# Dean Thompson (racing driver)

Dean Kenneth Thompson (born August 30, 2001) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. He has previously competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, 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.
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. 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. On November 2, Niece announced that Thompson would drive full-time for the team in the Truck Series in 2022. 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. 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.
In 2024, Thompson would make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Charlotte, driving the No. 26 for Sam Hunt Racing. He made another start at Talladega late in the season, finishing 20th.
On January 7, 2025, it was announced that Thompson will run full-time in the Xfinity Series for SHR in the 2025 season, driving the No. 26 car.

## 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 | 0$^1$ | |
| 2025 | Sam Hunt Racing | 26 | Toyota | DAY 8 | ATL 35 | COA 18 | PHO 38 | LVS 15 | HOM | MAR | DAR | BRI | CAR | TAL | TEX | CLT | NSH | MXC | POC | ATL | CSC | SON | DOV | IND | IOW | GLN | DAY | PIR | GTW | BRI | KAN | ROV | LVS | TAL | MAR | PHO | -* | -* | |

#### 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 |
| 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 |
| 2022 | Niece Motorsports | 40 | Chevy | 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 |
| 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 |
| 2024 | Tricon Garage | 5 | Toyota | 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 |
$^*$ 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 |
| 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 |
| 2021 | Niece Motorsports | 40 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | KAN 8 | 56th | 65 |
| 2023 | Venturini Motorsports | 25 | Toyota | DAY | PHO | TAL | KAN 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | KAN 8 | BRI | SLM | TOL | 24th | 199 |
| 2023 | Venturini Motorsports | 15 | Toyota | | | | | CLT 2 | BLN | ELK | | | POC 4 | MCH | IRP | GLN | ISF | MLW | DSF | | | | | | | 24th | 199 |
| 2023 | Venturini Motorsports | 55 | Toyota | | | | | | | | MOH 10 | IOW | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24th | 199 |
| 2024 | Venturini Motorsports | 55 | Toyota | DAY | PHO | TAL | DOV | KAN 3 | | | | | IRP 9 | SLM | ELK | MCH | ISF | MLW 7 | DSF | GLN | BRI 5 | KAN | TOL | 24th | 183 |
| 2024 | Venturini Motorsports | 20 | Toyota | | | | | | CLT 7 | IOW | MOH | BLN | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24th | 183 |

#### 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 | |

#### 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 |
| 2021 | High Point Racing | 51 | Ford | PHO 15 | SON 6 | IRW 2* | CNS 11 | IRW | PIR | LVS 14 | AAS 17 | PHO 22 | | | | 13th | 225 |
| 2022 | Niece Motorsports | 40 | Chevy | PHO | IRW | KCR | PIR | SON 15 | IRW | EVG | PIR | AAS | LVS | PHO | | 59th | 29 |
| 2023 | Venturini Motorsports | 20 | Toyota | PHO | IRW | KCR | PIR | SON | IRW | SHA | EVG | AAS | LVS | MAD | PHO 2 | 39th | 42 |