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Mark Thompson (racing driver)

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Mark Thompson
Nationality American
Born (1951-07-09) July 9, 1951 (age 73)
Cartersville, Georgia
ARCA Racing Series career
Debut season1991
Crew chiefDon Hoffman[1]
Former teamsHenley Gray, Mike Brandt, Jack Bowsher, Billy Gerhart, Russ Roulo, Venturini Motorsports, Turner Scott Motorsports
Starts93
Wins2
Poles4
Best finish3rd in 1997
Finished last season72nd (2015)
NASCAR Cup Series career
3 races run over 3 years
2018 position41st
Best finish41st (2018)
First race1992 Champion Spark Plug 500 (Pocono)
Last race2018 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
4 races run over 3 years
2017 position62nd
Best finish62nd (2017)
First race2015 Winn-Dixie 300 (Talladega)
Last race2017 Subway Firecracker 250 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of November 18, 2018.

Mark Thompson (born July 9, 1951) is a retired American professional stock car racing driver, pilot, and businessman. He formerly competed part-time in the Monster Energy 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

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

Thompson started flying in 1973 by transporting skydivers. Later in the decade, Thompson founded Phoenix Air as a parachuting school,[2] 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

ARCA Racing Series

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 again and raced in the Lucas Oil 200, though he was taken out in a violent late race crash.[11]

NASCAR

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

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

NASCAR

(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

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 MENCC Pts
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
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 -
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
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
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
2018 MBM Motorsports Ford 40 22

Xfinity Series

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 NXSC Pts
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
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
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
† – Qualified but replaced by Timmy Hill.

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

ARCA Racing Series

(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 ARSC Pts
1991 Gray Racing 79 Chevy DAY
25 		ATL
14 		KIL TAL
12 		TOL FRS POC MCH KIL FRS DEL POC 29th 915
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
2011 DAY
17 		TAL SLM TOL NJE 105th 170
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
2013 Turner Scott Motorsports 62 Chevy DAY
8 		MOB SLM 35th 810
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
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
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
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
2018 DAY
27 		NSH SLM TAL TOL CLT POC MCH MAD GTW CHI IOW ELK POC ISF BLN DSF SLM IRP KAN 101st 95

References

  1. ^ "2015 ARCA RACING TEAM CHART". The Pit Lane. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Youngblood, Cindy. "Phoenix Air does charter work others fear to touch". Professional Pilot. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  3. ^ "Phoenix Air Group Group Makes Name For Itself As Primary Air Transport For Those Exposed To Or Carrying Contagious Diseases". Aviation Pros. October 9, 2014. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  4. ^ Radebaugh, Don (March 31, 2015). "Talladega open testing Wednesday, Live timing & scoring, live chat at ARCAracing.com". ARCA Racing Series. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  5. ^ "2016 Sparks Energy 300". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  6. ^ "2016 Subway Firecracker 250". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  7. ^ "2016 VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  8. ^ "Mark Thompson, 63, sets record with ARCA pole for Toyota". Autoweek. February 14, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  9. ^ Bonkowski, Jerry (February 13, 2015). "ARCA veteran Mark Thompson, 63, becomes oldest pole winner in Daytona history". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  10. ^ "NOVEMBER 2016". The Pit Lane. November 28, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  11. ^ "2017 Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  12. ^ "1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  13. ^ "1993 Pepsi 400 qualifying results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  14. ^ "1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  15. ^ "Starting Line Up by Row – Talladega Superspeedway – Provided by NASCAR Statistics" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  16. ^ "2015 Winn-Dixie 300". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  17. ^ "49th Annual Alabama "500" Entry List" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN Internet Ventures. October 9, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  18. ^ Nguyen, Justin (October 9, 2017). "Mark Thompson returns to Cup after 25 years, running the #15 at Talladega". Overtake Motorsport. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
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