McAnally–Hilgemann Racing Overview
McAnally–Hilgemann Racing (MHR), also known as Bill McAnally Racing (BMR), is an American professional stock car racing team that competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The team is based in Roseville, California, with an additional facility in Statesville, North Carolina, and is owned by Bill McAnally along with Mike Curb and William Hilgemann. The organization fields multiple Chevrolet Silverados and Chevrolet SS entries across several NASCAR touring series, with NAPA serving as its long-term primary sponsor.
Founded in 1990, McAnally–Hilgemann Racing has built a record of sustained success in NASCAR’s developmental and touring divisions, amassing 12 drivers’ championships and more than 119 race victories across its history. The team is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished owners in the history of NASCAR’s West Series competition.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Bill McAnally began his racing career in the Late Model division at All American Speedway in 1990. While preparing his car, he reached out to NAPA to secure sponsorship, and the company agreed to support his effort. McAnally won the Late Model championship in the Whelen All-American Series at his home track that year, and NAPA has remained a continuous sponsor of the team ever since.
In 1992, McAnally moved up to the ARCA Menards Series West, then known as the NASCAR Winston West Series, making two starts that season. Over the next several years, he balanced part-time competition with his work as a utility company lineman, gradually expanding his schedule. By 1995, he was running a full regular-season campaign, finishing ninth in the championship standings, and he continued as a driver while simultaneously laying the groundwork for a multi-car operation.
Growth Into NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Competition
McAnally’s team took a major step forward in 1999 when a chance meeting introduced him to a father-and-son team seeking a competitive opportunity. That encounter led to Sean Woodside driving for McAnally and winning the West Series championship that season. In 2000, the organization opened a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program with Brendan Gaughan, expanding its operations into a national touring series.
Over the following decades, the team continued to develop its Truck Series presence, adding manufacturer partnerships and expanding its car count. A key moment came on January 13, 2020, when Bill McAnally announced a partnership with Bill Hilgemann, formalizing the McAnally–Hilgemann Racing identity. In 2022, the organization switched to Chevrolet and entered into a technical alliance with GMS Racing, which helped strengthen its competitive infrastructure.
McAnally–Hilgemann Racing Competitive Journey
McAnally–Hilgemann Racing’s progression has moved from regional West Series dominance to a multi-series national operation, marked by consistent title contention and frequent race wins. The organization has produced championship-caliber drivers in nearly every decade of its existence while steadily upgrading its equipment, personnel, and technical partnerships.
Early Seasons and Development (1990–2008)
The team’s earliest success came through McAnally’s own driving in the Whelen All-American Series, where he captured a Late Model championship in 1990. The organization then transitioned into the Winston West Series, with McAnally competing as a driver through the 1990s while building a small multi-car effort out of Roseville, California.
By 1999, the team had matured into a championship operation, capturing its first West Series title with Sean Woodside. Brendan Gaughan then delivered back-to-back championships in 2000 and 2001, and the team simultaneously opened a Truck Series program. Drivers such as Austin Cameron, Steve Portenga, Peyton Sellers, and Brian Ickler helped build the organization’s reputation for developing talent, and additional championships followed with Eric Holmes in 2008.
Breakthrough in West Series (2008–2021)
From 2008 onward, McAnally–Hilgemann Racing enjoyed a sustained run of dominance in the West Series. Eric Holmes added two championships in 2008 and 2010, and the organization continued to expand its car count and personnel. In 2015 and 2016, the team won consecutive titles with Chris Eggleston and Todd Gilliland, making McAnally only the third owner in series history to win back-to-back championships on two separate occasions.
Todd Gilliland added a third straight championship for the team in 2017, cementing McAnally’s status as one of the most successful owners in NASCAR touring-series history. The team continued to add titles with drivers such as Jesse Love, Derek Kraus, and additional championship campaigns in 2019, 2020, and 2021, bringing the total to 11 West Series championships.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2022–Present)
In 2022, McAnally–Hilgemann Racing completed a transition to Chevrolet and formed a technical alliance with GMS Racing, restructuring its operations around the new manufacturer relationship. The Truck Series program expanded to include multiple full-time entries, while the ARCA Menards Series West program continued to serve as a developmental pipeline for emerging talent.
The modern roster has featured drivers such as Christian Eckes, Tyler Ankrum, Daniel Hemric, Kris Wright, Hailie Deegan, and Mason Massey. In 2024, Eckes claimed the Truck Series regular-season championship, and the team has continued to develop young drivers through expanded car counts in both the Truck Series and ARCA platforms.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
McAnally–Hilgemann Racing’s core identity centers on driver development, technical consistency, and long-term planning. The organization is recognized for its ability to groom young talent through the West Series and into national Truck Series competition. Its alliance with GMS Racing and longstanding relationship with Chevrolet have given the team a stable engineering foundation, while its partnership with NAPA has provided continuity in sponsorship and brand identity.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Among the team’s most notable milestones are its first West Series title with Sean Woodside in 1999, Brendan Gaughan’s back-to-back championships in 2000 and 2001, Hailie Deegan’s historic victories as the first woman to win a K&N Pro Series pole and race, and Jesse Love’s record-setting 2020 championship at age 15. In the Truck Series, Christian Eckes’ 2024 regular-season title and multi-win campaigns have marked the team’s growing presence at the national level.
McAnally–Hilgemann Racing Achievements and Results
McAnally–Hilgemann Racing has accumulated 12 drivers’ championships and more than 119 race victories across its various programs. The team’s accomplishments span the Whelen All-American Series, the ARCA Menards Series West, the ARCA Menards Series East, the ARCA Menards Series, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Craftsman Truck Series Achievements
Since debuting in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2000, McAnally–Hilgemann Racing has recorded 10 race victories and 13 pole positions. The team’s modern Truck program has produced multiple playoff contenders, including Christian Eckes, who won races at Atlanta, Darlington, Kansas, and Phoenix in 2023, and later added wins at Bristol, Martinsville, and Nashville in 2024 en route to the regular-season championship.
ARCA Menards Series West Achievements
The team has won 11 ARCA Menards Series West championships in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021. It has accumulated 101 West Series victories and 83 pole positions, making it the most successful organization in the history of the series. Drivers such as Brendan Gaughan, Eric Holmes, Todd Gilliland, and Jesse Love have all contributed to that championship legacy.
ARCA Menards Series East Achievements
McAnally–Hilgemann Racing has also competed in the ARCA Menards Series East, recording 9 race victories and 6 pole positions across the program’s history. The East Series has served as an additional developmental platform for the team, complementing its West Series efforts.
Whelen All-American Series Achievements
The organization’s earliest success came in the Whelen All-American Series, where Bill McAnally won the Late Model championship in 1990. That championship laid the foundation for the team’s transition into NASCAR’s touring divisions and established the NAPA partnership that has endured for more than three decades.
