Matt Wilson Bio
Matt Wilson (born May 8, 1985) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Springdale, Arkansas. He competes part-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 35 Chevrolet SS for Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen. He has previously competed in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East, building a resume on short ovals, intermediates, and road courses across the United States.
Early Life and Background
Matt Wilson was born on May 8, 1985, in Springdale, Arkansas, in the heart of the Ozarks region. Springdale sits in northwestern Arkansas, an area with a long tradition of grassroots short-track racing and engine-building culture. Wilson grew up in a part of the country where local stock car programs at short ovals and dirt tracks serve as a primary training ground for aspiring drivers.
His exposure to stock car racing came through these regional short tracks, where weekend programs regularly feature late models, modifieds, and sportsman divisions. The skills learned at those bullrings, including car control, patience in traffic, and mechanical sympathy, are commonly credited as the foundation of many stock car careers that later move to the ARCA platform and beyond.
Path to NASCAR
Wilson’s documented path to NASCAR’s national ladder began in 2022, when he made his first appearances in the ARCA Menards Series East and the ARCA Menards Series. His East debut came at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, a historic short track known for producing close, fender-to-fender racing. That same season, he stepped into the ARCA Menards Series, signaling his move onto a national stock car tour.
Rather than entering through a marquee ride, Wilson worked with smaller, owner-operator teams, which is a common route for part-time drivers building a stock car resume. The experience he gained at ARCA-sanctioned ovals and road courses helped position him for an opportunity in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026.
Matt Wilson Career
Early Career (2022)
Matt Wilson began his documented national stock car career in 2022, the same year he made his ARCA Menards Series East debut at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. He was originally scheduled to drive the No. 22 Chevrolet SS for CCM Racing, but a pre-race mix-up led the No. 22 to withdraw, and Wilson was moved to the No. 10 for Fast Track Racing, with Tony Cosentino taking over the No. 12.
That same year, Wilson made his ARCA Menards Series debut in the 2022 General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, finishing twelfth in his first start. He returned to the ARCA Menards Series later in 2022 at Kansas Speedway, where he recorded a fourteenth-place finish and gained valuable intermediate-track experience.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2022–2025)
Wilson’s ARCA Menards Series tenure has been built on consistency rather than headline results. After his 2022 debut at Charlotte and his Kansas run, he returned to the ARCA Menards Series in 2023 at Kansas Speedway with CCM Racing, finishing seventeenth. These starts gave him mileage at one of the most demanding intermediates on the national stock car calendar.
In 2025, Wilson returned to the ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen International, driving the No. 11 Toyota for Fast Track Racing. The road course event marked a return to a national tour after a multi-year absence from full ARCA competition. His best documented ARCA Menards Series points finish is 55th, recorded in 2022.
Joey Gase Motorsports Era (2026–Present)
In 2026, Matt Wilson moved to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the second tier of NASCAR’s national stock car ladder. He is entered in the No. 35 entry fielded by Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen, marking his first start in a NASCAR national touring series. His first scheduled O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race is the 2026 Mission 200 at Watkins Glen International.
The Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen program has a history of giving part-time drivers a chance to gain experience on road courses and ovals alike. Wilson’s NASCAR debut at Watkins Glen, a 2.45-mile road course in upstate New York, is a fitting venue for a driver who has already logged road course laps in the ARCA Menards Series at the same track.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wilson’s documented career path suggests a driver comfortable on both ovals and road courses, with starts at Charlotte, Kansas, Nashville, and Watkins Glen. His experience in owner-operator ARCA teams points to a self-reliant approach, with strong feedback skills and an ability to adapt to changing mechanical packages. A defined long-term crew chief partnership has not been publicly confirmed.
Notable Races and Milestones
Wilson’s most notable milestones include his ARCA Menards Series East debut at the historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2022, his ARCA Menards Series debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2022, and his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start scheduled for the 2026 Mission 200 at Watkins Glen International. Each step has represented a meaningful progression up the stock car ladder.
Matt Wilson Career Wins
As of the most recently verified records, Matt Wilson has not recorded a national-series victory in the ARCA Menards Series, the ARCA Menards Series East, or the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. His documented results to date feature top-20 finishes, with his strongest result being a twelfth-place run in his ARCA Menards Series debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2022.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Wilson has made multiple ARCA Menards Series starts, with his best confirmed points result being 55th in 2022. His debut at the 2022 General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where he finished twelfth, remains his most competitive documented ARCA Menards Series result. He is also credited with one top-ten ARCA Menards Series East finish.
Other Wins and Performances
Wilson’s career highlights outside of national touring series are not extensively documented in the available verified sources. Any regional or late model accomplishments prior to 2022 are not included here because they are not supported at a high level of certainty.
Matt Wilson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Verified public information about Matt Wilson’s family background and racing lineage is limited. No relatives in motorsports or specific family members involved in racing have been confirmed in the available sources.
Personal Life
Matt Wilson was born and raised in Springdale, Arkansas, and is an American by nationality. Verified public details about his marital status, spouse, or children are not available at this time.
2025 Season Performance
Matt Wilson’s 2025 stock car season was a limited one, centered on a return to the ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen International. Driving the No. 11 Toyota for Fast Track Racing, the start at the New York road course marked his first ARCA Menards Series appearance since 2023. The program focused on gaining track time at a demanding road course rather than mounting a points campaign.
Beyond the ARCA effort, Wilson’s 2025 schedule did not feature a full-time national touring series ride, which left him outside the ARCA Menards Series championship picture. His role with Fast Track Racing kept him connected to a competitive Toyota program and helped maintain his race craft for future opportunities. The most significant storyline of his 2025 was the announcement of his move to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026.
