Team manager

Many know that Judy helped to set up, manage, and was the original record-keeper for Lion’s Drag Strip in Long Beach, California with inductee husband Mickey. Few, however, know that on the day they met she raced Mickey… and won. Before motorsports fame, Mickey toiled at the LA Times, printing the paper and racing on the weekends. Judy took care of all the racecar preparations and maintenance while taking care of the family. She was working on a racecar when she went into labor with Danny in 1949. Judy also spent years working on the original Challenger I, doing maintenance, changing sparkplugs, towing the 8,000 lb. rig up to the salt and taking care of the crew. She was a contributor to Drag News Magazine, provided logistical support for the Pan-American Road Race, and won her class in 1962 and 1963 driving in the Mobil Gas Economy Run with Mickey. When Danny returned years later with Challenger 2, Judy was there when the “kid” hit 448 mph, another record for the Thompson family.