Dean Thompson set to make NASCAR Xfinity debut for Sam Hunt Racing

Sam Hunt Racing announced on Monday (May 20) that NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Dean Thompson will make his Xfinity Series debut this weekend. He will drive the #26 Toyota GR Supra at the BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Thompson currently competes full-time for Tricon Garage in the Truck Series. He has managed to score three top-10 finishes in the first 10 races this season and currently stands 20th in the points table with 173 points.

Sam Hunt Racing made the announcement on social media through a post with a caption, which reads:

“Welcome to the @NASCAR_Xfinity Series. Dean @deanthompsonr will make his @xfinityracing series debut this weekend at @CLTMotorSpdwy, piloting our No. 26 GR Supra”

Along with pulling double-duty this weekend in NASCAR's national series, the 22-year-old will also take part in the ARCA Menards Series race for Venturini Motorsports.

Thompson will be the sixth driver to join the #23 SHR entry, including Justin Sage Karam, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Corey Heim, John Hunter Nemechek, and Ed Jones.

In a four-year-long Truck Series career, the California-born driver has made 55 career starts and scored eight total top-10 finishes. His career-best finish of P3 came on two occasions at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway in 2023.

Thompson made his Truck Series debut in the #44 Chevy truck with Niece Motorsports at Phoenix Raceway in 2021, where he started 25th and crossed the finish line in 21st. The following year, he moved to full-time racing with Niece and ended the season in 23rd place in the championship standings.

Under the Toyota Racing Development program since 2023, Thompson competes full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series with Tricon Garage and partially in the ARCA Menards Series with Venturini Motorsports.

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Entry list: 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte

Take a look at the entry list for the BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway:

1. Cole Custer
2. Patrick Emerling
3. Sam Mayer
4. Jesse Love
5. Dawson Cram
6. Anthony Alfredo
7. Garrett Smithley
8. Justin Allgaier
9. Sammy Smith
10. Brandon Jones
11. Josh Williams
12. JJ Yeley
13. Hailie Deegan
14. AJ Allmendinger
15. Chase Elliott
16. Sheldon Creed
17. Taylor Gray
18. Aric Almirola
19. Austin Hill
20. Dean Thompson
21. Jeb Burton
22. Kyle Sieg
23. Blaine Perkins
24. Noah Gragson
25. Parker Retzlaff
26. Kyle Busch
27. Akinori Ogata
28. Matt DiBenedetto
29. Ryan Sieg
30. Leland Honeyman, Jr.
31. Ryan Ellis
32. Brennan Poole
33. Parker Kligerman
34. Jeremy Clements
35. Jade Buford
36. Chandler Smith
37. Kyle Weatherman
38. Natalie Deker
39. Shane van Gisbergen
40. Riley Herbst