Colin Braun Bio
Colin James Braun, born on September 22, 1988, in Ovalo, Texas, is an American professional racing driver known for his versatility across endurance sports cars and stock car racing. He currently drives the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where he competes in the premier GTP class. Braun first gained national attention as a young prototype driver in North American endurance racing before transitioning to NASCAR’s national series and later returning to sports cars. His career includes four class victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and two Prototype Challenge championships.
Early Life and Background
Colin James Braun grew up in Ovalo, a small community in West Texas, where he developed an early fascination with motorsports. He began his racing career at the age of six, competing in quarter midgets on local tracks. By the age of eight, Braun had expanded his horizons internationally, racing for factory kart teams in countries including Monaco, Spain, France, and Japan. This early global exposure helped him develop a polished technical foundation and a disciplined approach to racing that would later define his professional career.
At fourteen, Braun transitioned from karts to cars and quickly found success in junior open-wheel formulas. He captured championships in the Formula Renault TR 1600 series and the Formula TR 2000 Pro Series, signaling his arrival as one of the most promising young drivers in North America. These formative years in single-seater racing gave Braun the car control and race craft needed to advance into top-tier sports car and stock car programs.
Path to NASCAR
Braun made his professional road racing debut at the 2006 Rolex 24 at Daytona, where he became one of the youngest drivers ever to compete in the prestigious endurance event. He later joined Krohn Racing’s No. 75 team in the Rolex Sports Car Series, becoming the youngest winner of a major auto race on North American soil with a victory at the Brumos Porsche 250 in Daytona. He also became the youngest driver to stand on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing second in class in a Ferrari F430.
In 2007, Braun signed a driver development contract with Roush Fenway Racing, beginning his transition into NASCAR. He made his stock car debut in the ARCA RE/MAX Series at Gateway International Raceway before entering the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series later that season. By November 2007, Roush announced him as the full-time driver of the No. 6 Ford for the following year, setting the stage for his national-level NASCAR career.
Colin Braun Career
Early Career (2006–2007)
During his early professional years, Braun focused on endurance and prototype racing while preparing for a move into NASCAR. Driving for Krohn Racing in 2006, he partnered with Jörg Bergmeister and posted strong results in the Rolex Sports Car Series despite being barred from three races due to age restrictions. He finished fourth in points while Bergmeister captured the overall championship, and he added a podium at Le Mans to his growing resume.
In 2007, Braun signed with Roush Fenway Racing and balanced his prototype commitments with stock car opportunities. He made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Martinsville, then ran additional races for Roush before being named the full-time driver of the No. 6 Ford. That same year, he also competed in his first ARCA RE/MAX Series event, laying the groundwork for his rookie season in the Truck Series the following year.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2008–2011)
Braun assumed full-time duties in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2008, driving the No. 6 Con-way Ford F-150 with veteran crew chief Mike Beam. He earned three top-five and eight top-ten finishes and was named the 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year, becoming the sixth Roush Fenway Racing driver to claim that title. He also made five NASCAR Nationwide Series starts that season, recording a top-five finish and two pole positions.
In 2009, Braun earned his first career Truck Series pole at Daytona and later captured his lone Truck Series victory at Michigan International Speedway on June 13. He was promoted to the Nationwide Series in 2010 with Con-way as his primary sponsor, but a tough rookie campaign and organizational changes led to his release by Roush at the end of the year. He returned to NASCAR briefly in 2011 with Billy Ballew Motorsports before shifting his full focus back to sports car racing.
CORE Autosport Era (2012–2022)
After stepping away from NASCAR in 2012, Braun joined CORE Autosport in the American Le Mans Series Prototype Challenge class alongside team owner Jon Bennett. The duo captured the ALMS PC Teams Championship that year, and Braun added a stint in the Pirelli World Challenge with Kia Racing. He returned to CORE full-time in 2013, switching between the PC and GT classes, and that October he set a new Daytona International Speedway oval speed record at 222.971 miles per hour in a Ford-powered Daytona Prototype.
Braun and Bennett dominated the Prototype Challenge ranks in 2014, winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona PC class, the 12 Hours of Sebring, Kansas Speedway, and Watkins Glen to claim the PC Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships along with the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup. They repeated as PC champions in 2015 and added three more victories in 2016. As IMSA restructured its classes, Braun moved to the GTD class in 2017, then to the Prototype class in 2018, where he and Bennett finished just four points shy of the overall IMSA Championship as a privateer team. After a 2019 switch to the DPi class with Nissan power, Bennett retired, and the program shifted to LMP3. In 2022, Braun and Bennett secured their third IMSA championship together in the LMP3 class, and in November 2022, Bennett announced the closure of CORE Autosport.
Meyer Shank Racing Era (2023–Present)
On the heels of CORE’s closure, Braun joined Meyer Shank Racing for the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, co-driving the No. 60 Acura ARX-06 in the new GTP class with Tom Blomqvist. The pairing opened the season with a hard-fought overall victory at the 61st running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, finishing 4.190 seconds ahead of the second-place car. It marked Braun’s fourth class win at the Rolex 24 and his first overall triumph at the event.
Braun continued to split time between sports car and stock car programs. He also runs a part-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule in the No. 25 Ram 1500 for Kaulig Racing. Earlier in his career he also represented CORE Autosport and DragonSpeed, and partnered with George Kurtz in CrowdStrike Racing’s GT3 efforts, accumulating multiple wins across endurance and sprint formats.
Driving Style and Strengths
Braun is widely regarded as a smooth, technically precise driver who excels on flowing road courses and in long-distance endurance events. His karting background and prototype experience give him exceptional car control and tire management, while his patience in traffic and consistency over a stint make him a valued co-driver. His partnerships with Jon Bennett and Tom Blomqvist have produced championship-caliber results, and his crew chief relationships have emphasized clean pit work and strategic discipline.
Notable Races and Milestones
Braun’s most celebrated performances include his 2023 overall win at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, his four class victories at the 24-hour classic, and three wins apiece at the 12 Hours of Sebring and Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. He also scored a maiden Truck Series victory at Michigan in 2009 and set a Daytona oval speed record in 2013. Across his career he has earned multiple championships in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and remains one of the most respected prototype racers in North America.
Colin Braun Career Wins
Colin Braun’s career win ledger spans endurance prototypes, GT machinery, and stock cars, with the majority of his victories coming in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. He has captured class wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2014, 2015, 2020, and 2023, and has added multiple wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Road America, and Watkins Glen. In NASCAR, he owns a single Craftsman Truck Series win at Michigan from 2009.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Highlights
In the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Braun has been a consistent winner across multiple eras. He and Jon Bennett claimed the Prototype Challenge Drivers’ Championship in 2014 and 2015, and returned to the championship podium in 2022 by winning the LMP3 title together. His prototype wins include the Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, and additional events at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Road America, Laguna Seca, and Mid-Ohio, cementing his reputation as one of the series’ most successful endurance pilots.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond IMSA, Braun has added victories in the American Le Mans Series, Pirelli World Challenge, and the International GT Challenge, including wins at the Indianapolis 8-Hour, Virginia International Raceway, and Circuit of the Americas. He has also logged a part-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program, adding top-ten finishes and a 2026 entry at St. Petersburg to his growing stock car resume.
Colin Braun Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Colin Braun’s family and racing lineage is limited. He grew up in Ovalo, Texas, and his early karting career was supported by his family as he traveled abroad to compete in international events. Long-time professional partner Jon Bennett has often been described as one of his closest collaborators and a key figure in his sports car career.
Personal Life
Braun resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, a hub for many professional drivers competing in NASCAR and IMSA. He is known to keep his personal life largely private, focusing publicly on his racing and his partnerships with teams and sponsors.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Colin Braun remains a key part of Meyer Shank Racing’s GTP program alongside Tom Blomqvist in the No. 60 Acura ARX-06, with the team aiming to build on its 2023 Rolex 24 victory and challenge for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The hybrid-powered GTP class continues to feature strong factory efforts, but MSR’s early-season pace and experienced driver lineup have positioned Braun as a consistent contender for race wins and the overall title.
Braun has also continued his part-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series efforts with Kaulig Racing in the No. 25 Ram 1500, gaining additional seat time on oval tracks while balancing his GTP commitments. His ability to move between prototype and stock car disciplines remains a defining strength of his 2025 campaign.
With a deep endurance resume, multiple championships, and a stable ride at Meyer Shank Racing, Braun’s outlook for 2025 is strong. A second overall Rolex 24 win or a GTP championship would further cement his standing as one of the most versatile and successful American sports car drivers of his generation.
