Dean Thompson (racing driver) explained

Dean Thompson
Birth Name:Dean K. Thompson
Birth Date:30 August 2001
Birth Place:Anaheim, California, U.S.
Total Busch Races:1
Years In Busch:1
Busch Car Team:No. 26 (Sam Hunt Racing)
First Busch Race:2024 BetMGM 300 (Charlotte)
Busch Wins:0
Busch Top Tens:0
Busch Poles:0
Total Truck Races:56
Years In Truck:4
Truck Car Team:No. 5 (Tricon Garage)
Prev Truck Pos:20th
Prev Truck Year:2023
Best Truck Pos:20th (2023)
First Truck Race:2021 Lucas Oil 150 (Phoenix)
Truck Wins:0
Truck Top Tens:11
Truck Poles:0
Total Arca Races:9
Years In Arca:3
Arca Car Team:No. 20/55 (Venturini Motorsports)
Best Arca Pos:56th (2021)
First Arca Race:2021 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
Last Arca Race:2024 General Tire 150 (Charlotte)
Arca Wins:0
Arca Top Tens:8
Arca Poles:1
Total Arca West Races:9
Years In Arca West:3
Best Arca West Pos:13th (2021)
First Arca West Race:2021 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
Last Arca West Race:2023 Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 (Phoenix)
Arca West Wins:0
Arca West Top Tens:3
Arca West Poles:2
Updated:May 20, 2024

Dean K. 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 Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. He has previously competed in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West.

Racing career

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.)

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920212223PtsRef
2021Niece Motorsports44ChevyDAYDRCLVSATLBRDRCHKANDARCOACLTTEXNSHPOCKNXGLNGTWDARBRILVSTALMARPHO
21
73rd16[8]
202240DAY
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
23rd279[9]
2023Tricon Garage5ToyotaDAY
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
20th370[10]
2024DAY
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
BRIKANTALHOMMARPHO-*-*[11]

Season still in progress
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
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920PtsRef
2021High Point Racing51FordDAYPHO
15
TALKANTOLCLTMOHPOCELKBLNIOWWINGLNMCHISFMLWDSFBRISLM56th65[12]
Niece Motorsports40ChevyKAN
8
2023Venturini Motorsports25ToyotaDAYPHOTALKAN
2
KAN
8
BRISLMTOL24th199[13]
15CLT
2
BLNELKPOC
4
MCHIRPGLNISFMLWDSF
55MOH
10
IOW
2024DAYPHOTALDOVKAN
3
IRP
9
SLMELKMCHISFMLW
DSFGLNBRIKANTOL-*-*[14]
20CLT
7
IOWMOHBLN

ARCA Menards Series West

ARCA Menards Series West results
YearTeamNo.Make123456789101112PtsRef
2021High Point Racing51FordPHO
15
SON
6
IRW
2*
CNS
11
IRWPIRLVS
14
AAS
17
PHO
22
13th225[16]
2022Niece Motorsports40ChevyPHOIRWKCRPIRSON
15
IRWEVGPIRAASLVSPHO59th29[17]
2023Venturini Motorsports20ToyotaPHOIRWKCRPIRSONIRWSHAEVGAASLVSMADPHO
2
39th42[18]

External links

Notes and References

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