Mark Thompson (racing driver)

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Template:Infobox racing driver Mark Thompson (born July 9, 1951) is an American former professional stock car racing driver, pilot, and businessman. He formerly competed part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 66 Ford Fusion for MBM Motorsports, and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 13 car for MBM Motorsports. At age 66, Thompson is the oldest driver to compete in the Daytona 500.

Military career and Phoenix Air[edit | edit source]

The Phoenix Air-sponsored No. 40 car, driven by Carl Long

Thompson started flying in 1969 as a Warrant Officer Candidate in the Army where he trained to fly helicopters. After an early release from the Army in 1972, he began teaching and transporting skydivers.[1] Later in the decade, Thompson founded Phoenix Air as a parachuting school,[2] 

 2016 Sparks Energy 300.
 
 
 
  Retrieved November 27, 2016 from link


which later evolved into an air transport company with ties to fifteen U.S. and foreign government agencies, carrying government workers who had been infected with diseases, including Americans who had contracted the Ebola virus disease from Liberia to the U.S.[3] Phoenix Air also provides tactical electronic warfare training services to the Air Force, the Air National Guard and the Navy.[4]

Phoenix Air currently sponsors MBM Motorsports' Nos. 13 and 40 cars in the Xfinity Series. In 2016, Phoenix served as a primary sponsor for MBM drivers Thompson, Carl Long and Timmy Hill.[5][6][7]

Racing career[edit | edit source]

ARCA Racing Series[edit | edit source]

Thompson began racing in ARCA in 1991 where he ran 7 races scoring 1 top 5 at Talladega with a 4th place finish.

In ARCA's season opening race at Daytona on February 13, 1994, Thompson was racing in a single file pack when a car infront of Thompson in Michael Dokken lost control of his car off of turn 2 and spun. Dokken clipped Thompson in the right rear sending Thompson around and ended up tipping Thompson's car over on his roof. Thompson's car skidded on his roof until it reached the grass where his car began to go into a pair of violent sidewinder barrel rolls and flips. Thompson's car flipped 7 times in the grass before it landed right side up with the car's body nearly torn apart. Thompson had suffered broken ribs and a concussion but survived. He was able to return in time for the next race on April 30 at Talladega finishing in 3rd place.

In 1996, Thompson scored his first career ARCA Series pole at Michigan. He eventually scored another pole at the same track four races later. In 1997, Thompson would run his only full-time ARCA Series season. He scored his first career win at Charlotte in the 4th race of the year. Later that year, Thompson would score another win at the July Michigan race which would be his final in his ARCA Series career. Overall, Thompson scored two wins, 10 top fives, and 16 top tens with one pole at Michigan in June and finished 3rd in the standings behind Frank Kimmel and Series champion Tim Steele, who won 12 races and clinching the championship early despite missing the final race at Atlanta.

During qualifying for the season-opening Lucas Oil 200 in 2015, Thompson became the oldest pole-sitter in Daytona International Speedway history after recording a lap speed of 187.336 miles per hour (301.488 km/h)[8] for his first pole in 18 years.[9]

On November 28, 2016, MBM Motorsports announced plans for Thompson to race at the 2017 season-opening Lucas Oil 200 ARCA Racing Series race at Daytona; the race was Thompson's final planned ARCA start,[10] though he would also compete at Talladega later in the season. Driving the No. 66 Phoenix Air Ford, Thompson qualified 15th, but finished 31st after he was collected in a nine-car accident on lap 49. In 2018, he returned and raced in the Lucas Oil 200, though he was taken out in a violent late-race crash.[11]

NASCAR[edit | edit source]

In 1993 and 1994, Thompson made three NASCAR Winston Cup Series attempts with Henley Gray, driving the No. 62 and No. 86, respectively. He failed to qualify in his first attempt at Darlington Raceway, but made the second race at Pocono Raceway after qualifying 38th. However, after eight laps, he retired from the race due to an engine failure, and finished 39th.[12] In 1993, Thompson failed to qualify for the Pepsi 400 after not making an attempt.[13] The next year, he joined Mike Brandt in the No. 66 Ford, but withdrew from the Daytona 500.[14]

In 2015, Thompson made his Xfinity Series debut in the Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway, driving the No. 13 for MBM Motorsports, and qualified 31st,[15] while finishing 27th, two laps down.[16]

In 2017, Thompson joined Premium Motorsports to drive the No. 15 Chevrolet for the Alabama 500 at Talladega, Thompson's first Cup event in 25 years.[17][18]

In 2018, Thompson raced in the 2018 Daytona 500 becoming the oldest driver at 66 years of age to drive in the event. He finished 22nd in what would become his final race in any series.

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Thompson's brother, Dent, was a writer at Walt Disney World until 1983, when he joined his brother at Phoenix Air; Dent currently works as Phoenix Air's COO.[2]

Thompson holds an ATP license and has five type ratings.[2]

Motorsports career results[edit | edit source]

NASCAR[edit | edit source]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Monster Energy Cup Series[edit | edit source]

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup 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 34 35 36 <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />MENCC Pts Ref
1992 Gray Racing 62 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR
DNQ 		BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC
39 		MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 90th 46 [19]
1993 86 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY
DNQ 		NHA POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL NA - [20]
2017 Premium Motorsports 15 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL MAR TEX BRI RCH TAL KAN CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY KEN NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH CHI NHA DOV CLT TAL
39 		KAN MAR TEX PHO HOM 66th 01 [21]
2018 MBM Motorsports 66 Ford DAY
22 		ATL LVS PHO CAL MAR TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV KAN CLT POC MCH SON CHI DAY KEN NHA POC GLN MCH BRI DAR IND LVS RCH CLT DOV TAL KAN MAR TEX PHO HOM 41st 15 [22]
Daytona 500[edit | edit source]
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
2018 MBM Motorsports Ford 40 22

Xfinity Series[edit | edit source]

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 <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />NXSC Pts Ref
2015 MBM Motorsports 13 Dodge DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL
27 		IOW CLT DOV MCH CHI DAY
DNQ 		KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 73rd 17 [23]
2016 Toyota DAY
DNQ 		ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW DAY
31 		KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN
QL† 		DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 74th 11 [24]
2017 DAY
DNQ 		ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL
28 		CLT DOV POC MCH IOW DAY
29 		KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 62nd 17 [25]
† – Qualified but replaced by Timmy Hill.

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

ARCA Racing Series[edit | edit source]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Racing 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 <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />ARSC Pts Ref
1991 Gray Racing 79 Chevy DAY
25 		ATL
14 		KIL TAL
12 		TOL FRS POC MCH KIL FRS DEL POC 29th 915 [26]
62 Olds TAL
4 		HPT
32 		MCH
27 		ISF TOL DSF TWS ATL
34
1992 Pontiac DAY
11 		FIF
8 		NSH
6 		DEL POC HPT FRS ISF TOL DSF 24th 1395 [27]
Olds TWS
27 		TAL TOL KIL POC
16 		MCH
9 		FRS KIL TWS
35 		SLM ATL
1993 Mike Brandt 66 Ford DAY
40 		TWS
15 		TAL
5 		POC
12 		MCH
21 		FRS POC
8 		KIL ATL
6 		20th 1560 [28]
Olds FIF
2 		KIL
DNQ 		CMS FRS TOL ISF
40 		DSF TOL SLM
15 		WIN
32
1994 Ford DAY
34 		TAL
3 		FIF LVL KIL TOL FRS MCH
10 		POC
10 		KIL FRS INF I70 ATL
18 		25th 1240 [29]
0 Olds DMS
34 		POC
66 Buick ISF
18 		DSF TOL SLM WIN
1995 Ford DAY
36 		ATL
6 		TAL
23 		FIF KIL FRS POC
4 		POC
6 		KIL FRS SBS LVL ISF DSF SLM WIN ATL
21 		26th 1300 [30]
99 MCH
31 		I80 MCS FRS
1996 66 DAY
9 		ATL
6 		SLM TAL
2 		FIF
8 		LVL CLT
37 		CLT
30 		KIL FRS POC
20 		MCH
3 		FRS TOL POC
5 		MCH
2 		INF SBS ISF DSF KIL SLM WIN CLT
2 		ATL
2 		12th 2320 [31]
1997 DAY
36 		ATL
2 		CLT
1 		CLT
4 		POC
21 		MCH
3* 		SBS
7 		TOL
4 		KIL
8 		FRS
6 		MIN
9 		POC
6 		MCH
1 		DSF
5 		GTW
33 		SLM
4 		WIN
17 		CLT
25 		TAL
2* 		ISF
14 		ATL
6 		3rd 5230 [32]
86 SLM
4
1998 66 DAY
4 		ATL
32 		SLM CLT MEM MCH POC SBS TOL PPR POC KIL FRS ISF ATL DSF SLM TEX WIN CLT TAL
4 		ATL NA 0 [33]
2000 Bowsher Motorsports 21 Ford DAY SLM AND CLT KIL FRS MCH POC TOL KEN BLN POC WIN ISF KEN DSF SLM CLT TAL
26 		ATL 116th 115 [34]
2003 Mark Thompson 48 Ford DAY ATL NSH SLM TOL KEN CLT BLN KAN MCH LER POC POC NSH ISF WIN DSF CHI SLM TAL
6 		CLT SBO 122nd 200 [35]
2007 Gerhart Racing 5 Chevy DAY USA NSH SLM KAN WIN KEN TOL IOW POC MCH BLN KEN POC NSH ISF MIL GTW DSF CHI SLM TAL
28 		TOL 152nd 90 [36]
2008 Roulo Brothers Racing 39 Ford DAY SLM IOW KAN CAR KEN TOL POC MCH CAY KEN BLN POC NSH ISF DSF CHI SLM NJE TAL
8 		TOL 97th 190 [37]
2009 Venturini Motorsports 25 Toyota DAY SLM CAR TAL
25 		KEN TOL POC MCH MFD IOW KEN BLN POC ISF CHI TOL DSF NJE SLM KAN CAR 137th 105 [38]
2010 66 DAY
2 		PBE SLM TEX TAL
25 		TOL POC MCH IOW MFD POC BLN NJE ISF CHI DSF TOL SLM KAN CAR 67th 325 [39]
2011 DAY
17 		TAL SLM TOL NJE 105th 170 [40]
Chevy CHI
34 		POC MCH WIN BLN IOW IRP POC ISF MAD DSF SLM KAN TOL
2012 Toyota DAY
5 		MOB SLM TAL
14 		TOL ELK POC MCH WIN NJE IOW CHI
24 		IRP POC BLN ISF MAD SLM DSF KAN 43rd 475 [41]
2013 Turner Scott Motorsports 62 Chevy DAY
8 		MOB SLM 35th 810 [42]
66 TAL
4 		TOL ELK POC MCH ROA WIN CHI NJE POC BLN ISF MAD DSF IOW SLM KEN KAN
14
2014 Venturini Motorsports Toyota DAY
37 		MOB SLM 81st 200 [43]
Turner Scott Motorsports 4 Chevy TAL
15 		TOL NJE POC MCH ELK WIN CHI IRP POC BLN ISF MAD DSF SLM KEN KAN
2015 Ken Schrader Racing 11 Toyota DAY
14 		MOB NSH SLM 72nd 330 [44]
66 TAL
13 		TOL NJE POC MCH CHI WIN IOW IRP POC BLN ISF DSF SLM KEN KAN
2016 Venturini Motorsports DAY
33 		NSH SLM TAL
19 		TOL NJE POC MCH MAD WIN IOW IRP POC BLN ISF DSF SLM CHI 66th 370 [45]
MBM Motorsports KEN
10 		KAN
2017 Ford DAY
31 		NSH SLM TAL
31 		TOL ELK POC MCH MAD IOW IRP POC WIN ISF ROA DSF SLM CHI KEN KAN 98th 145 [46]
2018 DAY
27 		NSH SLM TAL TOL CLT POC MCH MAD GTW CHI IOW ELK POC ISF BLN DSF SLM IRP KAN 101st 95 [47]

References[edit | edit source]


External links[edit | edit source]

Template:MBM Motorsports Template:JRR Template:Ken Schrader Racing Template:Roulo Brothers Racing Template:Venturini Motorsports Template:Bobby Gerhart Racing Template:Bowsher Motorsports

  1. ↑ Nominee Mark Hillard Thompson.  (March 9, 2023)  Retrieved March 26, 2023 from link
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Phoenix Air does charter work others fear to touch.  Cindy Youngblood.  Professional Pilot.  Retrieved May 2, 2015 from link
  3. ↑ Phoenix Air Group Group Makes Name For Itself As Primary Air Transport For Those Exposed To Or Carrying Contagious Diseases.  (October 9, 2014)  Retrieved April 29, 2015 from link
  4. ↑ Talladega open testing Wednesday, Live timing & scoring, live chat at ARCAracing.com.  Don Radebaugh.  (March 31, 2015)  Retrieved May 2, 2015 from link
  5. ↑ 2016 Sparks Energy 300.  Retrieved November 27, 2016 from link
  6. ↑ 2016 Subway Firecracker 250.  Retrieved November 27, 2016 from link
  7. ↑ 2016 VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300.  Retrieved November 27, 2016 from link
  8. ↑ Mark Thompson, 63, sets record with ARCA pole for Toyota.  (February 14, 2015)  Retrieved April 29, 2015 from link
  9. ↑ ARCA veteran Mark Thompson, 63, becomes oldest pole winner in Daytona history.  Jerry Bonkowski.  (February 13, 2015)  NBC Sports.  Retrieved May 2, 2015 from link
  10. ↑ NOVEMBER 2016.  (November 28, 2016)  Retrieved May 5, 2017 from link
  11. ↑ 2017 Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200.  Retrieved May 5, 2017 from link
  12. ↑ 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Results.  Retrieved May 2, 2015 from link
  13. ↑ 1993 Pepsi 400 qualifying results.  Retrieved May 2, 2015 from link
  14. ↑ 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Results.  Retrieved May 2, 2015 from link
  15. ↑ Starting Line Up by Row – Talladega Superspeedway – Provided by NASCAR Statistics.  Retrieved May 2, 2015 from link
  16. ↑ 2015 Winn-Dixie 300.  Retrieved May 22, 2015 from link
  17. ↑ 49th Annual Alabama "500" Entry List.  (October 9, 2017)  ESPN Internet Ventures.  Retrieved October 9, 2017 from link
  18. ↑ Mark Thompson returns to Cup after 25 years, running the #15 at Talladega.  Justin Nguyen.  (October 9, 2017)  Retrieved October 11, 2017 from link
  19. ↑ Mark Thompson – 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  20. ↑ Mark Thompson – 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  21. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  22. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  23. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  24. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  25. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  26. ↑ Mark Thompson – 1991 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  27. ↑ Mark Thompson – 1992 ARCA SuperCar Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  28. ↑ Mark Thompson – 1993 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  29. ↑ Mark Thompson – 1994 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  30. ↑ Mark Thompson – 1995 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  31. ↑ Mark Thompson – 1996 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  32. ↑ Mark Thompson – 1997 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  33. ↑ Mark Thompson – 1998 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  34. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2000 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  35. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2003 ARCA Re/Max Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  36. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2007 ARCA Re/Max Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  37. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2008 ARCA Re/Max Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  38. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2009 ARCA Re/Max Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  39. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2010 ARCA Racing Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  40. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2011 ARCA Racing Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  41. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2012 ARCA Racing Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  42. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2013 ARCA Racing Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  43. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2014 ARCA Racing Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  44. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2015 ARCA Racing Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  45. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2016 ARCA Racing Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  46. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
  47. ↑ Mark Thompson – 2008 ARCA Racing Series Results.  NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.  Retrieved April 3, 2023 from link
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