Jerry Thompson began his racing career in 1965 at the famous Kearney Bowl Speedway in Fresno California.  In only his second year of racing

he began winning Semi-Main Events at both Kearney Bowl and Clovis Speedways.  In 1967 Jerry Captured the Crown of Kearney Bowl "Semi-King" and finished 8th in the Points Championship at Clovis Speedway. On August 8th, 1969 Jerry won his first Feature (A) Main at Kearney Bowl beating some of the most famous drivers in California history such as Al Pombo, Howard Kaeding and Bill Scott. He then backed it up with another win at Kearney the following week. 1969 turned out to be a banner year for Jerry as he finished the Championships 3rd at Clovis, 4th at Kearney Bowl, and 7th at San Jose Speedway's... giving him 2nd in the overall Nascar State of California Points Championship!  Jerry was also awarded Nascar Super Modifieds' Most Improved Driver!     
     1970 was the final year for racing at Kearney Bowl Speedway & Jerry ended up the year 6th in points for Kearney Bowl and 5th in the Nascar State Championship.  Jerry spent the next few years racking up the trophy's in the circle 77 and finishing in the top 3 or 4 in points at Clovis, San Jose, and the newly opened Madera Speedway.
     1976 was Jerry's best year in racing.  He raced at both Madera and Clovis Speedways, making it to the final race of the season leading the points for both tracks!  Unfortunately both Madera and Clovis had their Championship Race on the same night.  Jerry had to choose which track
he wanted to win the Championship for.  He chose Clovis Speedway because of his love for dirt racing.  Jerry ended up being the last Champion of Clovis Speedway as it closed for good that year.
     In 1977 Jerry raced mostly at Madera Speedway ending up 2nd in the Nascar State Points Championship for his second time.
     The next decade brought a lot of changes in Super Modified racing.  The cars changed from inexpensive, build it your self cars, to the 850 hp $50,000 - $75,000 cars of today.  Jerry stuck with the sport he loved, even as an underdog, until 1986.  Even though he lacked the sponsors to compete at the level he would like he was able to win races up to the end, winning his last main event in 1983 and his last trophy dash in 1985.
     Jerry wasn't able to stay away from Madera Speedway for long as his first son starting racing there in 1986.  The Thompson name has stayed in the record books with eldest son Rick Thompson winning the Super Toyota Championship in 1997 and the LateModel Stock Car Championship in 2006, 2015 & 2016.  Jerry's youngest son Kevin Thompson won the Madera Toyota Championship in 1997 & the Super Toyota Championship in 2010, 2011, 2014 & 2016.  Kevin also held the Toyota Sedan Track Record for 9 years.  The Thompson's are very proud that they are the only family that has had a family member driving at Madera Speedway every year since it opened in 1972!