Kevin Hinckle Bio
Kevin Hinckle (born September 12, 1961) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Shawnee, Kansas. He has competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, most recently behind the wheel of the No. 0 Chevrolet for Wayne Peterson Racing. Hinckle is a late-bloomer in national touring series competition, having made his ARCA Racing Series debut in 2015 at Michigan International Speedway. Outside of the cockpit, he works as a driving instructor for The Racing Experience and runs his own automotive business, KH Automotive.
Early Life and Background
Kevin Hinckle was born on September 12, 1961, in Shawnee, Kansas, a Kansas City suburb that has produced several notable short-track racers over the years. He grew up in the United States and developed a long-standing interest in stock car racing that would eventually translate into a professional career. Details about his family background and formal education have not been publicly documented in available sources.
For much of his life, Hinckle pursued racing as a passion rather than a full-time profession. He built experience through grassroots and hobby-level motorsports before reaching the ARCA national touring level at age 53. His business, KH Automotive, and his work as an instructor for The Racing Experience suggest a deep mechanical knowledge of cars that has supported his transition into competitive racing.
Path to NASCAR
Hinckle has not competed in NASCAR national series events. His professional stock car racing path has run entirely through the ARCA Menards Series and its East Division, both of which are closely affiliated with NASCAR. By entering ARCA late in his career, he joined a ladder that has historically served as a proving ground for drivers aspiring to move up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series or the NASCAR Cup Series.
His route into the ARCA garage came through established owner-operator teams, beginning with Carter 2 Motorsports in 2015 and continuing with Kimmel Racing, Higdon Racing, and eventually Wayne Peterson Racing. These relationships, rather than a factory-backed development program, have defined his progression through the series.
Kevin Hinckle Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Hinckle made his ARCA Racing Series debut in 2015 at Michigan International Speedway, driving the No. 95 Dodge for Carter 2 Motorsports. After rain canceled qualifying, he started 18th and was running as high as 15th before an engine failure six laps into the race forced him out, leaving him classified 24th. He followed that with a start at Chicagoland Speedway later in the season, where he was unable to take the green flag due to engine issues and was credited with a 30th-place finish.
In 2016, he joined Kimmel Racing to drive the No. 69 Ford at Iowa Speedway, finishing 29th after a failure to start, and later ran Kansas Speedway, where he started 16th and finished 20th. The following season, he ran a partial schedule with Higdon Racing in the No. 08 Ford, posting a best result of 21st at Kansas. He returned to Kimmel Racing in 2018, finishing 30th at Talladega Superspeedway after a brake problem and 19th at Kansas after an incident with Sheldon Creed.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2022–2024)
After a three-year absence from the series, Hinckle re-emerged in 2022 at Kansas Speedway with Wayne Peterson Racing, driving the No. 06 Toyota. He qualified 18th and brought the car home 16th despite oil pressure issues late in the race. The partnership with Wayne Peterson Racing became the foundation of his most active stretch in the series, and it is the team he has continued to represent in subsequent seasons.
In 2023, he moved into the No. 0 Ford for the Talladega event, starting 22nd under a qualifying procedure based on owner standings, before a multi-car crash triggered by Jason Kitzmiller’s failing transmission ended his day in 30th. He added a Kansas start later that season in a Toyota, finishing 21st, and a second Kansas race in which he placed 16th. His best championship result to date, a 41st-place points finish, came that year.
During 2024, Hinckle returned to the No. 06 entry, recording a 21st-place run in the first Kansas race, a 17th-place finish at Iowa Speedway, and a 26th-place result in the second Kansas event. The Iowa race, run in combination with the main ARCA Menards Series, also marked his debut in the ARCA Menards Series East, where he was credited with a 54th-place best finish for the season.
Wayne Peterson Racing Era (2022–2025)
Since 2022, Hinckle has been closely identified with Wayne Peterson Racing, one of the longest-standing owner-operators in the ARCA garage. The team has fielded a mix of Toyota, Ford, and Chevrolet entries for him across superspeedways and intermediate tracks. His most recent recorded ARCA Menards Series start is the 2025 Reese’s 150 at Kansas Speedway, which confirms his continued part-time status with the organization heading into the 2025 campaign.
He has become a reliable plate-track and intermediate-track entrant, with Kansas Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway serving as his primary venues. Results have been modest, but his ability to keep the car on the lead lap at superspeedways has helped him build a consistent presence on ARCA entry lists.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hinckle’s racing résumé is built on plate-track and intermediate experience, particularly at Kansas Speedway, where he has made the majority of his ARCA starts. As an older entrant competing against much younger drivers, he relies on patience, mechanical sympathy, and clean race craft to bring home finishers rather than chase aggressive track position.
Notable Races and Milestones
His 2015 debut at Michigan International Speedway stands as a career milestone, marking his first national-touring start at age 53. His 2022 return at Kansas with Wayne Peterson Racing ended a three-year hiatus and re-established him as a regular in the ARCA garage. The 2024 Iowa race also served as his first ARCA Menards Series East start.
Kevin Hinckle Career Wins
Kevin Hinckle has not recorded a victory in the ARCA Menards Series or the ARCA Menards Series East. Across his partial schedules, he has focused on completing races, gaining experience, and building a relationship with Wayne Peterson Racing rather than contending for wins.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Hinckle’s top ARCA Menards Series championship result is 41st, achieved in 2023. His career totals in the series stand at zero wins, zero top-ten finishes, and zero pole positions based on available records. His most recent ARCA Menards Series start came in the 2025 Reese’s 150 at Kansas Speedway.
Other Wins and Performances
In the ARCA Menards Series East, Hinckle’s best points result is 54th, recorded in 2024 after his debut at Iowa Speedway. He has zero wins, zero top tens, and zero poles in the East Division as well. No regional or short-track championship titles have been documented in available sources.
Kevin Hinckle Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available sources do not document Kevin Hinckle’s parents, siblings, or any multi-generational racing lineage. He has not been identified as part of a well-known racing family in ARCA or NASCAR history.
Personal Life
Outside of racing, Hinckle works as a driving instructor for The Racing Experience, a program that offers real-seat time to driving enthusiasts at racetracks across the United States. He is also the owner of KH Automotive, suggesting a hands-on mechanical background that supports his on-track efforts. Details about his marital status, spouse, and children have not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Hinckle’s 2025 ARCA Menards Series activity is limited, with his most recent confirmed start coming in the Reese’s 150 at Kansas Speedway driving the No. 0 Chevrolet for Wayne Peterson Racing. As a part-time entrant, he is not in contention for the series championship and is not expected to pursue a full-season schedule.
His role within Wayne Peterson Racing continues to be that of a veteran superspeedway and intermediate-track driver, providing the team with experienced feedback and consistent car completion. With no wins, top tens, or poles on his ARCA résumé, his priorities in 2025 center on track time, clean finishes, and supporting the team’s broader program.
Looking ahead, Hinckle’s outlook remains steady rather than expansion-minded. His continued presence in the ARCA garage, combined with his work as an instructor and shop owner, suggests he will keep racing selectively at venues such as Kansas and Talladega for the foreseeable future.