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Mark Thompson
Nationality	American
Born	(1951-07-09) July 9, 1951 (age 73) Cartersville, Georgia
ARCA Racing Series career
Debut season	1991
Crew chief	Don Hoffman
Former teams	Henley Gray, Mike Brandt, Jack Bowsher, Billy Gerhart, Russ Roulo, Venturini Motorsports, Turner Scott Motorsports
Starts	93
Wins	2
Poles	4
Best finish	3rd in 1997
Finished last season	72nd (2015)
NASCAR driver
NASCAR Cup Series career
3 races run over 3 years
2018 position	41st
Best finish	41st (2018)
First race	1992 Champion Spark Plug 500 (Pocono)
Last race	2018 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
4 races run over 3 years
2017 position	62nd
Best finish	62nd (2017)
First race	2015 Winn-Dixie 300 (Talladega)
Last race	2017 Subway Firecracker 250 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
Statistics current as of November 18, 2018.

Mark Thompson (born July 9, 1951) is a retired American professional stock car racing driver, pilot, and businessman. He formerly competed part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 66 Ford Fusion for MBM Motorsports, and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 13 car for MBM Motorsports. At age 66, Thompson is the oldest driver to compete in the Daytona 500.

Military career and Phoenix Air

Thompson started flying in 1969 as a Warrant Officer Candidate in the Army where he trained to fly helicopters. After an early release from the Army in 1972, he began teaching and transporting skydivers. Later in the decade, Thompson founded Phoenix Air as a parachuting school,"2016 Sparks Energy 300". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2016. which later evolved into an air transport company with ties to fifteen U.S. and foreign government agencies, carrying government workers who had been infected with diseases, including Americans who had contracted the Ebola virus disease from Liberia to the U.S. Phoenix Air also provides tactical electronic warfare training services to the Air Force, the Air National Guard and the Navy.

Phoenix Air currently sponsors MBM Motorsports' Nos. 13 and 40 cars in the Xfinity Series. In 2016, Phoenix served as a primary sponsor for MBM drivers Thompson, Carl Long and Timmy Hill.

Racing career

ARCA Racing Series

During qualifying for the season-opening Lucas Oil 200 in 2015, Thompson became the oldest pole-sitter in Daytona International Speedway history after recording a lap speed of 187.336 miles per hour (301.488 km/h) for his first pole in 18 years.

On November 28, 2016, MBM Motorsports announced plans for Thompson to race at the 2017 season-opening Lucas Oil 200 ARCA Racing Series race at Daytona; the race was Thompson's final planned ARCA start, though he would also compete at Talladega later in the season. Driving the No. 66 Phoenix Air Ford, Thompson qualified 15th, but finished 31st after he was collected in a nine-car accident on lap 49. In 2018, he returned again and raced in the Lucas Oil 200, though he was taken out in a violent late race crash.

NASCAR

In 1993 and 1994, Thompson made three NASCAR Winston Cup Series attempts with Henley Gray, driving the No. 62 and No. 86, respectively. He failed to qualify in his first attempt at Darlington Raceway, but made the second race at Pocono Raceway after qualifying 38th. However, after eight laps, he retired from the race due to an engine failure, and finished 39th. In 1993, Thompson failed to qualify for the Pepsi 400 after not making an attempt. The next year, he joined Mike Brandt in the No. 66 Ford, but withdrew from the Daytona 500.

In 2015, Thompson made his Xfinity Series debut in the Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway, driving the No. 13 for MBM Motorsports, and qualified 31st, while finishing 27th, two laps down.

In 2017, Thompson joined Premium Motorsports to drive the No. 15 Chevrolet for the Alabama 500 at Talladega, Thompson's first Cup event in 25 years.

In 2018, Thompson raced in the 2018 Daytona 500 becoming the oldest driver at 66 years of age to drive in the event. He finished 22nd in what would become his final race in any series.

Personal life

Thompson's brother, Dent, was a writer at Walt Disney World until 1983, when he joined his brother at Phoenix Air; Dent currently works as Phoenix Air's COO.

Thompson holds an ATP license and has five type ratings.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Monster Energy Cup Series

Daytona 500

Xfinity Series

Season still in progress
Ineligible for series points

ARCA Racing Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

References

1. "2015 ARCA RACING TEAM CHART". The Pit Lane. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
2. "Nominee Mark Hillard Thompson". Georgia Aviation HOF. March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
3. ^ Youngblood, Cindy. "Phoenix Air does charter work others fear to touch". Professional Pilot. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
4. "Phoenix Air Group Group Makes Name For Itself As Primary Air Transport For Those Exposed To Or Carrying Contagious Diseases". Aviation Pros. October 9, 2014. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
5. Radebaugh, Don (March 31, 2015). "Talladega open testing Wednesday, Live timing & scoring, live chat at ARCAracing.com". ARCA Racing Series. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
6. "2016 Sparks Energy 300". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
7. "2016 Subway Firecracker 250". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
8. "2016 VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
9. "Mark Thompson, 63, sets record with ARCA pole for Toyota". Autoweek. February 14, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
10. Bonkowski, Jerry (February 13, 2015). "ARCA veteran Mark Thompson, 63, becomes oldest pole winner in Daytona history". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
11. "NOVEMBER 2016". The Pit Lane. November 28, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
12. "2017 Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
13. "1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
14. "1993 Pepsi 400 qualifying results". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on April 23, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
15. "1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
16. "Starting Line Up by Row – Talladega Superspeedway – Provided by NASCAR Statistics" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
17. "2015 Winn-Dixie 300". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
18. "49th Annual Alabama "500" Entry List" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN Internet Ventures. October 9, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
19. Nguyen, Justin (October 9, 2017). "Mark Thompson returns to Cup after 25 years, running the #15 at Talladega". Overtake Motorsport. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
20. "Mark Thompson – 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
21. "Mark Thompson – 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
22. "Mark Thompson – 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
23. "Mark Thompson – 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
24. "Mark Thompson – 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
25. "Mark Thompson – 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
26. "Mark Thompson – 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
27. "Mark Thompson – 1991 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
28. "Mark Thompson – 1992 ARCA SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
29. "Mark Thompson – 1993 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
30. "Mark Thompson – 1994 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
31. "Mark Thompson – 1995 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
32. "Mark Thompson – 1996 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
33. "Mark Thompson – 1997 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
34. "Mark Thompson – 1998 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
35. "Mark Thompson – 2000 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
36. "Mark Thompson – 2003 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
37. "Mark Thompson – 2007 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
38. "Mark Thompson – 2008 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
39. "Mark Thompson – 2009 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
40. "Mark Thompson – 2010 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
41. "Mark Thompson – 2011 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
42. "Mark Thompson – 2012 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
43. "Mark Thompson – 2013 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
44. "Mark Thompson – 2014 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
45. "Mark Thompson – 2015 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
46. "Mark Thompson – 2016 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
47. "Mark Thompson – 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
48. "Mark Thompson – 2008 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.

External links

• Mark Thompson driver statistics at Racing-Reference

• Living people
• 1951 births
• People from Cartersville, Georgia
• Sportspeople from Bartow County, Georgia
• NASCAR drivers
• ARCA Menards Series drivers
• Helicopter pilots
• Racing drivers from Georgia (U.S. state)
• 20th-century American businesspeople
• 21st-century American businesspeople
• Businesspeople from Georgia (U.S. state)
• American chief operating officers