Jake Garcia Bio
Steven Jacob “Jake” Garcia (born March 3, 2005) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He most recently competed full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 13 Ford F-150 for ThorSport Racing, and made a part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series start with RSS Racing. A former short-track standout from Georgia, Garcia has built his career on a steady climb through midget cars, late models, and the national NASCAR ladder.
Early Life and Background
Garcia was born on March 3, 2005, in Monroe, Georgia, in the United States. He grew up in a region with deep grassroots racing roots, and his early exposure to competition came through the national midget racing scene. By the time he was a teenager, he was already racing across the Southeast and gaining attention for his pace and maturity behind the wheel.
He attended Athens Academy, graduating in the class of 2023 while continuing to balance his racing schedule. His family supported his racing ambitions throughout his formative years, and his progression through karting and open-wheel cars laid the foundation for a smooth transition into stock car racing.
Path to NASCAR
Garcia made his midget racing debut in 2016, competing in the USAC Eastern Midget Series. He spent three seasons in midget cars, sharpening his race craft, and made his first late model start in 2018 with the Champion Racing Association. In 2019, he won the pro late model track championship at Five Flags Speedway, a result that announced his arrival on the regional scene.
In 2020, Garcia ran a full schedule in the Southern Super Series and earned Rookie of the Year honors. The following season, he captured the series championship at just sixteen years old, becoming the youngest champion in Southern Super Series history. He also competed in the CARS Tour, further broadening his résumé before stepping onto the national NASCAR stage.
Jake Garcia Career
Early Career (2018-2021)
Garcia’s early stock car career centered on late model racing throughout the Southeast. After his 2018 debut with the Champion Racing Association, he captured the 2019 pro late model track championship at Five Flags Speedway, a defining early result that established him as a top young talent in the region.
His 2020 Southern Super Series campaign produced Rookie of the Year honors, and he followed it up with the 2021 Southern Super Series championship, making him the youngest titleholder in series history. He also signed with David Gilliland Racing for the 2021 ARCA Menards Series West finale at Phoenix Raceway, where he started fourth and finished sixth, marking his first taste of NASCAR-sanctioned competition.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2022-Present)
On March 16, 2022, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced that Garcia would drive five races for the team in the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, beginning at Martinsville Speedway. After failing to qualify for that event, he made his Truck Series debut at Gateway Motorsports Park on June 4, 2022, finishing 29th after an early collision. On December 6, 2022, the team announced he would run full-time in 2023 in the No. 35 truck.
Because of NASCAR age restrictions, Garcia missed the 2023 season opener at Daytona but received a playoff waiver. He scored his first career top-ten in the first race of his season at Las Vegas, finished the regular season with seven top-tens, and ended his rookie year thirteenth in the final standings. On October 16, 2023, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced that Garcia would not return for 2024, and on November 15, 2023, he was confirmed as the new driver of the No. 13 at ThorSport Racing, replacing Hailie Deegan.
Garcia struggled in 2024, recording two top-ten finishes with a best result of sixth at Charlotte, and ended the season seventeenth in the standings. He opened 2025 with a twelfth-place run at Daytona, earned his first career pole at Rockingham, qualified for his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs, and was eliminated in the first round.
RSS Racing Xfinity Debut (2025)
On April 20, 2025, it was revealed that Garcia would attempt his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Talladega Superspeedway, driving the No. 29 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for RSS Racing. Although he did not qualify for the race, the attempt signaled his ongoing push to compete across NASCAR’s national series.
Driving Style and Strengths
Garcia has shown strength on intermediate and intermediate-length ovals, where his late model background translates into consistent corner entry and tire management. He has demonstrated growing confidence in qualifying, highlighted by his first career Truck Series pole at Rockingham in 2025. His willingness to develop within structured team environments has been a key part of his progression from McAnally-Hilgemann Racing to ThorSport Racing.
Notable Races and Milestones
Garcia’s milestone moments include his 2021 Southern Super Series title as the youngest champion in series history, his 2023 North-South Challenge victory, his first career Truck Series top-ten at Las Vegas, and his first career pole at Rockingham in 2025. He also won the prestigious All American 400 in 2024, a crown jewel event on the late model calendar.
Jake Garcia Career Wins
Garcia has built a versatile résumé with wins across short tracks, regional late model circuits, and crown jewel events. His major victories include the 2021 Southern Super Series championship run, the 2023 North-South Challenge, and the 2024 All American 400. He has not yet recorded a victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where his best finishes remain top-ten runs.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Garcia has yet to score a victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. His best season came in 2025, when he finished tenth in the final standings, earned his first career pole at Rockingham, and qualified for his first Playoffs before a first-round exit. Across his Truck Series career, he has accumulated 25 top-ten finishes and 5 poles.
Other Wins and Performances
Garcia’s late model résumé includes the 2019 pro late model track championship at Five Flags Speedway, the 2021 Southern Super Series championship, the 2023 North-South Challenge, and the 2024 All American 400. He also made a single ARCA Menards Series West start in 2021 at Phoenix Raceway, finishing sixth.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 0 | 25 | 5 |
| ARCA Menards Series West | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Jake Garcia Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Garcia was raised in Monroe, Georgia, by a family that supported his early racing pursuits. His progression from midget cars in 2016 to national NASCAR competition reflects a household environment committed to motorsports.
Personal Life
Garcia attended Athens Academy and graduated with the class of 2023. He has kept most of his personal life private as he continues to focus on his rising NASCAR career.
2025 Season Performance
Garcia’s 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season represented a significant step forward. He opened the year with a twelfth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway and followed it with his first career pole at Rockingham Speedway. The results helped him secure a place in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs, his first postseason appearance.
Although he was eliminated in the first round of the Playoffs, the campaign established him as a consistent presence inside the top tier of the series. He also attempted his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Talladega Superspeedway with RSS Racing, an effort that did not result in a start but signaled his intent to expand into additional national series.
Garcia closed the 2025 season tenth in the final Truck Series standings, a career-best result that reflected growth with ThorSport Racing. Heading into 2026, momentum from his first Playoff berth and his first pole position provide a strong platform to pursue his first national series victory.
