Thompson Leads Laps & Earns Mobile Runner-Up
MOBILE, Ala. – Grant Thompson led a majority of Saturday’s pro late model event at Mobile Int’l Speedway on his way to a second-place finish at the half-mile oval.
Aboard the WW Motorsports No. 00 Chevrolet for owner William Wambles, Thompson qualified fourth and quickly made up a position on the initial start, holding down third place for the first 17 laps.
He then got a chance to challenge for the top spot during a lap-18 restart, following an incident that eliminated early leader Gavin Graham and Dylan Courtney from contention after contact between Graham and Dustin Smith.
Thompson moved into the lead on lap 19 and put down consistent laps through the second half of the event, pacing 20 circuits before being shuffled out of the groove by Smith with two to go.
The 18-year-old Thompson then battled Landon DeVaughn on the final lap, crossing the finish line third, but it was a duel that ended up being for the win after Smith was disqualified in post-race inspection for an illegal carburetor spacer.
Smith’s DQ elevated Thompson to a runner-up finish, missing out on the victory to DeVaughn by a scant .108 of a second on the racetrack. It marks Thompson’s best result so far this season.
“We had a pretty good race car,” said Thompson. “Just not quite good enough to grab a win. I can’t thank all my guys enough, everyone who lays a hand on this thing. It was a good race. I got a little scared when Dustin got into Gavin and almost hit him. Leading a lot of laps is a confidence-builder … just lost it at the very end.
“I’m extremely happy with where we came from last race. We’re going to take this thing home and bring it back better next time.”
Thompson would like to thank partners Rogers Dabbs Chevrolet Performance, WW Motorsports, Race Face Brand Development, and the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation for their continued partnership on his pro late model.
Additional supporters of Thompson’s other racing endeavors include Brian Cagle Grading, Nature Coast Electrical, Dakota’s Journey, and Emma Britt Racing.
For more information on Thompson, visit www.grantthompsonracing.com.
About Grant Thompson Racing
Grant Thompson is an 18-year-old racing driver from Mobile, Ala., competing in high-profile pro late model events in the Southern United States.
While Thompson cut his teeth in racing in the popular Bandolero division as a youngster, his motorsports career began to attract a mainstream spotlight in 2018, when he began racing in the Southern Pro-Am Truck Series and earned rookie-of-the-year honors at the end of that season.
Thompson earned the 2019 Pro Truck championship at Mobile Int’l Speedway as a 13-year-old. He was also chosen as the winner of the Jr. Late Model Challenge Camp at Madera (Calif.) Speedway that year.
After track titles at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., and Crisp Motorsports Park in Cordele, Ga., in 2020, Thompson moved into the Tundra Super Late Model Series the next year, earning rookie-of-the-year honors on the strength of a sixth-place finish in Tundra points.
Thompson returned to his Pro Truck roots for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, also racing in various pro late model events as his schedule permitted. He’ll focus on the pro late model division this year under the guidance of longtime team owner Curt Britt, racing predominantly in the Southeast region.
Off the racetrack, Thompson is completing his senior year of high school at Cottage Hill Christian Academy and will graduate in May.
For marketing opportunities and business inquiries, contact Grant Thompson Racing at (251) 767-5454 or via email at jnnybg54@gmail.com.
