PHOTOS: MILISSA MARTINI

AT 29 YEARS OLD, Johnny“ Lil JT” Thompson Jr. is living two racing careers at once. He’ s the driver of the“ Lil Fugitive”’ 04 Mustang Cobra, a nitrous-fed, small-block-powered no-time car, and he’ s the crew chief and tuner for the“ Big Fugitive” Pro Mod driven by his father, longtime Mississippi racer JT Thompson. Together, the father-and-son team has become one of the most respected duos in Southern no-time and Pro Mod competition.

Raised in Terry, Mississippi, Johnny learned the sport by living it. He spent weekends watching his father race a nitrous big-block Camaro long before he was old enough to reach the pedals.“ When I say I was brought up around it, that’ s all I know,” he says.

His first chance to step into his own came with the Mustang he now races. At his very first event behind the wheel, he took the car to the semifinals of a 34-car field. That early success turned into a pattern: multiple wins, late-round finishes, and a growing reputation for cutting lights that rattle even seasoned racers.

“ I’ ve always been able to chop the tree down,” Thompson says. It’ s an ability proven by runner-up and semifinal finishes at marquee practice-tree shootouts, including a $ 7,000-to-win shootout at the PRI Show defeating hitters like past 30 Under 30 honorees Lyle Barnett, Marques Hatton, Kyla Hubbard, and Evan Salemi.

Thompson’ s growth as a driver has paralleled his evolution as a tuner. Working with his father and uncle, Thompson learned how to coax more performance out of the team’ s nitrous-assisted“ Big Fugitive”’ 68 Camaro, which was just recently upgraded to a Buck 959-cubic-inch engine.“ I take care of all the tuning,” he says.“ My dad trusts me 100 %.”

Thompson’ s learning curve was steep. He studied data logs, leaned on mentors, and spent late nights staring at the computer. His efforts have paid off, though. The team has earned topthree points finishes in the SNRA in three of the last four seasons, and the elder Thompson has turned in career-best numbers 3.91 at 193 mph.“ That’ s with a Pro Mod that weighed 2,600 pounds, an 855-cubic-inch motor with carburetors, and no lockup transmission.

“ It’ s a different level of pride when my dad gets out smiling,” Thompson adds.“ That’ s better than anything I’ ve done in my own car.”

What separates Thompson from most racers his age is what he carries with him every time he straps in. Born with Aortic Coarctation, a congenital heart defect, he has endured surgeries and long childhood hospital stays. Those challenges shaped both his racing mentality and his career.

He now works as a cardiac technologist, helping patients whose stories mirror his own.“ I let them know what I’ ve been through,” he says.“ If I can do it, they can do it. It’ s all about mindset.”

Racing, then, is more than a hobby. It’ s proof – for himself and others – that obstacles don’ t define outcomes.“ I was so sick at one point that the doctors told my folks to call in the family and to make a decision,” Thompson says.“ One year, I think I missed 74 days of school. I couldn’ t play football, basketball, soccer – none of that. All I had was drag racing. So throughout all the doubters and everything, I’ m just grateful that I am able to race, and that’ s why I take it so serious.”

Thompson embraces his role as a mentor and motivator, both in-person and online. Through Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, he shares racing updates, motivational content, and showcases other racers.“ I like to encourage people,” he says.“ I love talking with fans, signing autographs, doing pictures, giving out shirts. It’ s bigger than me.”

Thompson and his team participate in community events, from local parades to charity car shows and school outreach programs. He sees it as part of his responsibility to represent the Mississippi racing community with pride and to give back to the people who support him.

Speaking of the people who support him, Thompson gets emotional when he lists off everyone who’ s played a part in his racing journey, starting with his parents.“ I wouldn’ t be here without my family, my friends, and my teammates,” Thompson says, also thanking Michael Poland of Nitrous Express.“ If it wasn’ t for that support, I probably wouldn’ t be racing today.”

Thompson, who also shouted out past 30 Under 30 honorees like Mieshael Henry, represents so much of what makes a standout 30 Under 30 candidate. He’ s a reminder of what keeps drag racing thriving: generational legacy, resilience, humility, and the desire to lift others along the way.

“ At the end of the day, it’ s about being better every pass – as a driver, a tuner, and a person,” Thompson says.“ I want to make a difference. If I can inspire even one person, that’ s a win.”

– NATE VAN WAGNEN DI

November / December 2025 DragIllustrated. com | Drag Illustrated | 131