Thompson’s ‘Lucky Spin’ Ultimately Leads To Strong Result
Dean Thompson (Jacob Seelman/Race Face Digital photo)
MARTINSVILLE, Va. – An early spin for Sam Hunt Racing’s Dean Thompson allowed the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sunoco rookie-of-the-year contender to learn the limit Saturday at Martinsville Speedway.
He then used that knowledge to work his way back through the field, ultimately earning a strong sixth-place finish in a wild Marine Corps 250.
The No. 26 Thompson Pipe Group Toyota GR Supra battled with Harrison Burton’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse midway through stage two when it wheel-hopped entering turn one on lap 95. Thompson spun into Burton before his car did a complete spin with minimal damage.
That moment allowed the Anaheim, Calif., native to get a bearing on the threshold that the Xfinity Series cars have at the historic racetrack nicknamed ‘The Paper Clip’. The only other mishap that Thompson experienced was a second spin from contact with 41 laps to go in the scheduled distance.
Despite the late race spin, the 23-year-old climbed back up the running order as a rash of cautions broke out. The longest green flag run over the final 40 laps were two separate four-lap stints.
Thompson avoided a multi-car wreck that ended the race for Christian Eckes, Nick Sanchez, Josh Williams and others on lap 233. He then somehow avoided the chaotic final-turn crash that ended the race in overtime and crossed the line sixth in his first Xfinity Series race at Martinsville.
“I’m lucky to have spun – it sounds weird, but I’m lucky to have spun and not hit anything because I learned the limit,” Thompson admitted. “I’m pretty lucky to get out of there unscathed and get a good finish out of it. We made good adjustments all day. We spun that last time, and we came and put a set of scuffs on it and I didn’t know if that was the right move, but obviously it was at the end.
“I’m really proud of my guys. My Thompson Pipe Group Toyota GR Supra was very fast.”
Thompson was confident of his car’s speed entering the first short track race of the season. In the short practice and two-lap qualifying session he was 18th and 12th fastest, respectively, giving him valuable seat time ahead of the race itself.
Dean Thompson in action at Martinsville Speedway. (Jacob Seelman/Race Face Digital photo)
“I’ve got a great group of guys at Sam Hunt Racing,” Thompson said. “We came into this race knowing we were going to have a good car. Practice and qualified really well and brought the car back in good shape. That is kind of what it is all about here – keeping it in one piece and making it to the end. I knew if we made it to the end, we would be fine. Just learning all day – my first time here in Xfinity cars.”
In the largely caution-free opening stage, Thompson moved into the top 10 early on. He ended the first stage in 10th after the caution waved with six laps remaining for a crash between Burton and Corey Day.
The sixth-place run marked Thompson’s best career finish in the Xfinity Series and his second top-10 of the season, which moved him up from 20th to 19th in the points standings.
Thompson sits 160 points behind current series leader and defending champion Justin Allgaier and just 35 points below the final playoff spot, currently held by Daniel Dye.
Next for Thompson and the rest of the Xfinity Series is South Carolina’s Darlington Raceway, marking another first for the young driver, his first Xfinity Series start at the Track Too Tough to Tame.
In three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts at Darlington, Thompson has one top-10 finish, a ninth-place effort from the 2023 event.
Broadcast coverage of the Sport Clips Haircuts/VFW-Help A Hero 200 is scheduled for Saturday, April 6 at 3:30 p.m. ET, live on The CW, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
