Jeff MacZink Bio
Jeffery MacZink (born November 23, 1977) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 65 Toyota for MacZink Racing, the family-owned team he operates out of his home state of Michigan. Over more than two decades in stock car racing, MacZink has built a reputation as a determined owner-driver who returns to the track on his own terms, often at short, demanding venues in the Midwest.
Early Life and Background
Jeffery MacZink was born on November 23, 1977, in Rockwood, Michigan, in the United States. He grew up in the southeastern corner of the state, near the short tracks of the Detroit metropolitan area that have long served as proving grounds for local talent. His early exposure to motorsports came through this regional short-track culture, where weekend programs at ovals like Toledo Speedway and Flat Rock Speedway were a staple of grassroots racing.
MacZink began his racing career working his way up through local divisions before setting his sights on the ARCA Late Model Cup Series in the early 2000s. The hands-on, working-class nature of short-track racing helped shape his approach as both a driver and, eventually, a team owner. This background prepared him to field his own car in national touring events once the opportunity arose.
Path to NASCAR
While MacZink has not competed in NASCAR’s three national series, his career path has run parallel to the NASCAR ladder through the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East, both of which serve as key developmental steps for stock car racers across the country. His early starts in the ARCA Late Model Cup Series between 2003 and 2004 gave him the experience needed to attempt a national ARCA event.
Throughout the mid-2010s, MacZink continued to chase opportunities with his own team and occasionally with allied operations such as Venturini Motorsports. These years, marked by mechanical retirements and hard-earned finishes, built the foundation that eventually produced his first top-ten ARCA result in 2021 at Michigan International Speedway.
Jeff MacZink Career
Early Career (2003–2004)
MacZink’s documented national-level career began in 2003 in the ARCA Late Model Cup Series, where he ran select starts over a two-year window. In 2004, he posted a best finish of 11th at Toledo Speedway, a result that confirmed his readiness to attempt the larger ARCA Re/Max Series. The Toledo oval remained a familiar proving ground throughout this period.
These early years were spent balancing limited budgets with the demands of running his own equipment. The experience gained at short tracks in Michigan and Ohio gave MacZink a clear sense of the car control required to handle heavier stock cars, setting the stage for his full ARCA debut attempts later in the decade.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2005–2022)
MacZink first attempted to qualify for an ARCA Re/Max Series event in 2005 at Toledo Speedway, driving the No. 6 Chevrolet for his own team, but ultimately failed to make the field. He returned to the national ARCA tour in 2009 at Toledo in the No. 45 Chevrolet, running both Toledo events that season and posting finishes of 24th and 27th. In 2010, he entered the September Toledo race and finished 24th after a crash.
After sitting out the 2011 and 2012 seasons, MacZink came back in 2013 at Michigan International Speedway in the No. 65 Chevrolet for his own team, only to see the day end after four laps due to engine trouble. He entered Berlin Raceway in 2014 with Venturini Motorsports in the No. 66 Toyota but retired early with rear-end damage. Withdrawals followed in 2015 and early 2016, before he returned to Toledo and Michigan later that year, finishing 26th and 28th respectively, both due to engine issues. He withdrew from Michigan again in 2017.
A long-awaited milestone came in 2021 when MacZink returned to Michigan International Speedway, this time in a Toyota for his own team. Starting last because qualifying was cancelled, he charged to a ninth-place finish, his first top-ten result in the ARCA Menards Series. In 2022, he ran both Michigan and Toledo, finishing 14th and 19th, with the Toledo result cut short by a crash. His best championship position across this run was 60th in 2022.
MacZink Racing Era (2023–Present)
In 2023, MacZink expanded his program into the ARCA Menards Series East, debuting at Flat Rock Speedway in the No. 65 Toyota. He started eighth and finished ninth, immediately establishing his team in the East division and securing a top-ten result in his first appearance. The move signaled a renewed commitment to running a family-owned Toyota program on a part-time schedule.
His most recent recorded ARCA Menards Series East start came at the 2025 Dutch Boy 150 at Flat Rock Speedway. Across his national ARCA work, he has recorded one top-ten finish and zero wins, with his career bookended by appearances at Toledo, Michigan, Berlin, and Flat Rock. Throughout this era, MacZink Racing has remained a small, owner-operated effort focused on finishing races and building experience.
Notable Races and Milestones
MacZink’s signature tracks have always been Toledo Speedway and Michigan International Speedway, where he has logged the majority of his ARCA starts. His 2021 ninth-place run at Michigan stands as the defining result of his national career, while his 2023 East debut at Flat Rock marked the formal launch of his team’s presence in the East series. Each of these moments has been earned with his own equipment and crew.
Jeff MacZink Career Wins
Across his career in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East, Jeff MacZink has not recorded a victory. His results have instead been measured by consistent appearances, hard-earned finishes, and the occasional breakthrough top-ten result. As both driver and team owner, he has prioritized longevity and learning over short-term results.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
MacZink’s best ARCA Menards Series championship finish is 60th, recorded in 2022. His first top-ten finish came in 2021 at Michigan International Speedway, and his most recent recorded ARCA national start was the 2022 Toledo event, where he finished 19th due to a crash. The series has served as the backbone of his national-level career.
ARCA Menards Series East Highlights
In the ARCA Menards Series East, MacZink debuted in 2023 at Flat Rock Speedway and has since been credited with one top-ten finish. His best East championship position is 36th, achieved in 2023. The Dutch Boy 150 at Flat Rock has become a cornerstone event for his team’s East schedule.
Jeff MacZink Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
MacZink operates MacZink Racing as a family-owned team based in Michigan. The No. 65 Toyota program is closely associated with his name and hometown roots in Rockwood, reflecting a multi-decade commitment to regional and national short-track racing.
2025 Season Performance
MacZink’s 2025 schedule has been centered on the ARCA Menards Series East, where his most recent start came at the Dutch Boy 150 at Flat Rock Speedway. As an owner-driver, his 2025 storyline has been one of steady part-time participation rather than a full-season championship chase. Top results at familiar short tracks have remained the priority.
His best East championship position remains 36th from 2023, and his 2025 program has continued to build on that platform with the same No. 65 Toyota combination. With limited crew resources, finishing races and avoiding the mechanical retirements that marked his earlier career have been key measures of progress this season.
Looking ahead, MacZink’s outlook remains tied to MacZink Racing’s ability to keep its Toyota program competitive at short ovals in Michigan and the surrounding region. Continued appearances in the ARCA Menards Series East, alongside occasional ARCA Menards Series starts, are expected to define the next chapter of his career.