Part-time Craftsman Truck Series driver Tristan McKee is just 16 years old and cannot run any of the bigger tracks until he reaches 18; but the teen has already caught the eye of JR Motorsports owner Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt has signed McKee to drive part-time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for JR Motorsports with a full time run beginning in 2029.
JRM fans will see McKee driving the number nine car at tracks that are 1.25 miles or less.
His first race in the O’Reilly Series next year at the Bristol Motor Speedway summer race on August 13.
JRM co-owner Kelly Earnhardt-Miller spoke on signing McKee via a team release saying, “adding a driver like Tristan to our organization for multiple years is a testament to how we operate as a company. JRM has always looked to help the growth of young, up-and-coming drivers, and Tristan fits that mold. His accomplishments at such a young age behind the wheel speak for itself and I’m really looking forward to watching him develop and mature over these next three years while competing for race wins and championships.”
Currently driving part-time in the Craftsman Truck Series for Spire Motorsports, McKee will also remain with the team and drive part-time next year in the Truck Series.
McKee made his Truck Series debut shortly after his 16th birthday at Richmond Raceway where he qualified in 13th and finished the race in eighth.
He has since run two more truck series races where he finished in the top 10 with a fifth and sixth place finishes.
He will run his fourth race at Phoenix where he has qualified in the top 10.
McKee is the youngest driver to ever have a top five finish in a NASCAR race.
McKee spoke via team release saying, “I can’t wait to get started at Bristol next year with JRM. It means the world to have the opportunity to compete in one of their cars, and I can’t thank Dale (Earnhardt Jr., co-owner), Kelley, LW (Miller) and everyone at JRM and Spire for this chance. I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can build together.”
Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson noted, “we’ve been really fortunate to be a part of Tristan’s development and felt that this next step to JRM was the best thing for him as we look ahead to the future. JRM has been the benchmark of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for years, and I can’t think of a better place for Tristan to go and to learn from than with the best that the series has to offer.”