Con Nicolopoulos Bio
Constatine Nicolopoulos, known professionally as Con Nicolopoulos, is an American professional stock car racing driver born on October 17, 1961, in Columbus, Michigan. He has competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, most recently driving the No. 0 Toyota for Wayne Peterson Racing. Nicolopoulos is recognized as a dedicated grassroots racer whose career has been built on perseverance, loyalty to a single team, and a passion for stock car competition.
Beyond the cockpit, Nicolopoulos works as an engineer for Chrysler in thermal dynamics, balancing his professional engineering career with his racing pursuits. He has competed across multiple ARCA divisions and continues to make occasional starts in the series.
Early Life and Background
Constatine Nicolopoulos was born on October 17, 1961, in Columbus, Michigan, in the United States. He grew up in Michigan, a state with a deep automotive and motorsports heritage that helped shape his early interest in cars and engineering. His professional life outside of racing has been rooted in the automotive industry, where he works as an engineer specializing in thermal dynamics at Chrysler.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicolopoulos contributed his engineering expertise toward developing new healthcare products, demonstrating a broader commitment to applying his technical skills beyond the racing world. His dual career in engineering and motorsports reflects a lifelong dedication to the automotive field, both on and off the track.
Path to NASCAR
Nicolopoulos did not follow the traditional ladder system into NASCAR national series competition. Instead, his path into professional stock car racing came through grassroots ARCA competition, beginning in 2011 when he joined Brad Smith Motorsports after meeting Chrysler coworker Brad Smith. He first served as a spotter for Smith before transitioning into the driver’s seat of a second team entry at selected races.
His early efforts with Brad Smith Motorsports were focused on start-and-park entries, a strategy in which teams enter races but plan to pull in early. In 2014, Nicolopoulos signed with Wayne Peterson Racing on a part-time basis, where he has remained affiliated for the majority of his career. His progression into the ARCA Menards Series represented his primary step into recognized professional stock car competition.
Con Nicolopoulos Career
Early Career (2011–2013)
Con Nicolopoulos made his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2011 at the Menards 200 at Toledo Speedway, driving for Brad Smith Motorsports. His initial role with the team was as a spotter for Brad Smith, but he soon began driving a second entry in selected events. These early appearances were primarily start-and-park efforts, a common grassroots approach used to gain experience and track time without the resources for full-race runs.
During this formative period, Nicolopoulos built relationships within the ARCA paddock and developed his understanding of stock car racing at the professional level. The experience gained from his start-and-park entries laid the foundation for his eventual transition to a more competitive program with Wayne Peterson Racing.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2014–2018)
In 2014, Nicolopoulos signed with Wayne Peterson Racing on a part-time schedule, continuing to run start-and-park entries for most of his races. The shift marked a new chapter in his career, providing stability with a single team and the opportunity to attempt a larger number of events. Despite the start-and-park strategy, Nicolopoulos worked diligently to complete races whenever possible.
He recorded his first official race finish in 2017 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, crossing the line in 26th position. That same period produced his career-best ARCA Menards Series championship result, as he posted an 11th-place points finish in three consecutive seasons: 2016, 2017, and 2018. He also earned his lone ARCA Menards Series top-ten finish during this era, recorded at Winchester Speedway. Across his ARCA Menards Series career, he has completed 22 of his 95 attempts.
Wayne Peterson Racing Era (2014–Present)
Wayne Peterson Racing has served as the backbone of Nicolopoulos’s professional career since 2014. Operating as a small, independent team known for offering opportunities to part-time and start-and-park drivers, the organization provided Nicolopoulos with a consistent platform to continue racing at the ARCA level. His partnership with the team has spanned more than a decade.
Throughout his time with Wayne Peterson Racing, Nicolopoulos has driven the No. 0 and No. 06 entries in various seasons, running Toyota equipment. His longevity with the team reflects the loyalty and persistence that have defined his racing journey, even as the program has remained focused on limited starts rather than full-season championship contention.
Driving Style and Strengths
Nicolopoulos’s racing approach has been shaped by the realities of running a part-time, start-and-park program. His strengths lie in track familiarity, mechanical sympathy, and the ability to consistently deliver the car in running condition. His background as a Chrysler engineer in thermal dynamics has provided a strong technical foundation, allowing him to communicate effectively with crew members and contribute to setup decisions based on data and engineering principles.
Notable Races and Milestones
His 2011 debut at Toledo Speedway stands as the first milestone of his professional career. Finishing his first ARCA Menards Series race at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2017 marked another significant step. His lone top-ten finish at Winchester Speedway remains the highlight result of his career, and his three consecutive 11th-place points finishes from 2016 through 2018 represent his best championship-level achievements in the series.
Con Nicolopoulos Career Wins
Across his ARCA Menards Series career, Con Nicolopoulos has not recorded a victory at the national series level. His accomplishments are instead measured in consistency, longevity, and incremental progress within a part-time program.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Nicolopoulos’s ARCA Menards Series résumé includes 95 starts with one top-ten finish, zero wins, and zero pole positions. His first race came at the 2011 Menards 200 at Toledo, and his most recent appearance recorded in series history came at the 2026 Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan. His best championship result was an 11th-place points finish, achieved in each of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 seasons. His single top-ten result at Winchester Speedway stands as the brightest on-track achievement of his national ARCA tenure.
Other Wins and Performances
In the ARCA Menards Series East, Nicolopoulos has made limited appearances, with his first race coming at the 2020 Bush’s Beans 200 at Bristol and his most recent at the 2025 Bush’s Beans 200 at Bristol. His best East Series points finish was 46th in 2020. He has recorded zero wins, zero top-tens, and zero poles in the East division.
Con Nicolopoulos Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Con Nicolopoulos’s family background and any racing lineage is limited. His entry into motorsports was shaped primarily by his professional relationship with Chrysler coworker Brad Smith rather than by a family tradition of racing.
Personal Life
Nicolopoulos resides in Michigan and works as an engineer for Chrysler specializing in thermal dynamics. His professional engineering work and his part-time racing schedule have coexisted throughout his career, and he is known among peers for his technical approach to the sport.
2025 Season Performance
Con Nicolopoulos’s 2025 campaign has been centered on part-time competition in the ARCA Menards Series East, where he was entered in the 2025 Bush’s Beans 200 at Bristol. His Bristol appearance marked a return to the East Series after a multi-year absence, continuing his long association with Wayne Peterson Racing.
At the national ARCA Menards Series level, his 2025 activity has been limited, with his recent schedule reflecting the part-time nature of his program. Results from his selected starts have aligned with his career trend of consistent, mechanical finishes rather than headline-grabbing runs.
Looking ahead, Nicolopoulos remains affiliated with Wayne Peterson Racing and continues to make occasional ARCA Menards Series starts. His 2025 efforts underscore a career built on dedication and longevity rather than weekly championship contention, and his presence at Bristol reaffirmed his continued passion for grassroots stock car racing.