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Momentous Opportunity for Thompson as Carrera Cup North America Concludes at Road Atlanta

Sep 26, 2022

Momentous Opportunity for Thompson as Carrera Cup North America Concludes at Road Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA

The 2022 season of Carrera Cup North America presented by Cayman Islands, will conclude this week with a pair of races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. After seven weekends and fourteen races, the championship standings in Carrera Cup North America’s Pro-class are closer now than they were after only the first weekend of racing. Mathematically, the championship title is open to one of four drivers. Driving the No. 9 JDX Racing machine, Parker Thompson enters the event holding second place in the standings, just eleven points off the lead.

With four wins in fourteen races to date, only the current points leader, Kelly Moss Racing driver Kay Van Berlo, has more wins than Thompson. Ten podium finishes have made twenty-four-year-old Thompson the series’ most consistent performer. That consistency allowed Thompson to momentarily capture the top spot in the standings earlier this month in Indianapolis before a mid-race collision in the latter half of that weekend resulted in Thompson’s only DNF of the season and dropped him back into second.

Now, Thompson will look to retake that lead spot through two races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. With 25 points available to the race winner and 20, 17, 14, and 12 points available to subsequent finishers, a two-point bonus for pole position, and an extra point for the fastest race lap, there are a variety of scenarios that would allow Thompson to make up the 11 point difference to the leader. The most emphatic of those would follow from Thompson piloting the white, red, and yellow JDX Racing Porsche 992 to pole position and a pair of race wins. That will be precisely his focus when the action begins mid-week. Practice sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, with Qualifying and Race 1 on Thursday. The season concludes with Race 2 on Friday morning.

Parker Thompson
“From the opening race at Sebring up to the finale here at Road Atlanta, I’m proud of our effort this season. We knew when we started that we were not the big dog in this fight, but here we are, and the ultimate goal is within reach. Every member of the JDX Racing crew, our partners at Surgere, Shell Tap-Up, Byers Porsche, Renier Construction, Jersey Mike’s Subs, and SSi Artificial Lift, has shown the tenacity and commitment of a champion. Now we’re in a dream position – sweep the weekend here, and we will win the championship.”

Event Information

2022 Carrera Cup North America
Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Rounds 15 & 16

Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Practice 1 >> 09:45 AM EST
Practice 2 >> 01:30 PM EST

Thursday, September 29, 2022
Qualifying >> 09:00 AM EST
Race 1 >> 05:00 PM EST

Friday, September 30, 2022
Race 2 >> 10:55 AM EST

Flag-to-flag coverage of the race is available on https://porschecarreracup.us. Follow Parker throughout the weekend at https://parkerthompsonracing.com/live

Thompson Recipient of Four Awards at The Road To Indy Championship Celebration

Sep 24, 2019

Thompson Recipient of Four Awards at The Road To Indy Championship Celebration

MONTEREY, CA

After a dramatic 2019 Indy Pro 2000 season, Parker Thompson may have missed out on the overall championship title, but his accomplishments on and off the track are receiving strong recognition. On Monday night at the Road to Indy Championship Celebration, the young Canadian was awarded Third Place in the Overall 2019 Indy Pro 2000 presented by Cooper Tires Championship. He also brought home the Hi-Tide Kids On Track Spirit Award, the Tilton Hard Charger Award, and was the winner of the AiM Sports Move of the Year.

 

Third Place Overall Indy Pro 2000 Championship

After winning the opening two races of 2019, Thompson and rookie team Abel Motorsports were challenged to establish a rhythm in the mid part of the season. Disappointing finishes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Freedom 90 were a serious blow to Thompson’s championship hopes. As the season progressed, the team re-discovered much of the pace that it had shown on opening weekend. Thompson’s final record for the 2019 Indy Pro 2000 Championship showed two wins and eight podiums. Earning a total of 300 points, he finished third in the overall standings.

 

Tilton Hard Charger Award

In races throughout 2019 Thompson repeatedly demonstrated an ability to navigate upwards through the field during race action. Most notably, in the final race of the season, he started from the 10th position after a mechanical issue in qualifying. Thompson would move up eight spots during the race to finish 2nd. With a total of 35 passes (seven more than any other competitor), he earned this year’s Tilton Hard Charger Award.

 

Hi-Tide Kids on Track Spirit Award

Recognizing his involvement both on and off the track, Thompson received the 2019 Hi-Tide Kids on Track Spirit Award as the Indy Pro 2000 driver who most embodied the spirit of hard work and a positive attitude throughout the Road to Indy season.

 

AiM Sports Move of the Year

AiM Sports nominated the three best overtake maneuvers from the Indy Pro 2000 season for this award, with a fan vote choosing the overall winner. For his exciting pass around the outside of Rasmus Lindh in Turn 4 at the Honda Indy Toronto, Parker Thompson captured the most fan votes and the award trophy.

 

Parker Thompson
“When Abel Motorsports and I got together at the beginning of the year, we had our sights set on a Championship win. Anytime that you don’t take home the top prize, there is going to be a hint of disappointment. That said, I’m proud of what we accomplished this year as a new team on the Road to Indy. Here at the Championship Celebration, it is great to see our hard work get the recognition it deserves. Bill Abel, Mark Gibbs, my teammate Jacob Abel, and the whole crew at Abel Motorsports were an absolute pleasure to work with all year. I’ve proven that I have what it takes to continue on the Road to Indy, and I’m excited about what opportunities I will find to move forward.”

 

NEXT EVENTS

Sep. 27-29 – GT3CAN Finale (Round 9 & 10) – Circuit Mont-Tremblant, QC