 Dean and his sister Barbara


Dean Thompson and Bromme crew


Deano with crew


Deano with Bruce Sr


Deano with crew


Deano


Deano


Deano with Spencer, Atherton and Noffsinger


Dean


# 1 Deano


Deano


Deano in the seat


# 1 Deano mudded


Dean in the pits


Dean getting ready


Dean with his ride


Dean in the seat


Dean in the seat


Dean posing with the car


Dean on the gas


Tshirt graphic

Deano drove some Little Red Suckers

The number 8 was a beautiful car!


# 1 Deano drove "the Little Red Sucker" at Ascot to 105 victories


# 14


# 1 Deano


# 1 Deano


# 1 Deano


# 1 Deano


# 1 Deano


# 1 Deano


# 1 Deano


# 1 Deano


# 1 Deano


# 2 Deano


# 2 Deano in Little red sucker


# 2


# 2


# 2


# 2 Deano


# 3 Deano


# 3 Deano


Dean packing the track


Dean with Bubby Jones packing behind him


Dean in his car wheeling it


Dean in the car with a cold one waiting on the hood


Dean running under Ron $human


Dean inside Walt Kennedy at Ascot 1980


Dean with Buster Venard in the Tamale Wagon at Ascpt 1980


Dean with Brad Noffsonger on his tail


Deano racing


Deano racing


Look at the injectors on the little red sucker


Deano in the third row at El Centro


Deano on the corner


Deano racing Lealand McSpadden


Deano and Chuck Gurney


The Dean and Bubby show was amazing


# 2 with Deano against Lealand


# 1 against Jimmy Oskie


Don Hawley # 3 next to Dean # 3, with Mike Sweeney # 71 behind them

Dean Thompson passed away on October 7th, 2003 during heart surgery. He was too young, but this is how life plays out. He was only 53 years old and spent most of his life around racing being a part of the sport he helped to build. He is one of the true icons of sprint car racing and was recognized everywhere he went. He made “The Little Red Sucker” a household name.

He drove for Bruce Bromme SR and JR for many years. His 103 CRA victories is still the all time best, and will probably stand forever. He was CRA Champion three times, and still holds many other records from his stellar career. He was the fast qualifier 106 times, won 53 trophy dashes, and was the rookie of the year in 1972.

Dean helped many along the way, and his most recent protégé, Jason Leffler (R.I.P.), went on to make him proud in USAC and now NASCAR before he lost his life racing. Dean tried a comeback, and perhaps suffered his worst crash in his career at Santa Maria. That convinced him to stay retired, but he stayed close to SCRA racing. Dean was known as one of the hardest drivers going into the turns at Ascot. The Dean & Bubby show, (his unreal battles with hall of famer Bubby Jones) is legendary. When people remember Ascot, they remember Deano in that ”Little Red Sucker” knocking them down a notch. He was Mr Ascot.

As boys, Dean and Bruce Jr shared a little quarter midget as their first racing experience. They both learned something: Dean that He could drive very well and Jr that he didn't want to drive a racecar. Junior wanted to work on em' and this his many years of crew chief superemecy over the field until he passed away.

I still remember Bruce Sr telling stories about Deano, especially the ones about his start in racing, and wish we had those down on paper somewhere. I will always remember Deano in that red car, and will forever hold him in my heart as one of the best of all time. He was a true legend at Ascot Raceway, the place he ruled for years. And now he is gone, but not forgotten. Rest in peace Deano, you will be missed.