Dean Thompson (racing driver)
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August 30, 2001
Anaheim, California, U.S.
| Dean Thompson | |||||||
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 Thompson at Sonoma Raceway in 2025 | |||||||
| Born | Dean Kenneth Thompson August 30, 2001 Anaheim, California, U.S. | ||||||
| NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series career | |||||||
| 46 races run over 3 years | |||||||
| Car no., team | No. 26 (Sam Hunt Racing) | ||||||
| 2025 position | 16th | ||||||
| Best finish | 16th (2025) | ||||||
| First race | 2024 BetMGM 300 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last race | 2026 Ag-Pro 300 (Talladega) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career | |||||||
| 70 races run over 4 years | |||||||
| 2024 position | 16th | ||||||
| Best finish | 16th (2024) | ||||||
| First race | 2021 Lucas Oil 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
| Last race | 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race (Phoenix) | ||||||
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| ARCA Menards Series career | |||||||
| 12 races run over 3 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 24th (2023, 2024) | ||||||
| First race | 2021 General Tire 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
| Last race | 2024 Bush's Beans 200 (Bristol) | ||||||
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| ARCA Menards Series East career | |||||||
| 3 races run over 1 year | |||||||
| Best finish | 21st (2024) | ||||||
| First race | 2024 Circle City 200 (IRP) | ||||||
| Last race | 2024 Bush's Beans 200 (Bristol) | ||||||
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| ARCA Menards Series West career | |||||||
| 9 races run over 3 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 13th (2021) | ||||||
| First race | 2021 General Tire 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
| Last race | 2023 Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 (Phoenix) | ||||||
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| Statistics up to date as of April 25, 2026. | |||||||
Dean Kenneth Thompson (born August 30, 2001) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts 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, ARCA Menards Series East, and ARCA Menards Series West.
Thompson began racing at the age of five, 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 six wins and fourteen top-five finishes in 2020, and one win and thirteen 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 second 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-five, and two top-ten 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] He made another start at Talladega late in the season, finishing 20th.
On January 7, 2025, it was announced that Thompson would run full-time in the Xfinity Series for SHR in the 2025 season, driving the No. 26 car.[7] On April 19 at Rockingham, Thompson scored the Stage 2 victory after flipping the stage on the pits, scoring the first career stage win for not only himself, but for his team, Sam Hunt Racing, as a whole.