Conner Popplewell Bio
Conner Popplewell (born December 12, 2003) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Jeffersonville, Indiana. He last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 95 Toyota for MAN Motorsports. Popplewell has built his early career on short-track racing at Salem Speedway, working his way from regional stock car competition into NASCAR’s development ladder.
Early Life and Background
Conner Popplewell was born on December 12, 2003, in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in the United States. Jeffersonville sits across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky, and sits in a region with a deep tradition of short-track stock car racing. Growing up in southern Indiana placed Popplewell close to Salem Speedway, a high-banked oval that has long served as a proving ground for young drivers in the Midwest.
From a young age, Popplewell developed an interest in oval-track racing and began learning the craft on local short tracks. He gained his earliest competitive experience in the CRA Street Stock Series, a regional tour that races crate-engine street stocks across the Midwest. Those starts gave him seat time on tracks similar in shape and feel to Salem Speedway and helped prepare him for the heavier stock cars used at the ARCA national level.
Path to NASCAR
Popplewell’s move up the stock car ladder came through perseverance at Salem Speedway, where he entered a series of open and invitation events. His regional results in the CRA Street Stock Series and his familiarity with Salem’s unique banking caught the attention of MAN Motorsports, a small Indiana-based team that fields Toyotas in the ARCA Menards Series. The partnership gave Popplewell a clear path to the national stage.
In 2023, it was announced that Popplewell would make his ARCA Menards Series debut at Salem Speedway, driving the No. 95 Toyota for MAN Motorsports. The debut marked his first start in a NASCAR-sanctioned national series, completing his transition from regional short-track competition to a professional development tour. His progress through the ladder positioned him as a young driver to watch among Indiana’s next generation of stock car talent.
Conner Popplewell Career
Early Career (2023–2023)
Before reaching the ARCA Menards Series, Popplewell raced in the CRA Street Stock Series and competed in various events at Salem Speedway. Those starts gave him experience drafting, managing tire wear, and racing in heavy traffic on a steep oval. His performances were strong enough to earn a ride with MAN Motorsports, a team that has historically fielded Toyotas for young Indiana-area drivers looking to break into NASCAR’s development ladder.
Popplewell’s official arrival on the national stage came at the 2023 Atlas 200 at Salem Speedway. Running the No. 95 Toyota for MAN Motorsports, he posted the fourth-fastest time in the lone practice session, then qualified in ninth position. In the race itself, Popplewell finished fifth, two laps down behind race winner Jesse Love, recording his first top-ten result in ARCA competition in his very first start.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2023–Present)
Popplewell’s ARCA Menards Series career began at the 2023 Atlas 200 at Salem Speedway and continued with a return to the series at Salem in 2025. His best overall season finish in the series standings came in his rookie year, when he placed 73rd in the final points. Across his part-time ARCA schedule, Popplewell has recorded zero wins, two top-ten finishes, and zero pole positions, numbers that reflect the limited number of starts he has been able to make with a small team.
The 2023 debut established Popplewell as a steady, mistake-free driver on his home track. Although he did not contend for the win, his qualifying speed and clean race craft impressed observers and confirmed that the jump from regional stock cars to the ARCA level was within reach. The fifth-place finish remains one of the strongest results of his ARCA career to date and remains his first top-ten in national series competition.
In 2025, it was revealed that Popplewell would return to the ARCA Menards Series at Salem, once again driving the No. 95 Toyota for MAN Motorsports. The Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 at Salem marked his most recent series start and reinforced the bond between driver, team, and home track. His continued partnership with MAN Motorsports gives him a stable platform to build experience and chase his first ARCA top-five.
MAN Motorsports Era (2023–Present)
Popplewell’s relationship with MAN Motorsports has been the foundation of his professional career. The Indiana-based team fields Toyotas and has provided him with a consistent ride in the No. 95 entry at Salem Speedway for both of his ARCA starts. Working with a smaller, family-style operation has given Popplewell direct input on car setup and a clear line of communication on race day.
Under the MAN Motorsports banner, Popplewell has shown steady progression, moving from a regional CRA Street Stock Series driver to a national-series competitor in just a few years. His calm approach behind the wheel and his willingness to log laps at Salem have made him a reliable short-track option for the team. With continued starts at Salem and possibly other short tracks, he remains a name to watch in the ARCA Menards Series garage.
Driving Style and Strengths
Popplewell’s strengths as a driver show most clearly on short, high-banked ovals like Salem Speedway. His regional background in the CRA Street Stock Series taught him to manage tire wear and to stay smooth in traffic, traits that have translated well to heavier ARCA stock cars. Working with MAN Motorsports has allowed him to focus on consistency, qualifying speed, and clean runs rather than chasing aggressive moves that risk equipment on a small-team budget.
Notable Races and Milestones
Popplewell’s most notable milestones include his 2023 ARCA Menards Series debut at Salem Speedway and his top-five finish in that same race, plus his 2025 return in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 at Salem. His first race at Salem in 2023 also marked his first top-ten in ARCA competition, a small but meaningful achievement for a young driver in only his first national start.
Conner Popplewell Career Wins
Across his part-time ARCA Menards Series schedule, Conner Popplewell has not yet recorded a victory in national series competition. His career to this point has been built on learning tracks, qualifying well, and finishing races without major incidents. As he gains more seat time with MAN Motorsports, his main focus is on turning top-ten consistency into a first ARCA top-five and, eventually, a first series win.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Popplewell has made a small number of ARCA Menards Series starts, all of them at Salem Speedway in the No. 95 Toyota for MAN Motorsports. His best season finish in the standings came in his 2023 rookie year, when he ended the year 73rd in points. He has recorded zero wins, two top-ten finishes, and zero pole positions in the series, with his fifth-place run in the 2023 Atlas 200 standing as his strongest result.
Other Wins and Performances
Before reaching the ARCA Menards Series, Popplewell raced in the CRA Street Stock Series, a regional Midwest tour that races crate-engine street stocks. He also competed in various local events at Salem Speedway, building the experience needed to attract the attention of MAN Motorsports. Detailed records of regional wins and championships are not publicly verified.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCA Menards Series | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Conner Popplewell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Conner Popplewell’s family background is limited. He was raised in Jeffersonville, Indiana, a region with a long history of short-track racing, and grew up close to Salem Speedway. Specific details about parents, siblings, or a multi-generation racing lineage are not publicly verified in available sources.
Personal Life
Popplewell is an American racing driver based in the Jeffersonville, Indiana, area. He maintains an active presence on social media, where fans can follow his racing updates through his verified Instagram account. Beyond his work behind the wheel of the No. 95 Toyota, limited verified details about his personal life are available.
2025 Season Performance
Conner Popplewell’s 2025 season has been limited so far to part-time competition in the ARCA Menards Series. He returned to the series at Salem Speedway, driving the No. 95 Toyota for MAN Motorsports in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200. The 2025 campaign is being treated as a rebuilding year focused on regaining national-series experience after time away from the track.
With only a single confirmed ARCA start in 2025, Popplewell’s main objective is to log clean laps, qualify well, and bring home another solid finish at Salem. Working with a small team like MAN Motorsports means each race is also a chance to build chemistry with crew members and refine car setup notes that can carry into future events. A strong, mistake-free run would reinforce his reputation as a dependable short-track talent.
Looking ahead, Popplewell’s outlook depends heavily on sponsorship and the availability of additional ARCA starts through MAN Motorsports. Continued ties to Salem Speedway and the Toyota development pipeline give him a realistic path to more national-series opportunities. If he can turn top-ten consistency into a first ARCA top-five, 2025 could mark the season he establishes himself as a steady presence in the ARCA garage.