Dean Thompson will compete at Daytona International Speedway this Saturday in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts series opener, aiming to make an impact at the well-known circuit. The season launches at 5:00 pm ET, and Thompson will be featured in the No. 26 car with Thompson Pipe Group as the major partner, bringing added focus to the Dean Thompson Daytona International Speedway campaign this year.
Previous Performances Build Momentum for Thompson
This upcoming event marks Thompson’s third appearance in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Daytona International Speedway. During the 2025 Wawa 250, Thompson secured a track-best finish for Sam Hunt Racing (SHR), coming in seventh place at the venue. Additionally, Thompson has experience racing three times in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at this iconic superspeedway, demonstrating valuable familiarity with its unique challenges.
Sam Hunt Racing’s Track Record at Daytona
Sam Hunt Racing, Thompson’s team, has accumulated 14 starts at Daytona International Speedway. Among these attempts, the group has achieved two top-10 finishes, with Thompson’s seventh-place result standing as its highest. This achievement shows the collaborative progress made by Thompson and the team at this circuit.
Recent Achievements and Strong Partnerships Ahead
Building on his Daytona success, Thompson also claimed Sam Hunt Racing’s first-ever stage win at Rockingham Speedway during the 2025 season, leading for 11 laps. Continuing as the team’s major supporter, Thompson Pipe Group will back most of the 2026 season in addition to serving as primary partner on the No. 26 entry this weekend.
Anticipation for the Season Opener
With the season opener drawing national attention and televising on the CW Network, Dean Thompson and the No. 26 crew are preparing with aspirations for another standout result, setting the tone for what could be a promising campaign at Daytona International Speedway and beyond.
