Dean Thompson: “Dirtiest Drivers I’ve Ever Raced With”

What’s Happening?

During the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at North Wilkesboro Speedway, an incident occurred involving Dean Thompson of Tricon Garage and Hailie Deegan of Thor Sport. The incident happened in turn one as Thompson’s No. 5 and Deegan’s No. 13 trucks were racing for position. Deegan would not get as low on the track as Thompson anticipated and as the No. 5 truck turned down across the nose of the No. 13, Thompson would get hooked and turned around as he backed his truck into the outside safer barrier. This would ultimately end Thompson’s day as he would finish in the 35th spot.

You Need To Know:

• The comments Dean Thompson made once being released from the infield care center would catch the attention of many NASCAR reporters and fans alike. In an interview with journalist, Noah Lewis, Thompson would state that his Truck Series peers are “the dirtiest drivers I’ve ever raced with.”
• This is not the first criticism like this made by drivers. While the truck series can have some elite drivers towards the front of the pack, around the mid-pack seems to be a constant trouble spot for drivers with many of them being young and inexperienced. It would seem that that is where many of the incidents in during Truck Series races first occur.
• The reaction from fans comes as expected. It’s safe to say that most of them are firmly in Dean Thompson’s corner.

When pressed for further comment, Thompson just continued to thank his sponsors.

The Main Character

Dean Thompson and Hailie Deegan are the main characters of this story as it was their on-track incident which triggered Thompson’s comments. Below, as tweeted by the official NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks Twitter page, is the accident that started it all.

In The Stands

Fantasy Bosco feels for Dean and understands his frustration.

Randal Kennedy bluntly calls Deegan a hack.

Elliott Lindamood loves the truck series but yearns for the days of old where the field was packed with veteran drivers.

Nolan Parker also calls for more Cup guys to step down and run the truck series like back in the day. He also gives a shoutout to Dale Jr. for his assistance in bringing back North Wilkesboro Speedway and congratulates the Truck race winner, Kyle Larson.

Chevyracer29 theorizes that if it wasn’t for Deegan’s looks and the Monster Energy sponsorship, she wouldn’t even have a ride in the sport.

vilkas notes that Thompson had a lot more to say and applauds his self-control.

What are your thoughts on Thompson’s comments, NASCAR fans? Is he right? Is he wrong? Let us know!