AT PROACTIVE MOTORSPORTS, OUR PASSION DRIVES OUR SUCCESS!
PROACTIVE Motorsports (PM) is well known for helping young racers learn to win on and off the track. The future is bright at PM as our success is what fuels our high demand as we prepare for the 2022 season. PM offers a ladder of progression that assists young drivers transitioning to Late Models from .25 Midgets, Mini-Cup, Bandoleros, and Legend cars. PM also provides the first-of-its-kind Late Model school giving both drivers and parents the opportunity to learn about the next steps in racing both on and off the track.
MEET THE PROACTIVE MOTORSPORTS TEAM
John Thompson Co-Owner
John Thompson, a first-generation race car driver from Mobile, AL got his start in racing in the early 1990s. A lot has changed in the racing world since John made his rookie start at 24 years old.
In today's racing world, drivers are getting behind the wheel of a full-size race car at a very young age. One of our goals is to provide a confidence-building transition into a 300+ HP race car through detailed situational awareness training and complete car control prior to making "at speed" laps.
Using his experience as a driver coach, spotter, and crew chief for his son Grant Thompson, John has worked with several youth drivers as they advance to their next level of racing.
William Wambles Co-Owner
William was born in 1959 and currently lives in Mobile Alabama with his wife of 23 years (Lisa) and has been involved in racing since 1978 when he started racing in the Bomber division at Rocket Speedway securing a championship in his first year of competition. Below is just some of the highlights of his storied career both on and off the track.
1980: Started racing Late Model division at Rocket Speedway and South Alabama Speedway. Multiple feature winner.
1981: William made a career change to enable his racing as well. Started working for Shell Oil Co. for the next 38.5 years. William was not able to run for championships due to his career of working schedules. But, he raced to win everywhere he raced.
1985: Started racing with NASCAR All-Pro Series throughout Southeast. William was the youngest driver in All-Pro at age 26
Raced the infamous Snowball Derby first time in 1985. First of 8 during his racing career. Keep in mind, that due to his Shell Oil Co. career, William could only race half of his time.
1986-1992: Continued racing All-Pro, along with local racing for the next several years. William never won an All-Pro event, but won numerous local racing events, along with various long-distance events.
1993-1997: William took a break from racing due to his other Business needs with Shell Oil Co. Working overseas and on special projects.
1998-2003: William started racing/building his racing career again in Mobile, Ala. Opp, Al. and Pensacola, Fl. Winning numerous local feature events, as well as finishing 2nd in points at Mobile Speedway twice with his work schedule not allowing to race at all events.
2005: William had some hardship this year. Four of his crew members past away in unrelated events. William and his wife Lisa decided it was time to retire, but remembered all of their great adventures in racing.
2020-2012: William started working with Grant Thompson, a young 14-year-old talented driver. William and John Thompson, his business partner at Proactive Motorsports, formed this group to help other promising talented drivers in their adventure to make a career in Auto Racing.
2022: The story continues... Who's Next?
Grant Thompson Driving Coach
The 1st Annual Jr. Late Model Challenge Camp was won by 13-year-old Mobile Al. driver Grant Thompson. Grant was featured on MAV-TV on March 5th in a one-hour special called "The Grant Thompson Raceday Special" and was focused on Grant's return to Madera Speedway to compete in the 51-FIFTY Jr Late Model Championship final race. Grant went on to capture two Pro-Truck Championships and the prestigious Snowball Derby Pro truck Championship in 2020. Grant also finished 2nd in the Pro-Late Model Series at 5-Flags Speedway and won the Jr Late Model Turkeyshoot at Tucson Speedway. In 2021 Grant won Rookie of the Year honors in the Tundra Super Late Model Series. In 2022 Grant will compete in select Pro-Late Model and Super Late Model events.
Additional Accomplishments
- 2017 2nd Place INEX National Bandolero Champion
- 2018 Southern Pro-AM Truck Series Rookie of the Year
- 2019 Jr Late Model Challenge Camp Winner
- 2019 MIS Pro-Truck Champion
- 2020 5-Flags Speedway and Crisp Motorsports Park Pro-Truck Champion
- 2021 Tundra Super Late Model Rookie of the Year
- 2021 Speed51 Short Track Draft #16
- 2021 Speed51 Top 10 Short Track Breakout Drivers
JOHN THOMPSON
Co-Owner
William Wambles Co-Owner
Grant Thompson Driver Coach
