LEBANON, Pa.: Tyler Thompson is still relatively new to the 410 Sprint Car game, but he is well aware of the prestige of the central Pennsylvania scene. The competition, the money … it’s the top region in the sport.
So, when Thompson got a chance to compete on the Keystone State stage, he wasn’t about to turn it down. It was an opportunity to cross something off his racing bucket list.
Mission accomplished.
Thompson took the long plane ride across the United States last weekend to try his hand against the best in central Pennsylvania at BAPS Motor Speedway. The Oregon driver was up to task, turning heads in a sixth-place showing behind the wheel of the Scott Cowman-owned machine.
“I believe it started in 2020 just watching Pennsylvania and seeing the competition,” Thompson told SprintCarUnlimited.com. “I’ve always wanted to come here, but it’s a long trip to take your stuff, and it’s hard to call people if you don’t have a lot of 410 experience. So, I know I had to wait for the right person to kind of get a foot in the door.
“Scott, he allowed me to do that, and he allowed me to come out here. I’m really glad we did, because I love these racetracks. Even tonight, it was different than I think it typically is, but just getting to run with these cars is a lot of fun. Half of it is a vacation for us, and half of it is racing. So, it was a really cool weekend, and I’m glad we got a good finish out of it.”
Central Pennsylvania is a different animal. Most of the tracks are big and require stout motors. They are also well manicured and rarely have the character of the West Coast surfaces.
But BAPS Motor Speedway is a tweener. It has the size of a Pennsylvania facility but also banking to go along with a cushion that rivals what Thompson sees throughout the normal part of his season.
“The corners are similar to a Tulare, where it’s pretty hairpin and you have to turn the car and get it pointed in the right direction,” Thompson said. “Then with the curb being in the middle of the track, that’s a weekly California thing, So, I think it kind of played in our favor.
“We just kind of had a night that was a little lucky, because two cars fell out in the heat race. We also passed two cars, so it’s just things going our way. You take those nights for granted, because you don’t get them very often. I’m just happy to make the show, but to put together a respectable finish was really cool.”
It’s been a decent year for the 23-year-old driver. Thompson polished off five top-five finishes in the first 25 races and was in the running for NARC title, resting nine points behind leader D.J. Netto.
Things turned a bit during the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway … and not in a good way. Thompson split with the Main Motorsports machine and was forced to find a ride for the remainder of the season.
Thompson mixed and matched some rides the rest of the way, hooking up with Brock Lemley to finish out the season. The best performance came during the Skagit Nationals when he polished off finishes of third and fourth against the High Limit regulars.
It was a good showing by the young upstart, but Thompson’s title run in NARC was over. Still, he finished the season with eight top-five finishes and 18 top 10s in 32 starts in what was his best season to date.
The strong end to the season set the stage for 2026. Thompson will return with Lemley and Geoff Neenum to run Skagit in preparation for the big shows at the Washington facility and hopes to add more tracks to his growing resumé.
“I think we’re going to run Skagit a lot next year,” Thompson stated. “Kevin Rudeen is putting up a lot of money, and we ran fourth at the $126,000 race this year. If you win that, it changes your whole world. So, to get more laps up there, maybe run for a championship, I think that is important.
“I went to eight new tracks this year, which I think opens your eyes to different driving styles. So, next year, I would love to run more, whether that’s coming to Pennsylvania or going to Ohio. I think getting out there opens up your driving style and allows you to be a more versatile driver.”
Thompson would love to have more opportunities on the road, but he doesn’t know if that means running a series full time. After graduating from Oregon State recently, he has a pretty good job in place, which brings a measure of stability to his life.
That doesn’t mean he would say no to a chance to face the best in the business on a nightly basis. It would depend on different factors. But for now, he is worried about getting more comfortable and earning that first 410 Sprint Car win.
“As much as I want to say I would love to race full time, it takes a special person,” Thompson said. “It’s a lot of nights on the road, and I love home. So, it would be hard to be away, but you never know, if the right opportunity presents itself, obviously you wouldn’t say no to that. I mean, you only live once, and you’re not going to deny something that you always dreamed about.
“But I know I’m older, I guess, and people seem to desire the 16 and 18-year-olds. So, I just want to compete at good races and run towards the front, and I really want to get that first 410 win. Like I said, I have a really good gig at home, and it’s something I really enjoy doing. I can always take a year off from it and go traveling, but we’ll see.”