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Dean Thompson

The number 8 was a beautiful car!


Deano


Deano with Eddie Wirth


Deano winning $125


Deano with Bruce Bromme Jr by Owen Richards


Deano with Tony Simon


Deano in the pits


deano looking where?


Deano with Tony Simon and Lealand McSpadden


Dean with Agajanian and trophy girl


Dean with Jimmy Sills


Bruce Jr with Bubby Jones and Dean Thompson


Deano with Bubby Jones and Lealand McSpaddon

Deano drove


Dean portrait by Ellen Ellis.


Dean was a winner from the beginning.


He drove "the Little Red SUcker" at Ascot to 105 victories.


It was a fast racecar.


He drove the turns like a straightaway.


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


Dean Thompson


Deano in Little red sucker # 2


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Deano with Bruce Sr


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Deano racing


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Look at the injectors on the little red sucker


Deano


Deano with Spencer, Atherton and Noffsinger


Deano in the third row at El Centro


Deano94


Deano on the corner


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Deano in the seat


Deano racing Lealand McSpadden


Deano mudded


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Deano and Bubby on the podium


Deano on the podium with Lealand McSpadden and Steve Kinser


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Deano and Chuck Gurney


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The Dean and Bubby show was amazing

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 stand forever. He was CRA Champion three times, and still holds many other records from his stellar career. He was a 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, has gone on to make him proud in USAC and now NASCAR. 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.

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.

Updated 7/12/17