Dean Thompson – a competitor in the ARCA Menards Series West — has been tapped by Niece Motorsports for a two-race program at the conclusion of the 2021 season, which will see the Anaheim, California-native make his first non-combination start in the ARCA Menards Series, as well as his debut in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The 20-year-old will pilot a Niece Motorsports Chevrolet SS in Saturday Evening’s Reese’s 150 at Kansas Speedway, the season-finale for the ARCA Menards Series. Just two weeks later, Thompson will get behind the wheel of a Niece Motorsports branded Chevrolet Silverado in the series’ season-finale at Phoenix Raceway.
Niece Motorsports tells TobyChristie.com that Thompson will be piloting the No. 40 Chevrolet SS in the ARCA Menards Series event at Kansas Speedway. In the NASCAR Truck Series finale at Phoenix Raceway, Thompson will pilot a fourth entry for the organization.
I’m so excited to announce that I am running the Reese’s 150 ARCA Menards Kansas race this weekend and the Lucas Oil 150 Camping World Truck race! So blessed to have this opportunity and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us in the future! pic.twitter.com/OL4ItBWKEV
— Dean Thompson (@deanthompsonr) October 18, 2021
Thompson has enjoyed reasonable success in the ARCA Menards Series West in 2021, notching a pair of top-five finishes in six starts. In the series’ third race of the season at Irwindale Speedway, Thompson sat on pole, and dominated the event, but was ultimately passed for the victory on the race’s final restart.
Unfortunately, when returning to Irwindale Speedway, Thompson was sidelined for COVID-19 protocols and was unable to compete, derailing any hopes of a championship for the 2020 SPEARS Southwest Tour Rookie of The Year.