Kole Raz Bio
Kole Raz (born March 13, 2003) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He has competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and across multiple ARCA Menards Series divisions, most recently driving the No. 76 Ford for AM Racing and Rette Jones Racing. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Raz has built his career through Super Late Model and short-track competition before climbing into NASCAR’s development ladder.
Early Life and Background
Kole Raz was born on March 13, 2003, in Lake Oswego, Oregon, a suburban community near Portland known for producing competitive drivers. Growing up in the region gave Raz early access to the Pacific Northwest’s active short-track scene, where he began developing his craft in grassroots and Super Late Model competition. His family ties to racing also helped shape his path, as older brother Gracin Raz had already made a name in stock car racing before Kole entered the sport.
Raz’s brother Gracin competed in what was then known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West from 2014 to 2017, giving the younger Raz a direct view of how to move up the stock car ladder. That family connection to the sport, combined with the strong regional racing culture in Oregon, helped lay the foundation for Kole’s transition from local tracks to national touring series.
Path to NASCAR
Before reaching the ARCA Menards Series, Raz honed his skills in several prominent regional touring series, including the Northwest Super Late Model Series, the Budweiser Crown Series, the ASA Southern Super Series, and the SRL Spears Southwest Tour Series. His strongest results came in the SRL Spears Southwest Tour Series, where he finished fifth in the 2021 standings with seven top-ten finishes.
That success on the West Coast prepared him for the next step. In 2023, Raz made his ARCA Menards Series West debut at Shasta Speedway, driving the No. 5 Toyota for Jerry Pitts Racing. He qualified fifth and finished third, an impressive first outing that signaled his readiness for bigger opportunities. A second podium followed at Evergreen Speedway later that same season, confirming his potential as a rising talent in stock car racing.
Kole Raz Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Raz’s earliest documented national success came in the SRL Spears Southwest Tour Series during the 2021 season. Posting seven top-ten finishes, he ended the year fifth in the championship standings, a strong result that established him as one of the promising young drivers on the West Coast short-track circuit. He continued building experience in regional Super Late Model events through 2022, sharpening the race craft that would later serve him in the ARCA ladder.
By the end of 2022, Raz had built a reputation as a consistent front-runner in regional competition. His results in the Northwest Super Late Model Series and ASA Southern Super Series added depth to his résumé and helped attract the attention of team owners preparing moves into the ARCA Menards Series West.
ARCA Menards Series West Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Raz’s official ARCA Menards Series West career began in 2023 at Shasta Speedway, where he drove the No. 5 Toyota for Jerry Pitts Racing. After placing tenth in practice, he rolled off fifth in qualifying and brought home a third-place finish behind Trevor Huddleston and Sean Hingorani. A week later at Evergreen Speedway, he again qualified fourth and finished third, this time behind Tyler Reif and Hingorani, giving him back-to-back podiums to open his ARCA West tenure.
In 2024, Raz returned to the West Series at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, once again behind the wheel of the No. 5 Toyota for Jerry Pitts Racing. That appearance produced the biggest result of his career to date, as he picked up his first ARCA West victory in the MMI Oil Workers 150. The breakthrough win cemented his place among the series’ rising stars and set the stage for expanded opportunities.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Debut (2025)
On September 1, 2025, it was revealed that Raz would make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at World Wide Technology Raceway, driving a second AM Racing entry, the No. 76. The opportunity marked his first national NASCAR start and represented a significant milestone in his young career. The Xfinity Series campaign, however, yielded limited results, with Raz finishing the year 70th in the standings after competing in select events for the team.
AM Racing Era (2025–Present)
Through AM Racing and its partners, Raz has continued to balance part-time schedules across multiple ARCA divisions and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Driving the No. 76 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in Xfinity, he has gained valuable seat time at higher-profile tracks while logging additional laps in the ARCA Menards Series, the ARCA Menards Series East, and the ARCA Menards Series West. The arrangement has given him the chance to refine his skills and build a working relationship with his crew as he eyes a fuller national schedule in the future.
Driving Style and Strengths
Raz has shown a particular aptitude for short, demanding tracks, where his regional Super Late Model background gives him an edge in tire management and restarts. His ability to consistently qualify near the front of ARCA West fields reflects a steady approach to pace and consistency. Continued reps in heavier Xfinity equipment should help him translate those short-track strengths into improved results on intermediate and speedway layouts.
Notable Races and Milestones
His first ARCA Menards Series West win at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in 2024 stands as the headline result of his résumé so far. Back-to-back podiums at Shasta Speedway and Evergreen Speedway in 2023 announced his arrival in the series. His NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at World Wide Technology Raceway in 2025 represented his first national NASCAR start.
Kole Raz Career Wins
Kole Raz has recorded one verified victory across his stock car racing career. That win came in the ARCA Menards Series West, the development level of NASCAR’s ladder, and it remains the defining triumph of his résumé heading into the next phase of his career.
ARCA Menards Series West Highlights
Raz’s lone ARCA West victory came in the 2024 MMI Oil Workers 150 at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, driving the No. 5 Toyota for Jerry Pitts Racing. He opened his ARCA West career with podiums in his first two starts at Shasta Speedway and Evergreen Speedway in 2023, demonstrating speed right away. He has since added top-ten finishes across the ARCA Menards Series, the ARCA Menards Series East, and the ARCA Menards Series West, building toward a more competitive national program.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his ARCA West win, Raz has notched consistent finishes in regional Super Late Model competition, including a fifth-place run in the 2021 SRL Spears Southwest Tour Series standings. His top-ten record across the ARCA ladder also includes multiple top-ten efforts in the ARCA Menards Series East and a 12th-place best finish in the ARCA Menards Series West. He has yet to record a win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCA Menards Series West | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kole Raz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Racing runs in the Raz family. Kole’s older brother, Gracin Raz, competed in the ARCA Menards Series West, then known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, from 2014 to 2017, giving Kole an experienced mentor as he worked his way up the stock car ladder. The brothers share a strong connection to Oregon, where they both developed their skills on regional short tracks.
Personal Life
Kole Raz was born and raised in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and remains connected to the Pacific Northwest. He is the younger brother of fellow racer Gracin Raz, and the two have followed similar paths through West Coast short tracks into the ARCA ladder system.
2025 Season Performance
Raz’s 2025 schedule was his busiest to date, spanning the ARCA Menards Series, the ARCA Menards Series East, the ARCA Menards Series West, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He made his Xfinity debut at World Wide Technology Raceway in a second AM Racing entry, the No. 76 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, later also racing at Kansas Speedway. The Xfinity campaign finished 70th in the standings, a learning year focused on seat time and adjusting to the heavier national touring equipment.
In the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 76 for Rette Jones Racing, Raz opened the year with the Ride the ‘Dente 200 at Daytona and added starts at Pensacola, Rockingham, and Phoenix, logging additional top-ten finishes along the way. His best ARCA Menards Series result came with a 29th-place points finish, while his ARCA Menards Series East effort yielded a 32nd-place best finish.
Looking ahead, the foundation laid in 2025 gives Raz a clear path to chase a fuller national schedule. Continued partnership with AM Racing and Rette Jones Racing should provide the equipment and engineering support needed to push toward his first national series victory. With a 2024 ARCA West win already on the board and additional Xfinity experience in hand, Raz enters 2026 as one of the more closely watched young drivers in the NASCAR pipeline.
