Dean Thompson (racing driver)

For persons of a similar name, see Dean Thompson (disambiguation).
Dean Thompson
Thompson at Daytona International Speedway in 2023
BornDean Kenneth Thompson
(2001-08-30) August 30, 2001 (age 23)
Anaheim, California, U.S.
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
2 races run over 1 year
Car no., teamNo. 26 (Sam Hunt Racing)
2024 position99th
Best finish99th (2024)
First race2024 BetMGM 300 (Charlotte)
Last race2024 United Rentals 250 (Talladega)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
70 races run over 4 years
Truck no., teamNo. 5 (Tricon Garage)
2024 position16th
Best finish16th (2024)
First race2021 Lucas Oil 150 (Phoenix)
Last race2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 11 0
ARCA Menards Series career
12 races run over 3 years
ARCA no., teamNos. 20/55 (Venturini Motorsports)
Best finish24th (2023, 2024)
First race2021 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
Last race2024 Bush's Beans 200 (Bristol)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 11 1
ARCA Menards Series East career
3 races run over 1 year
ARCA East no., teamNo. 55 (Venturini Motorsports)
Best finish21st (2024)
First race2024 Circle City 200 (IRP)
Last race2024 Bush's Beans 200 (Bristol)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 3 0
ARCA Menards Series West career
9 races run over 3 years
Best finish13th (2021)
First race2021 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
Last race2023 Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 3 2
Statistics current as of November 8, 2024.

Dean Kenneth Thompson (born August 30, 2001) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 5 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage, and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. He has previously competed in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West.

Racing career

Thompson's car at All American Speedway in 2021
Thompson's No. 40 truck at Sonoma Raceway in 2022
Thompson's No. 5 truck at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024.

Thompson began racing at the age of 5, racing quarter midgets at Orange Show Speedway. After taking a break from racing, he returned in 2018 to race late models at the age of 16. In 2019, he ran full-time in late models and got a win at Irwindale Speedway. In 2020 and 2021, he won the Irwindale Speedway LKQ Pick Your Part Late Model Championship with 6 wins and 14 top 5 finishes in 2020, and one win and 13 top fives in 2021. He also won rookie of the year in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series.[1]

In 2021, Thompson moved up to the ARCA Menards Series West, driving full-time for High Point Racing, the team he drove for in the Spears Southwest Tour in 2020. HPR also formed an alliance with Sunrise Ford Racing to help their team as it was their first time fielding a car in the West Series.[2] Thompson's best finish was 2nd at Irwindale Speedway, winning the pole and leading most of the race, only to get passed after a late restart. He finished the year with two poles, one top 5, and two top 10 finishes.

On October 18, 2021, it was announced that Thompson would be driving for Niece Motorsports in the season-finale for the main ARCA Menards Series at Kansas Speedway as well as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season-finale at Phoenix Raceway.[3] On November 2, Niece announced that Thompson would drive full-time for the team in the Truck Series in 2022.[1] Although the team did not announce his number in that announcement, it was expected that he would continue to drive the No. 44, but with Kris Wright having been announced to drive the No. 44 full-time in 2022, Thompson would drive the No. 40 truck, replacing Ryan Truex. On December 5, 2022, Tricon Garage announced that Thompson will drive their No. 5 truck full-time in the 2023 season.[4] On April 1, 2023, Thompson was injured in a scary crash at Texas Motor Speedway during the SpeedyCash.com 250. It would result in him being transported by ambulance on a stretcher. On November 17, it was announced that Thompson will return to Tricon Garage for the 2024 season.[5]

In 2024, Thompson would make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Charlotte, driving the No. 26 for Sam Hunt Racing.[6]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Xfinity Series

NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts Ref
2024 Sam Hunt Racing 26 Toyota DAY ATL LVS PHO COA RCH MAR TEX TAL DOV DAR CLT
34 		PIR SON IOW NHA NSH CSC POC IND MCH DAY DAR ATL GLN BRI KAN TAL
20 		ROV LVS HOM MAR PHO 99th 01 [7]

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 NCTC Pts Ref
2021 Niece Motorsports 44 Chevy DAY DRC LVS ATL BRD RCH KAN DAR COA CLT TEX NSH POC KNX GLN GTW DAR BRI LVS TAL MAR PHO
21 		73rd 16 [8]
2022 40 DAY
36 		LVS
11 		ATL
34 		COA
29 		MAR
36 		BRD
16 		DAR
15 		KAN
22 		TEX
29 		CLT
28 		GTW
14 		SON
24 		KNX
23 		NSH
14 		MOH
27 		POC
24 		IRP
29 		RCH
35 		KAN
23 		BRI
32 		TAL
34 		HOM
23 		PHO
21 		23rd 279 [9]
2023 Tricon Garage 5 Toyota DAY
36 		LVS
16 		ATL
30 		COA
35 		TEX
28 		BRD
12 		MAR
21 		KAN
32 		DAR
9 		NWS
35 		CLT
3 		GTW
34 		NSH
33 		MOH
33 		POC
8 		RCH
25 		IRP
32 		MLW
15 		KAN
15 		BRI
35 		TAL
3 		HOM
16 		PHO
7 		20th 370 [10]
2024 DAY
24 		ATL
10 		LVS
30 		BRI
23 		COA
9 		MAR
33 		TEX
16 		KAN
8 		DAR
29 		NWS
27 		CLT
9 		GTW
14 		NSH
28 		POC
9 		IRP
9 		RCH
32 		MLW
19 		BRI
14 		KAN
13 		TAL
32 		HOM
15 		MAR
17 		PHO
15 		16th 469 [11]

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 AMSC Pts Ref
2021 High Point Racing 51 Ford DAY PHO
15 		TAL KAN TOL CLT MOH POC ELK BLN IOW WIN GLN MCH ISF MLW DSF BRI SLM 56th 65 [12]
Niece Motorsports 40 Chevy KAN
8
2023 Venturini Motorsports 25 Toyota DAY PHO TAL KAN
2 		KAN
8 		BRI SLM TOL 24th 199 [13]
15 CLT
2 		BLN ELK POC
4 		MCH IRP GLN ISF MLW DSF
55 MOH
10 		IOW
2024 DAY PHO TAL DOV KAN
3 		IRP
9 		SLM ELK MCH ISF MLW
7 		DSF GLN BRI
5 		KAN TOL 24th 183 [14]
20 CLT
7 		IOW MOH BLN

ARCA Menards Series East

ARCA Menards Series East results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 AMSEC Pts Ref
2024 Venturini Motorsports 55 Toyota FIF DOV NSV FRS IOW IRP
9 		MLW
7 		BRI
5 		21st 111 [15]

ARCA Menards Series West

ARCA Menards Series West results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 AMSWC Pts Ref
2021 High Point Racing 51 Ford PHO
15 		SON
6 		IRW
2* 		CNS
11 		IRW PIR LVS
14 		AAS
17 		PHO
22 		13th 225 [16]
2022 Niece Motorsports 40 Chevy PHO IRW KCR PIR SON
15 		IRW EVG PIR AAS LVS PHO 59th 29 [17]
2023 Venturini Motorsports 20 Toyota PHO IRW KCR PIR SON IRW SHA EVG AAS LVS MAD PHO
2 		39th 42 [18]

References

  1. ^ a b "Dean Thompson Joins the Niece Motorsports Lineup for a Full Time Effort in 2022". jayski.com. November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  2. ^ Srigley, Joseph (February 2, 2021). "Dean Thompson and High Point Racing Competing for ARCA West Championship in 2021". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  3. ^ "Dean Thompson to run Phoenix Truck race with Niece Motorsports". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. October 18, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  4. ^ Utter, Jim (December 5, 2022). "Dean Thompson joins Tricon Toyota NASCAR Truck program". Motorsport.com. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  5. ^ Srigley, Joseph (October 23, 2023). "Dean Thompson Returning for Second Season at TRICON Garage in 2024". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Srigley, Joseph (May 20, 2024). "Dean Thompson to Make Xfinity Debut for Sam Hunt Racing at Charlotte". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "Dean Thompson – 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  8. ^ "Dean Thompson – 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  9. ^ "Dean Thompson – 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  10. ^ "Dean Thompson – 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  11. ^ "Dean Thompson – 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  12. ^ "Dean Thompson – 2021 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  13. ^ "Dean Thompson – 2023 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  14. ^ "Dean Thompson – 2024 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  15. ^ "Dean Thompson – 2024 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  16. ^ "Dean Thompson – 2021 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  17. ^ "Dean Thompson – 2022 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  18. ^ "Dean Thompson – 2023 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 4, 2023.