Dean Thompson Bio
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. Thompson came up through California’s short tracks before climbing the ladder through the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Standing 177 centimeters tall and racing out of Anaheim, California, Thompson represents one of the young American talents moving through Toyota’s national stock car development pipeline. He previously competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the ARCA Menards Series, the ARCA Menards Series East, and the ARCA Menards Series West.
Early Life and Background
Dean Kenneth Thompson was born on August 30, 2001, in Anaheim, California. Growing up in Southern California placed him near a dense network of short tracks and pavement ovals that shape the region’s grassroots racing scene.
Thompson began racing at the age of five, competing in quarter midgets at Orange Show Speedway. He stepped away from racing for several years as a kid before returning to competition in 2018, when he jumped into late models at the age of 16.
In 2019, he ran a full late model schedule and scored a win at Irwindale Speedway. The momentum from that season pushed him toward regional touring series, and his California roots kept Irwindale and Orange Show as foundational tracks in his development.
Path to NASCAR
Thompson’s path to NASCAR ran through California’s pavement late model scene and the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series. In 2020, he captured the Irwindale Speedway LKQ Pick Your Part Late Model Championship with six wins and fourteen top-five finishes. He followed that in 2021 with another Irwindale Late Model title, posting one win and thirteen top-five results, and added Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series Rookie of the Year honors to his resume.
In 2021, Thompson moved up to the ARCA Menards Series West, driving full-time for High Point Racing, the same team he ran with in the Spears Southwest Tour in 2020. High Point Racing also formed an alliance with Sunrise Ford Racing for its first season fielding a car in the West Series. Thompson’s best run that year was a second-place finish at Irwindale Speedway, where he won the pole and led most of the race before being passed after a late restart. He closed the West season with two poles, one top-five, and two top-ten finishes, ranking 13th in the final standings.
On October 18, 2021, it was announced that Thompson would drive for Niece Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series season finale at Kansas Speedway and in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season finale at Phoenix Raceway. On November 2, Niece Motorsports confirmed Thompson would run full-time in the Truck Series in 2022.
Dean Thompson Career
Early Career (2018-2020)
Thompson’s early professional career centered on California late models. After returning to racing in 2018, he ran a full late model slate in 2019 and broke through with a win at Irwindale Speedway. That result set the stage for a strong 2020, when he won the Irwindale Speedway LKQ Pick Your Part Late Model Championship.
Across the 2020 late model season, Thompson piled up six wins and fourteen top-five finishes, the kind of consistency that draws attention from regional touring teams. He also began running the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series, building the regional resume that later opened the door to ARCA.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2021-2024)
Thompson made his Truck Series debut in the 2021 Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix Raceway with Niece Motorsports. On November 2, 2021, the team announced he would drive full-time in 2022. With Kris Wright taking the No. 44, Thompson drove the No. 40 truck, replacing Ryan Truex.
On December 5, 2022, Tricon Garage announced Thompson would drive the No. 5 truck full-time in 2023. On April 1, 2023, he was injured in a hard crash at Texas Motor Speedway during the SpeedyCash.com 250 and was transported by ambulance on a stretcher. On November 17, 2023, Tricon Garage confirmed he would return to the team for the 2024 season. Thompson finished the Truck Series era with 11 top-ten finishes across his career, ending with the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race at Phoenix.
ARCA Menards Series (2021-2024)
Thompson’s ARCA Menards Series career began with the 2021 General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway, the same weekend he made his Truck Series debut. He ran a mix of ARCA and ARCA West events with High Point Racing, scoring his first ARCA Menards Series pole and building his stock car resume on intermediate and short tracks.
Across his ARCA Menards Series career, Thompson collected 11 top-ten finishes and 1 pole, with a best series points finish of 24th in both 2023 and 2024. His final ARCA start came at Bristol in the 2024 Bush’s Beans 200.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2024-Present)
Thompson made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Charlotte in 2024, driving the No. 26 for Sam Hunt Racing. He added another start later that season at Talladega, where he finished 20th.
On January 7, 2025, Sam Hunt Racing announced that Thompson would run full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2025, driving the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra. On April 19, 2025, at Rockingham, Thompson scored the Stage 2 victory by flipping the stage on pit road, earning the first career stage win for both himself and Sam Hunt Racing. He opened his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series career with 10 top-ten finishes and closed his first full season 16th in the standings.
Driving Style and Strengths
Thompson built his foundation on California’s flat short tracks and intermediate ovals, giving him comfort on abrasive pavement where tire management and consistent lap times matter. His late model and ARCA West background shows up in his ability to qualify well, with multiple poles across the ARCA ranks, and his stage racing instincts have translated cleanly to the national series, as shown by his Stage 2 win at Rockingham with Sam Hunt Racing.
Notable Races and Milestones
Thompson’s most notable milestones include his Truck Series debut at Phoenix Raceway in 2021, his first full-time Truck ride announcement with Niece Motorsports, and his 2023 Tricon Garage seat in the No. 5. His move to Sam Hunt Racing produced his first Xfinity start at Charlotte in 2024 and his first career stage win at Rockingham in 2025.
Dean Thompson Career Wins
Dean Thompson has not recorded a national NASCAR victory through the 2025 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season. His win column instead reflects his earlier short-track work, including six late model wins at Irwindale Speedway in 2020 and his Irwindale LKQ Pick Your Part Late Model Championships in 2020 and 2021, along with his Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series Rookie of the Year award.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Highlights
In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Thompson has zero wins, 10 top-ten finishes, and zero poles through his career. His first race came at the 2024 BetMGM 300 at Charlotte, and his best points finish to date is 16th in 2025. His standout result so far is the Stage 2 win at Rockingham on April 19, 2025, the first stage victory for both Thompson and Sam Hunt Racing.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Thompson has zero wins, 11 top-ten finishes, and zero poles across his career. He debuted in the 2021 Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix Raceway, ran full-time with Niece Motorsports starting in 2022, drove the No. 5 for Tricon Garage in 2023 and 2024, and finished his Truck career with a best points result of 16th in 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
In the ARCA Menards Series, Thompson has zero wins, 11 top-ten finishes, and 1 pole, with a best points finish of 24th in 2023 and 2024. In the ARCA Menards Series West, he posted zero wins, 3 top-ten finishes, and 2 poles, with a best points finish of 13th in 2021. In the ARCA Menards Series East, he recorded zero wins, 3 top-ten finishes, and zero poles, with a best points finish of 21st in 2024.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| ARCA Menards Series West | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Dean Thompson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Dean Thompson’s parents and immediate family has not been verified from the source materials available. His racing roots trace back to Orange Show Speedway, where he started in quarter midgets as a five-year-old, suggesting a family connection to Southern California’s grassroots racing community, though specific family members in the sport have not been confirmed.
Personal Life
Dean Kenneth Thompson was born in Anaheim, California, and continues to be identified with that hometown. His marital status and family details have not been publicly verified in the source materials reviewed for this profile.
2025 Season Performance
Thompson’s 2025 season was his first full-time campaign in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with Sam Hunt Racing. Driving the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra, he posted 10 top-ten finishes, zero wins, and zero poles, finishing the year 16th in the final series standings.
The headline moment came on April 19 at Rockingham, where Thompson scored the Stage 2 win by flipping the stage on pit strategy. That stage victory marked the first career stage win for both Thompson and Sam Hunt Racing, a meaningful milestone for a single-car team working its way up the Xfinity ladder.
Thompson’s consistency throughout 2025 helped establish Sam Hunt Racing as a steady Toyota development program and gave him a full season of national touring experience to build on heading into 2026.
