Jackson McLerran Bio
Jackson Reed McLerran (born May 3, 1999) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 96 Toyota for MAN Motorsports. McLerran began his national touring career in 2024 and is regarded as an emerging talent on the ARCA ladder.
Early Life and Background
Jackson Reed McLerran was born on May 3, 1999, in Portland, Tennessee. Portland is a small community in middle Tennessee with a long tradition of grassroots short-track racing, and the area has produced a steady stream of drivers who progressed into NASCAR and ARCA competition. Growing up in that environment gave McLerran early exposure to oval racing and the culture that surrounds stock car development in the region.
McLerran attended Westmoreland High School, where he balanced his studies with time at local short tracks. His family has supported his racing ambitions, and he began competing in entry-level stock car divisions as a teenager. Those formative years on Tennessee short tracks helped him develop the car control and race craft that would later carry him into the ARCA Menards Series.
Path to NASCAR
Before reaching the ARCA level, McLerran raced in regional series, including the CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour and the CRA Street Stocks Series. Those championships, sanctioned by the Champion Racing Association, are common proving grounds for young drivers in the Midwest and Southeast who hope to graduate to NASCAR-owned national tours. Running against experienced late model and street stock veterans gave McLerran a strong technical foundation.
In 2024, McLerran’s progress earned him a chance to move up to the ARCA Menards Series with MAN Motorsports. The team fielded a Toyota entry for him, marking his debut in a NASCAR-sanctioned national touring series. The ARCA Menards Series and its companion ARCA Menards Series East tour serve as the recognized developmental steps toward the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Cup Series.
Jackson McLerran Career
Early Career (Pre-2024)
McLerran’s earliest documented results came in the CRA Street Stocks Series, where he gained experience racing door-to-door on short ovals. He then advanced to the CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour, a step up in equipment and competition that introduced him to late model-style stock cars. Running a full season in that tour helped him sharpen his qualifying runs, restarts, and long-run pace.
Those regional results built the resume McLerran needed to attract attention from a national-level team. By the end of his time in the CRA ranks, he had developed the consistency and feedback skills that crew chiefs look for in a young development driver. The groundwork laid in those series positioned him for his 2024 ARCA opportunity.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2024–2025)
McLerran made his ARCA Menards Series debut at the 2024 Circle City 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, driving the No. 96 Toyota for MAN Motorsports. Because that event was a combination race with the ARCA Menards Series East, it also counted as his first start in the East Series. He rolled off in thirtieth and was credited with a 26th-place finish after being collected in a crash, an experience that gave him valuable seat time on a national stage.
Following his debut, McLerran continued to build his resume in both the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East with MAN Motorsports. In 2025, the team shifted him to the No. 95 entry for a partial East Series schedule, expanding his track diversity. Across his ARCA Menards Series East starts, McLerran has accumulated five top-ten finishes, reflecting steady improvement in race trim.
MAN Motorsports Era (2024–Present)
McLerran’s partnership with MAN Motorsports has been the central relationship of his national career. The team has fielded Toyota Camrys for him in both ARCA series, including the No. 95 and No. 96 entries. Working within a single operation has allowed him to focus on learning each new track rather than adjusting to constant equipment changes.
As his role with the team has grown, McLerran has logged additional combination events that count toward both ARCA series. His best ARCA Menards Series points result to date is a 65th-place finish in 2025, while his best East Series result is a 21st-place finish that same season. Those numbers reflect the long climb typical of part-time ARCA drivers working their way up the NASCAR ladder.
Driving Style and Strengths
McLerran’s background in CRA Street Stocks and late model competition has given him a comfort level with short, abrasive ovals where tire management and track position matter most. He has shown an ability to stay out of trouble in crowded pack racing, a key skill at combination events that often feature large, mixed-class fields. His pairing with the MAN Motorsports crew has allowed him to refine his feedback on setup changes from race to race.
Notable Races and Milestones
McLerran’s debut at the 2024 Circle City 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park stands as his first national series start and his introduction to ARCA fans. Subsequent combination events at Toledo Speedway, including the Owens Corning 200, have given him additional short-track experience under the ARCA banner. Each of these appearances has been a step in his progression toward full-time national series competition.
Jackson McLerran Career Wins
McLerran is still in the developmental stage of his professional career and has not yet recorded a victory in the ARCA Menards Series or the ARCA Menards Series East. He has, however, posted consistent top-ten finishes in East Series competition, signaling that wins are a realistic next goal. His progression with MAN Motorsports is being built around gaining experience before contending for checkered flags.
ARCA Menards Series East Highlights
In the ARCA Menards Series East, McLerran has five top-ten finishes to his credit across his starts. Those results highlight his growth on short ovals and at combination events that count for both ARCA tours. His best East Series championship result to date is a 21st-place finish in 2025, an improvement that reflects the value of his continued seat time with MAN Motorsports.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of the ARCA platform, McLerran has competed in the CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour and the CRA Street Stocks Series. His regional résumé in those series helped him earn the opportunity to step up to NASCAR-owned national touring competition. Continued improvement in those development series laid the foundation for his ARCA career.
Jackson McLerran Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
McLerran grew up in Portland, Tennessee, a community well known for producing competitive short-track racers. Public details about his parents and any extended racing lineage within his family are limited, and he has largely been described in coverage as a self-made regional prospect who worked his way onto the ARCA stage.
Personal Life
McLerran is an American driver based in Tennessee, and he previously attended Westmoreland High School. He is not publicly known to be married, and details about a spouse or children have not been disclosed. He maintains an active presence on social media, including Facebook and Instagram, where he shares updates from his racing schedule.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented McLerran’s first full year of activity in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East with MAN Motorsports. He split his time between the No. 95 and No. 96 Toyota entries, logging combination events that counted toward both tours. His season was focused on completing laps, learning new tracks, and converting practice pace into race results.
Across the year, McLerran posted his best ARCA Menards Series East points result of 21st, supported by five top-ten finishes in the series. His ARCA Menards Series best result was a 65th-place finish in the overall standings, reflecting the limited number of starts he made at that level. Consistency rather than headline results defined his 2025 campaign.
Entering the rest of the 2025 schedule and looking ahead, McLerran is expected to continue building his relationship with MAN Motorsports and expand his ARCA Menards Series East program. Additional top-ten finishes and stronger qualifying efforts will be the benchmarks for his next step. A full-time national series ride remains the long-term objective for the Tennessee native.
