Racing seemed to be a natural progression as father “Digger” led the way being a well-known driver from the forties to the sixties. Rick is also following his father into the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
Rick earned Rookie of the Year honours in 1966 in the Victoria Auto Racing Association (V.A.R.A.).
Out of 65 registered cars in 1967, Rick ended the season sitting 4th in Stock Car points. He also won the Sponsor’s Trophy that year.
In 1968, he won the Roy White Memorial Trophy and finished the year in 2nd spot.
Rick served as vice president of V.A.R.A. in 1969. He also switched to the Super Stock Class and held a track record for the new Figure 8 class.
In 1970, Rick won the Popular Driver Award and ended the season 4th in points.
1971 saw Rick win the Corby Cup (most Main Event wins); the Sponsor’s Trophy; The Championship Race; the Popular Driver Award; and was the Super Stock Point Champion.
1972 was almost a carbon copy as he repeated as Points Champion; Popular Driver; Track Record Holder; and winner of the Sponsor’s Trophy and the Championship Race.
In 1973, Rick won the Popular Driver Award, was presented the Best Looking Super Stock award and ended the year sitting in 3rd position.
Rick ended the 1974 season sitting in 2nd spot in points and again won the Popular Driver Award (for the 4th year in a row).
Rick ran in the open super stock classes with some success in the 1980’s. As well as competing at Victoria, he traveled to various tracks in the Pacific Northwest. The cars he drove were always first class in appearance and performance.
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- 1966 at Western – Rick O’Dell in his 1st racecar, the #18 “Jalopy”, a 1953 Ford
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- 1967 at Western – #18 Stockcar with Rick (at lower right), his Dad “Digger” (upper right), and unidentified crew members (Barrie Goodwin photo)
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- 1967 at Western – Digger and Rick O’Dell (Barrie Goodwin photo)
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- 1969 at Western – #18 ’57 Dodge Super Stock with (standing l to r) Rick and Digger and (below l to r) Don White and Frank Lafford (Barrie Goodwin photo)
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- 1971 at Western – Rick in the #18 ’63 Plymouth Super Stock (Barrie Goodwin photo)
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- 1972 at Western – Super Stock trophy dash lineup with Rick behind #22 Roy Haslam (Barrie Goodwin photo)
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- 1972 at Western – #18 Super Stock with (standing left to right) Bob Nasadyk and Peter Barteaux and (below l to r) unknown crew member and Rick O’Dell (Barrie Goodwin photo)
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- 1973 at Skagit Speedway – Rick in #18 Open Competition Plymouth Super Stock
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- 1974 at Western – Rick in #18 Open Comp Chevelle outside of #66 Dave Dalby during a main event (Barrie Goodwin photo)
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- 1975 International Drivers Challenge at Western – Rick with trophy presenter Terry Matthews following a trophy dash win (Barrie Goodwin photo)
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- 1994 at Western – Rick competing in the “Canadian American Late Model Series” (Robert G. Hunter photo)
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- 1997 Inductee Rick O’Dell – artist’s portrait
