MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Dean Thompson will return to Tricon Garage in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at the helm of the No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro next season.
Thompson, who has set career-highs in both top-fives and top-10s, has enjoyed an uptick in performance since joining the Tricon stable, collecting career-best finishes of third place at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Anaheim, Calif. native currently sits 20th in the Truck Series point standings, up three spots from his rookie campaign.
“I’m thrilled to get back with the guys at Tricon next year. We have a chip on our shoulder and are hungry for a playoff run,” said Thompson. “My team has had my back all year and I’m excited to continue this journey with them. We have some unfinished business.”
The 21-year-old prospect has also impressed in limited ARCA Menards Series starts this season, capturing a pair of runner-up finishes and five top-10s while leading 56 laps in just six starts. To add to his diverse racing schedule this season, Thompson has competed in select Trans-Am races and collected a Late Model Stock victory at Tri-County Speedway in April.
“Dean has taken a huge leap in his development this season. He’s had several strong runs, instilling confidence in us that he will continue to grow as a driver at this level,” said Tricon Partner David Gilliland. “He brings a lot of character and energy to the team, and we’re happy he’ll have a home at Tricon for another year.”