Submitted by Skip Thompson family

Skip Thompson, a 2020 inductee into the Ozark Area Racers Hall of Fame and front-row starter for 1993's inaugural Show-Me 100 at West Plains (Mo.) Motor Speedway, died Sunday at his Mountain Grove, Mo., home. Thompson, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer six years ago, was 72.

Thompson's racing career, which began in 1975, included victories at tracks in West Plains, Van Buren, Ark., Lebanon, Mo., Muskogee, Okla., Sedalia, Mo., Monett, Mo., Jefferson City, Mo., and more. His first victory came in 1976 at Joplin, Mo., and while he initially retired in 1987, he returned to competition in the early '90s and was among Show-Me 100 heat winners in 1993 along with Bill Frye, Wendell Wallace, Johnny Virden, Tony Cardin and Bob Pierce.

A LaCygne, Kan., native who worked in home construction and livestock sales, Grover J. “Skip” Thompson survived by his wife of 49 years, Deanna, along with three children, Lori Golden, Toby Thompson and Lisa Stubblefield, and 12 grandchildren.

Visitation is 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, at First Christian Church in Mountain Grove with the funeral at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 11, at the church. Find a complete obituary at craighurttfuneralhome.com..