Ryan Ellis Bio
Ryan James Ellis (born November 29, 1989) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Young’s Motorsports. A third-generation racecar driver, Ellis has built a long and versatile career that spans open-wheel ovals, sports car road racing, and NASCAR’s three national touring series.
Standing 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) and weighing 160 lb (73 kg), Ellis is recognized for his adaptability across many racing disciplines and his steady presence in the NASCAR garage. Over more than two decades behind the wheel, he has collected regional and national championships in Quarter Midgets, Legends Cars, Spec Miata, and Grand-Am competition before settling into NASCAR.
Early Life and Background
Ryan James Ellis was born on November 29, 1989, in Torrance, California, though he was raised in Virginia. His parents, Jim Ellis and Jane Ellis of Ashburn, Virginia, raised him in a household tied to racing. Ellis also has a younger sister named Kara. As a third-generation racecar driver, he was introduced to the sport at a very young age.
Ellis graduated from Stone Bridge High School in 2008 and later attended George Mason University before finishing his degree through Appalachian State University. He is a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Outside of racing, Ellis grew up as an avid hockey player and remains a dedicated fan of the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals, even designing a Capitals-themed helmet in 2018 to commemorate the team’s first Stanley Cup victory.
Path to NASCAR
Ellis began driving Quarter Midgets at the age of four, and during a stellar seven-year career in the discipline, he became Virginia’s all-time QMA leader and one of the most successful open-wheel racers in the state. He nearly won the first QMA Dirt National Championship race he ever entered, signaling early promise. He then moved into INEX Legends Cars at age twelve, winning Young Lion and Semi-Pro titles in 2002, 2003, and 2004.
In 2005, Ellis toured the nation as a member of INEX’s elite Legends Pro division, capturing the 2005 Virginia State Pro Championship and finishing fourth in the National Pro Series. He added road-racing success with the National Auto Sport Association (NASA), winning the 2006 NASA Hyperfest/Summit Point event and the NASA Mid-Atlantic Legends Road Racing Championship. He was named “Driver of the Year” by NASA Mid-Atlantic in 2008 after a runner-up finish in the Spec Miata regional championship.
Ellis’ ascent continued in 2009 when Volkswagen of America selected him as one of only fifteen drivers nationwide for the Jetta TDI Cup series. That same year, he dominated the 2009 Teen Mazda Challenge on the West Coast to win the season championship. In 2010, he won the first two races of the TDI Cup season, set a new track record at Virginia International Raceway, and finished sixth in points, opening the door to sports car competition.
Ryan Ellis Career
Early Career (2010–2013)
After his TDI Cup campaign, Ellis signed with APR Motorsport for the 2011 Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season. He opened the year by breaking the qualifying track record at Daytona International Speedway by nearly two seconds, taking pole, and winning the first race of his rookie season with teammate Ian Baas. He added a win at Homestead-Miami Speedway and finished third in overall points, earning the 2011 Grand-Am ST Rookie of the Year award.
In 2012, Ellis drove for Insight Racing and won the Kia 200 with co-driver Martin Jensen before the team folded due to a lack of funding. He quickly signed with i-MOTO Racing and completed much of the 2012 season with them. In 2013, he qualified on pole at Daytona with i-MOTO and co-driver Mathew Pombo before retiring with mechanical failure, and later finished the year with Team SkullCandy Nissan.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2014–2021)
Ellis moved to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2014, driving a partial schedule in the No. 28 for FDNY Racing. His Truck Series career began at the 2014 NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona, and he ran a mix of Truck and Xfinity events across 2014 and 2015 for multiple teams. His best Truck Series season finish came in 2015 with a 29th-place result in the standings.
Over the years in the Truck Series, Ellis competed for several organizations on a part-time basis. His last Truck Series start came at the 2021 In It To Win It 200 at Darlington, where he ended the season 114th in points. Despite limited full-time opportunities in the series, the Truck years gave him crucial seat time on the bigger ovals and prepared him for the Cup Series debut that would follow.
NASCAR Cup Series (2015–2021)
Ellis made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2015 Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at Phoenix, driving the No. 33 for Circle Sport. After qualifying 42nd, he finished 40th in the rain-shortened event, eight laps behind race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. In 2016, he began running multiple Cup races for BK Racing in the No. 93 with sponsorship from ScienceLogic, starting at Richmond in April.
After BK Racing lost sponsorship, Ellis transitioned into a public relations role with Go Fas Racing alongside driver Matt DiBenedetto. His Cup Series career concluded with a ride for Rick Ware Racing at Kansas in 2021 following a late wreck with Cody Ware at Mid-Ohio. His best Cup Series points finish was 58th in 2016.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2012–Present)
Ellis first appeared in what is now the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at the 2012 Sargento 200 at Road America. He ran part-time schedules for several years before joining Alpha Prime Racing in 2022 on a partial slate. In his first race with Alpha Prime at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, he scored a career-best thirteenth-place finish, and on September 15, 2022, the team announced an expanded 2023 schedule that became nearly full-time.
Ellis ran full-time in the No. 43 for Alpha Prime Racing in 2024, finishing a career-best 23rd in points. On October 18, 2024, Alpha Prime announced that Ellis would leave the team at season’s end, and on December 6, 2024, DGM Racing confirmed he would drive the No. 71 for 2025. On May 24, 2025, Ellis scored his first career top-ten finish across all three national series with an eighth-place run at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He now drives the No. 02 for Young’s Motorsports.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ellis’ versatility across Quarter Midgets, Legends Cars, Spec Miata, Grand-Am sports cars, and NASCAR stock cars is the defining trait of his driving style. His road-racing background gives him confidence on technical layouts like Mid-Ohio, Road America, and the Charlotte Roval, while his Legends and Late Model experience keeps him sharp on short ovals. He is known for steady racecraft, dependable feedback for his engineers, and the patience needed to capitalize on long-run opportunities.
Notable Races and Milestones
Ellis’ signature performances include his dominant 2011 Grand-Am ST debut win at Daytona, his career-best thirteenth-place Xfinity finish at Las Vegas with Alpha Prime Racing, and his milestone eighth-place Cup/Xfinity/Truck combined top-ten at Charlotte in 2025. His 2009 Teen Mazda Challenge title and 2005 Virginia State Pro Legends Championship also stand out as defining early moments.
Ryan Ellis Career Wins
Ryan Ellis has built a win resume primarily through developmental series, including championships in the 2005 Virginia State Legends Pro Championship, the 2009 Teen Mazda West Coast Championship, and the 2011 NASA SU National Championship. He also won multiple Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup races in 2010, including the first two events of that season, and earned the 2011 Grand-Am ST Rookie of the Year award.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Highlights
Ellis has not recorded a victory in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with zero wins across his career in the series. His best season result came in 2024 with a 23rd-place finish in points while running full-time for Alpha Prime Racing in the No. 43. He has also posted two top-ten finishes, with the first coming at Charlotte in 2025 for DGM Racing.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of NASCAR, Ellis captured two Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup wins in 2010 at Virginia International Raceway, along with two poles and a new track record at the same venue. He added Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge wins at Daytona and Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2011, plus a victory in the 2012 Kia 200 with Insight Racing. Earlier, he earned dozens of Legends Car feature wins across Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| NASCAR Cup Series | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ryan Ellis Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ryan Ellis comes from a third-generation racing family, with both his father Jim Ellis and grandfather carrying ties to the sport. He was raised in Ashburn, Virginia, by his parents Jim Ellis and Jane Ellis, alongside his younger sister Kara. The family’s deep roots in racing shaped Ellis’ early path from Quarter Midgets into Legends Cars and beyond.
Personal Life
Ryan Ellis is married to Allison Ellis, and the couple currently resides in Huntersville, North Carolina. Allison is locally known for her philanthropic work and her love for dogs. Outside of racing, Ellis remains an avid hockey player who still competes in adult ice and inline leagues around Charlotte.
2025 Season Performance
Ryan Ellis began the 2025 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season with DGM Racing, confirmed on December 6, 2024, to drive the No. 71 for a full-time campaign. His early-season focus was on consistency and finishing races, with the team working to integrate him into the new shop and crew chief rotation. The partnership showed steady progress through the spring events as Ellis built chemistry with his engineers.
The defining moment of his 2025 season came on May 24, 2025, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Ellis scored his first career top-ten finish across all three NASCAR national series with an eighth-place result. The milestone run validated the team’s development path and provided a foundation for the summer slate. Ellis continues to compete for Young’s Motorsports in the No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro SS as the season unfolds.
