Dean Thompson Rides Momentum Into $10,000-to-win “Salted Metals 100 presented by Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse”

For Immediate Release: SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series Media Relations

Bakersfield, CA – Dean Thompson was the 2020 Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series Rookie-of-the-Year, finishing seventh in the championship standings. He was also the Irwindale Speedway Late Model Champion, scoring five wins and four poles, making it big year for the Anaheim Hills, CA driver. Thompson is coming off a second-place finish in the ARCA Menards Pro Series West event last weekend at Irwindale Speedway, after setting the pole lap in the 18-car field. He led all but six laps in the 150-lap event. The strong run will give Thompson confidence headed to the SaltedMetals Architectural Metals Design And Consulting 100 presented by Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse San Dimas” at Irwindale Speedway, Round #7 for the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series on July 17th.

“Oh man it totally does”, Thompson exclaimed! “I mean it’s Irwindale! The fact that it’s my home track and I’ve won there multiple times before, plus the ARCA deal just gives me tons of confidence and momentum for my team, to really push ourselves out there and give it everything we’ve got. My guys have tons of confidence in me, and I have got the same for them.”

Thompson now finds himself tied for not only the Rookie-of-the-Year lead, but also the championship lead in the ARCA Menards Pro Series West. In the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series competition, Thompson has three top-10 finishes with a best result of eighth at Stockton 99 Speedway. He sits eighth in the championship standings, but only three points in front of 10th-place Carlos Vieira. He will be looking for a strong run at his home track to bolster that position, but his luck at the facility in the SRL has been far from good. This season he has 17th and 28th place finishes. In 2020, he finished 25th and experienced an accident in qualifying.

Thompson admits that the combination of the track, car, and series has made it challenging for the High Point Racing, RACECAR Factory, and Thompson Pipeline Ford driver.

“The SRL at Irwindale, I think, has to be the toughest track / car combination out of everything I race”, Thompson admitted. “The stacked entry list is, I’d say the hardest part, along with the complexity of driving a Super Late Model there.”

Still, the 19-year-old Thompson is confident heading into next weekend’s $10,000-to-win race. He knows how to find Victory Lane at Irwindale, and knows a win in the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour would be a big accolade on his growing resume. It would be the biggest single event win of his career.

“That would probably be one of my greatest accomplishments”, Thompson explained. “I tell everyone I know that winning an ARCA race is amazing, but winning a SRL race is prestigious. So, if all my guys can execute, and help give me the car to get up on the wheel, I’m sure we can get that check at the end of the night.”

The “Salted Metals 100 presented by Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse” will see the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series visit Irwindale Speedway for the 21st-time its history. $10,000 will be on the line for the winner, thanks to Salted Metals and David Mulcahy. The SPEARS Modified Series as well as the SPEARS Pro Late Model Series presented by Sigma Performance Services will also be on the card for the weekend. Irwindale Speedway’s NASCAR LKQ Pick Your Part Pro Late Models will be on hand, as well as the wild and crazy MINI VAN DEMOLITION DERBY. Admission Gates open at 4:00 pm (PST) with an autograph session scheduled after Qualifying. The autograph session is scheduled for 5:45 pm, with Main Events kicking off at 7:00 pm.

For those unable to attend, catch all the action LIVE at www.SpearsRacing.TV. The event will also air on MAVTV at a time and date to be announced later.

Celebrating its twenty-first season in 2021, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The