With a month remaining until the start of the 2025 NASCAR racing season, teams are still signing drivers to fill their cars.
Craftsman Truck Series driver Dean Thompson is moving up the Xfinity Series to drive the number 26 car for Sam Hunt Racing.
Thompson spoke on the move to SHR and the Xfinity Series saying, “I’m very excited to join the Sam Hunt Racing group and continue to pursue my dreams in NASCAR The team made me feel at home after the two races we shared last year. Everything clicked with us, and we are both in a spot where we could fulfill each other’s needs to help our growth as a race team and driver. I’m lucky to have this opportunity to take the next step, which most can only dream of reaching, and I’m grateful to share it with such an awesome group of people.”
The 23 year old Thompson has been racing since he was five years old.
SHR owner Sam Hunt spoke on the addition of Thompson saying, “we’re all excited to bring Dean into the SHR family to develop in the Xfinity Series full-time in 2025. He is extremely tough, has a great personality and works hard behind the scenes to make the most of his opportunities. As in any rookie, Dean understands the challenge that awaits, but he is completely committed to becoming a well-rounded, mature race car driver who can put himself in a position to succeed every single week. Our goals are aligned, and we are ready to get to work.”
MORE: 2025 Xfinity Series schedule
Thompson Pipe Group, MCM Transportation and Assured Partners have partnered with SHR to support Thompson’s 2025 effort. Additional partnership information, in addition to more details on the No. 24 entry, will be announced at a later date.
The 2025 Xfinity Series begins Feb. 15 at Daytona International Speedway (5 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Joe Gibbs Racing has hired Whelen Modified Tour Champion Justin Bonsignore to drive the Xfinity Series number 19 car for five races this season.
Bonsignore made his Xfinity Series debut last season at New Hampshire Speedway.
Bonsignore spoke on signing with JGR saying, “when we had the opportunity to work with the Joe Gibbs Racing team at New Hampshire last year, it was a perfect pairing. As soon as that weekend was over, we started looking at options to run a larger schedule in 2025 and it all came together. When you work with a team like JGR, you know you’re going to have a car in contention to win every race you run. We’re looking forward to having some fun and chasing trophies.”
Last season, JGR had multiple drivers in his number 54 Xfinity Series car with each drivers winning at least one race.
Executive Vice President of Xfinity Series and Development for JGR Steve de Souza also spoke on Bonsignore saying, “we’re excited to have Justin back in our car in 2025. He has proven himself over and over again in the modifieds and he did a great job for us at New Hampshire with no track time before the race started. We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do with more opportunities to adapt to the Xfinity cars and working with the same team multiple times this season.”
JGR will add more drivers in the coming days.