By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

behind the wheel

Parker Thompson gearing up for another run at glory in 2020

Dec 17, 2019 | 9:19 AM

Parker Thompson has a massive 2020 ahead of him as he resumes his chase for the bright lights of the IndyCar Series where the world’s best are racing.

This week, Thompson announced he has signed with DEForce Racing, and will compete over 16 events for the Indy Pro 2000 title for the third year. In 2019, Thompson finished 3rd, and the year prior earned 2nd in the championship standings.

It was in 2018 that he finished sandwiched between Rinus VeeKay and Oliver Askew, both gentlemen who announced this fall they have signed deals to race in the top-level Indy Car championship.

“I’d love to be in Indy Lights; I’m skilled enough and I’ve proven that. I’ve beaten Askew and VeeKay multiple times in the past. They were in Indy Lights last year whereas I was in Indy Pro. (So) I’ve got a ton of hope,” says the 21-year-old. “I’m in a better position today than I have been in my career. To see those two guys get rides gives me more motivation to climb my way up the ladder and get to Indy Car.”

Winning Indy Pro 2000 grants the winner $700,000, enough to move up.

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Also going for Thompson is that DEForce has three years experience in Indy Pro. Thompson was with Exclusive Autosport for two years, but in different series where the company was a rookie each time. He then moved to Abel Motorsports for one year.

“They’re established on the Road to Indy, and they’ve had results. They haven’t had that win yet, but they’re a strong team and bringing me in is only going to add to their strength.”

In 2019, Thompson actually began the the season racing on four tours, whittling it down to three by the end. He had mixed results, but won the Canadian Touring Car Championship by a wide margin. For the first time, he also raced a car with a roof entering into the Canadian and U.S. Porsche series.

He will be driving in multiple tours again in 2020, though details are still to be ironed out.

“For most race car drivers, that’s not normal. I would love to just focus on one or two, but right now I’m in a position where if I have the opportunity to go race and prove something, I have to take it.”

Thompson has travelled the world in his burgeoning career and even lived in Italy. In 2020, he’ll finally be taking up a residence stateside. He’ll either be in Houston where DEForce has its headquarters or in the Indianapolis area which he says would allow him to drive many of the races on the championship.

Of course, Thompson is also putting as much effort as humanly possible into his Drive to Stay Alive campaign.

“It’s evolved into an everything campaign for safety on the road,” he says. “We’re definitely promoting that everyone stays sober when they drive, or arrange a ride. Once we get into the New Year, we’ve booked five presentations with SADD — Students Against Drinking and Driving (in Calgary and Edmonton).

More on Thompson’s racing exploits and Drive to Stay Alive is at ParkerThompsonRacing.com.

Full interview with Parker Thompson