Tristan McKee aims to deliver a standout performance for Spire Motorsports ARCA Phoenix Raceway in the season-closing Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100, set for Saturday, November 1, at Phoenix Raceway. The young driver’s entry marks Spire Motorsports’ sixth ARCA Menards Series event and McKee’s continued rise through the ranks following a season filled with historic achievements.
Tristan McKee Returns to No. 77 for Spire Motorsports
Tristan McKee is set to once again pilot the No. 77 Gainbridge Chevrolet SS for Spire Motorsports during the ARCA Menards Series West race at Phoenix Raceway. This will be his second appearance in this car for the season and the third ARCA Menards Series West start for the team in 2025. The race is scheduled as the final event on the 2025 ARCA Menards Series West calendar, and will be streamed live on FloRacing and aired on the Motor Racing Network and ARCARacing.com, giving fans several ways to follow McKee’s efforts in real time.
Recent Achievements Cement McKee’s Rising Star Status
The upcoming Phoenix start is another highlight in a breakthrough year for McKee. In August, just five days after his fifteenth birthday, he became the second-youngest winner in ARCA Menards Series history with a triumph at Watkins Glen International. This feat added to his growing reputation, especially with the Kannapolis, North Carolina resident clinching a championship in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series at Barber Motorsports Park. At only 15 years, two months, and 16 days old, McKee set the record as the youngest champion in the TA2 Series’ 59-year history, breaking Brent Crews’ 2023 record and becoming a standout among both established veterans and emerging stars.
Following the Phoenix race, McKee will immediately head to Austin, Texas for the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series finale at Circuit of the Americas, underscoring his busy and ambitious schedule. His dominance in the TA2 Series is reflected by his extended points lead, which made him the clear title winner even before the season concluded.
The 2025 season has seen McKee secure multiple distinctions: apart from the TA2 overall championship, he earned the Sunoco Race Fuels Young Gun Award for top drivers under 25, a $20,000 prize, and claimed rookie of the year honors. Impressively, he is the first driver to secure all three of these distinctions in a single season, which further highlights the remarkable trajectory McKee has established at such a young age.
Consistent Success Across Multiple Venues
McKee’s racing resume for 2025 features three pole positions, four victories, nine top-five finishes, ten top-10s, and eight podium appearances in the last nine events. His first win came at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and was followed by additional victories at Watkins Glen, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, and Barber Motorsports Park. This hot streak extends into his ARCA Menards Series competition: he made a memorable debut at Watkins Glen, qualifying fourth and taking the lead in a nail-biting one-lap shootout, which secured his place as the 38th driver to win on an ARCA Menards Series national tour debut and the seventh first-time winner in 2025. McKee is now one of 367 unique winners since the series’ inception.
The Phoenix contest will mark McKee’s fifth start in the ARCA Menards Series developmental category, in which he has already accumulated one victory, as well as three top-five and three top-10 finishes. His progression has captured the attention of Spire Motorsports, which signed McKee as the inaugural member of its driver development initiative. This connection creates the potential for record-breaking history, as McKee aims to become the youngest pole winner in ARCA Menards Series West, with Max Reaves holding the record since his qualifying session at Madison International Speedway in August, set at 15 years, seven months, and 16 days. McKee, just 15 years, two months, and 28 days old during qualifying, has a legitimate chance to break that record.
Track Record Demonstrates Early Talent
McKee has consistently turned heads since age 12 when he made history by winning the CARS Pro Late Model Tour 100-lap feature at Dillon Motor Speedway, establishing himself as the youngest victor in CARS Tour annals. His growing trophy collection includes further CARS Tour wins at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Caraway Speedway, and, most recently, at Cordele Motor Speedway in April. Even earlier, at just 11, he collected both Rookie of the Year and the track championship honors in the Orange County Speedway Limited Late Model class. That same year, McKee secured a Fall Brawl win at Hickory Motor Speedway.
As Spire Motorsports continues to invest in young talent, recent ARCA Menards Series outings have seen mixed results. For example, Corey Day qualified fourth at their last event and spent most of the race in the top five before encountering mechanical problems, which led to a 17th-place finish. The team’s five most recent ARCA Menards Series appearances have netted a win, a top-five, and three top-10 finishes, most notably during McKee’s victorious Watkins Glen showing. Spire Motorsports remains focused on developing promising drivers, with McKee at the forefront of this effort.
Gainbridge Backs Spire Motorsports and Its Future Stars
Gainbridge, Spire Motorsports’ primary partner, is a technology-driven insurance and financial services provider headquartered in Zionsville, Indiana. Gainbridge supports Spire’s vision of expanding access and opportunities for young racers and has been a key presence on McKee’s No. 77 Chevrolet. Their commitment to innovative, accessible financial solutions aligns with Spire’s focus on nurturing racing’s next generation, further elevating the team’s national profile in events like the ARCA Menards Series West at Phoenix Raceway.
Tristan McKee Shares Insights Ahead of Phoenix Debut
Looking ahead to his largest oval yet, McKee explained his approach as he prepares for Phoenix Raceway:
“I think I’ll be looking at the ARCA races I have run so far. I got to run Madison, Bristol and Toledo with Pinnacle Racing Group, and showed some good speed at all three. I’ve gotten comfortable in the car, so I just have to work on getting settled in at the largest oval I’ve ever raced. I’m looking forward to the new challenge.”
– Tristan McKee, Driver
Adapting to the expansive track at Phoenix presents its own challenges, as McKee noted:
“I haven’t really had to worry about the aero side of things yet in my career. Learning that will be a new experience for me. Seeing how the air affects the car, and how it changes when you are passing a car or using the side draft will all be things I have to feel for the first time. I’ll get the hang of the track quickly, but racing around other cars will help me learn a lot.”
– Tristan McKee, Driver
As McKee’s championship in the TA2 Series becomes official, he reflects on the journey and its broader significance:
“It’s really cool. As soon as Saturday’s race is over, we will be on a plane to get to COTA and hopefully make qualifying so we won’t have to start at the tail of the field on Sunday. It feels good to get the championship, and especially to lock it up before the last race. It shows how consistent we have been this season. All the guys at Scott Laggase Racing have been working really hard. I have been working on my craft a lot on the road courses, and I think this has been a great opportunity for me to learn some new things and hone my skills. All that will do is help me as I progress through the NASCAR ranks.”
– Tristan McKee, Driver
The Road Ahead: High Expectations for McKee and Spire Motorsports
As the curtain closes on the 2025 ARCA Menards Series West season, Tristan McKee and Spire Motorsports ARCA Phoenix Raceway campaign embody the passion and energy at the heart of motorsports’ development circuits. McKee’s blend of determination and proven track record, combined with Spire’s commitment to nurturing the next wave of stars, sets the stage for a compelling challenge at Phoenix and promises significant momentum for the team’s future efforts. With champions like McKee raising the bar, both fans and competitors will be watching closely to see how the youngest stars shape the future of racing.
