Michael James Maples Sr. Bio
Michael James Maples Sr. (born December 5, 1963) is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 99 Chevrolet for his own team, Maples Motorsports, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series West for the same organization.
A late bloomer on the national stock car scene, Maples combines decades of grassroots racing experience with a family-run team effort. His program is based out of Oklahoma, and he has become a familiar fixture in ARCA garage areas as both a driver and an owner.
Early Life and Background
Michael James Maples Sr. was born on December 5, 1963, in Choctaw, Oklahoma, in the United States. Choctaw, a community on the eastern edge of the Oklahoma City metro area, provided the backdrop for his upbringing and his early introduction to motorized competition.
Growing up in Oklahoma gave Maples ready access to a deep network of short tracks and regional touring series. Like many drivers of his generation, he honed his craft in local competition before stepping onto bigger stages. The racing culture of the Sooner State, with its strong late model and modified traditions, helped shape his foundation as a driver.
Path to NASCAR
Maples first began racing in 1993, competing in asphalt late model events at Madera Speedway in California. His early stock car work established him as a consistent regional competitor during the 1990s. In 1998, however, he stepped away from active racing for family reasons, beginning an extended sabbatical that lasted more than two decades.
He returned to competition in 2019, sliding back behind the wheel of an IMCA Southern Sport modified. Over the next several seasons, Maples raced in series such as the Sooner Limited Modified Series and the Touring Outlaw Modified Series, building back his track time and sharpening his skills. In 2024, he took part in the pre-season ARCA Menards Series test at Daytona International Speedway with Fast Track Racing, laying the groundwork for his transition to national series stock car racing.
Michael James Maples Sr. Career
Early Career (1993)
Maples opened his racing career in 1993 at Madera Speedway, where he contested asphalt late model races. That initial season gave him his first taste of organized stock car competition and set the stage for the broader career that would follow, even though he would pause racing for many years afterward.
Although his first run in the sport was brief, the experience he gained in California late models helped form the basis of his driving style. When he later returned to the track, those foundational laps proved valuable in adapting quickly to higher-horsepower equipment.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2024)
Maples made his main ARCA Menards Series debut at the 2024 Hard Rock Bet 200 at Daytona International Speedway. Driving the No. 99 Chevrolet for Fast Track Racing, he qualified 35th and brought the car home one lap down in 21st, surviving a late multi-car incident involving Scott Melton and Willie Mullins. That opening run launched his full-season effort across both the main ARCA tour and the ARCA Menards Series East.
Throughout 2024, Maples posted a best finish of eleventh on two occasions, at Berlin Raceway and Salem Speedway. In the main ARCA Menards Series, he ended the year eighth in the final points standings, while in the ARCA Menards Series East he finished seventh after recording a best result of twelfth in three of the first four races. In the ARCA Menards Series West, his first start came at the 2024 General Tire 150 at Phoenix.
Maples Motorsports Era (2025–Present)
Heading into 2025, Maples announced that he would form his own organization, Maples Motorsports, while continuing to run the No. 99 Chevrolet full-time in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East. The move from driver-for-hire to owner-driver marked a new chapter in his career.
The 2025 campaign produced a single top-ten finish, recorded at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. Maples wrapped the season seventh in the main ARCA Menards Series points standings, matching the strong consistency he showed as a rookie the year before. In the ARCA Menards Series West, he closed out the year 18th in points, reflecting a part-time but competitive effort on the West Coast schedule.
Driving Style and Strengths
Maples is known for a steady, finish-oriented approach that plays well in long ARCA events. His experience in late models and modifieds translates into a calm presence in traffic, and he has shown a willingness to bring home a damaged car rather than overextend a run. Working alongside his own Maples Motorsports crew, he continues to refine his communication and race strategy as an owner-driver.
Notable Races and Milestones
His 2024 Daytona debut stands as one of his defining early moments, marking his first start in a national stock car touring series after more than twenty years away from active racing. The DuQuoin top-ten in 2025 and a points-best seventh in the main ARCA standings further highlight his growth. Racing at historic venues like Salem Speedway, Berlin Raceway, and Phoenix Raceway has given his resume a diverse, cross-country flavor.
Michael James Maples Sr. Career Wins
At the national ARCA Menards Series level, Michael James Maples Sr. has yet to record a victory. Across the main ARCA Menards Series, the ARCA Menards Series East, and the ARCA Menards Series West, his verified win total stands at zero, with one top-ten finish in the main series at DuQuoin in 2025 serving as a strong foundation for future runs.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Maples has made steady progress in the main ARCA Menards Series since his 2024 debut. He has recorded one top-ten finish, a tenth-place run at DuQuoin in 2025, and has finished as high as seventh in the overall points standings. His most recent main-series start is the 2026 Herr’s Snacks 200 at Berlin Raceway.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of the main ARCA tour, Maples has competed in the ARCA Menards Series East and the ARCA Menards Series West without recording a win in either series. His regional work in IMCA Southern Sport modifieds, the Sooner Limited Modified Series, and the Touring Outlaw Modified Series between 2019 and 2023 helped him stay race-sharp during his comeback years.
Michael James Maples Sr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Maples carries the Sr. suffix in his full name, Michael James Maples Sr., suggesting a son who shares his family name. He is closely tied to Maples Motorsports, the family-connected team he founded to run his own No. 99 Chevrolet program on the ARCA Menards Series circuit.
2025 Season Performance
Michael James Maples Sr.’s 2025 season was defined by the launch of his own team, Maples Motorsports, while continuing to drive the No. 99 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East. The owner-driver arrangement required him to balance cockpit duties with off-track management of a young race team.
On track, his standout result was a top-ten finish at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, the only top-ten he would record in main-series competition during the year. He closed the season seventh in the ARCA Menards Series standings, a result that matched his rookie points position and underscored his consistency. In the ARCA Menards Series West, a part-time schedule produced an 18th-place finish in the final standings.
Looking ahead, Maples is scheduled to return to the main ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East in 2026, with the main-series schedule set to include the 2026 Herr’s Snacks 200 at Berlin. The early returns from the Maples Motorsports era suggest a program that is still building toward its first national win, but the foundation is firmly in place.
