Mike Basham Bio
Mike Basham (born June 20, 1968) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Henryville, Indiana. He competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving multiple cars including the No. 01, No. 9, No. 11, and No. 12 Ford and Toyota entries for Fast Track Racing, along with the No. 98 Toyota for Shearer Speed Racing. Basham is a long-time ARCA journeyman whose career has spanned more than two decades, largely built around the family-owned team of his father, veteran driver Darrell Basham.
Early Life and Background
Mike Basham was born on June 20, 1968, in Henryville, Indiana. Growing up in a household tied to short-track racing in the Midwest, he was surrounded by stock car competition from an early age. His father, Darrell Basham, became a long-time competitor in the ARCA Menards Series, and that family connection shaped Basham’s introduction to the sport.
He is also the older brother of Jason Basham, who went on to compete in ARCA between 2003 and 2013. With motorsports woven into his family life, Basham developed his driving skills on regional short tracks before eventually pursuing a national-level career in ARCA.
Path to NASCAR
Basham’s professional path led through the ARCA ladder rather than the traditional NASCAR development route. He made his ARCA Re/Max Series debut in 2001 at Gateway, driving the No. 34 Chevrolet for his father’s family-owned team and finishing 28th due to overheating. Over the next two years he split time between Darrell Basham Racing and Brad Smith’s team, logging three additional starts.
After a lengthy break from the series, Basham returned in 2015 with Darrell Basham Racing. He later expanded into the Indiana Late Model Series, finishing tenth in points. By 2016 he was running a majority of the ARCA schedule, eventually aligning with Fast Track Racing and Kimmel Racing. These steady ARCA performances established him as a reliable part-time presence in the series rather than a candidate for NASCAR’s national tours.
Mike Basham Career
Early Career (2001–2003)
Basham’s earliest ARCA Re/Max Series starts came in 2001, beginning at Gateway where mechanical issues ended his debut run early. He added four more starts that season, posting a best finish of 22nd at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds dirt track. Over the following two years, he ran three additional races, splitting seat time between his family-owned team and Brad Smith’s operation.
Those formative years provided Basham with limited but valuable seat time in ARCA equipment, even as the program stayed small and family-funded.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2015–2020)
After twelve years away from ARCA competition, Basham returned to the series in 2015 with three starts for Darrell Basham Racing, recording a best finish of fifteenth at the Illinois State Fairgrounds dirt track. In 2016, he ran a majority of the schedule through a partnership between Darrell Basham Racing and Mullins Racing, finishing tenth in the final standings with a best result of tenth at Springfield.
Basham continued building consistency in 2017 and 2018, posting thirteenth-place points finishes both seasons while adding starts with Kimmel Racing, including a Pocono Raceway appearance in 2018. In 2019, despite initially stating he had no plans to compete, he split time between Fast Track Racing, Kimmel Racing, and Darrell Basham Racing, finishing seventeenth in points.
His strongest season came in 2020, when he drove primarily for Fast Track Racing and earned a career-best eighth-place finish in the final standings. That year included a career-best race result of sixth at Springfield and three top-ten finishes overall. He also made three combined-event starts in the ARCA Menards Series East, with a best finish of twelfth at Toledo Speedway.
Fast Track Racing Era (2021–Present)
Basham’s post-2020 work has centered on Fast Track Racing, where he has continued to log selective ARCA starts. In 2021, he ran Berlin Raceway with Fast Track, finishing sixteenth due to handling problems. He returned to action in 2023 with Kimmel Racing at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and Bristol Motor Speedway, plus a season-ending appearance at Toledo.
In 2024, Basham opened the ARCA Menards Series East season at Five Flags Speedway with Fast Track Racing in the No. 10 Ford, qualifying tenth and finishing sixth. He continues to split time between the No. 01, No. 9, No. 11, and No. 12 Ford and Toyota entries for Fast Track Racing, as well as the No. 98 Toyota for Shearer Speed Racing.
Driving Style and Strengths
Basham has built his reputation on consistency and adaptability across varied track types, including paved ovals and dirt fairground circuits like DuQuoin, Springfield, and the Illinois State Fairgrounds. His strongest ARCA results have historically come on short tracks and intermediate ovals, where experience and patience often outweigh outright speed. Working with long-time family crew members and small operations such as Fast Track Racing and Kimmel Racing has shaped his methodical, finish-focused approach.
Notable Races and Milestones
Basham’s signature result remains his sixth-place run at Springfield in 2020, which marked both a career-best ARCA Menards Series finish and the cornerstone of his career-best eighth-place points campaign. His Three Brothers tie with Jason Basham adds a family-history element to his ARCA résumé, while his continued presence into 2025 underscores his durability as a part-time competitor.
Mike Basham Career Wins
Mike Basham has not recorded a victory at the ARCA Menards Series national level. Across his ARCA Menards Series career, he has accumulated four top-ten finishes with no poles or wins. In the ARCA Menards Series East, he has earned one top-ten finish with no poles or victories. His results reflect the part-time, team-rotation schedule he has maintained throughout his career.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Basham’s first top-ten ARCA Menards Series effort came in 2020, when he posted a career-best sixth at Springfield on his way to a career-best eighth-place points finish. His most recent top-ten result within verified data came at Five Flags Speedway in the ARCA Menards Series East opener in 2024, where he finished sixth while running a collaborative Fast Track Racing program. Although he has yet to crack the win column, his top-ten consistency on short tracks has defined his résumé.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond ARCA, Basham has competed in regional events such as the Indiana Late Model Series, where he posted a tenth-place points finish in 2015 with a best result of sixth at Movieland Speedpark. He has not been credited with regional touring-series championships based on verified records.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCA Menards Series | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Mike Basham Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Basham comes from a well-known ARCA racing family. His father, Darrell Basham, is a long-time ARCA Menards Series driver and team owner who has fielded cars under the Darrell Basham Racing banner. His brother, Jason Basham, also competed in ARCA from 2003 to 2013. The Basham family has been a consistent presence in the ARCA garage for more than two decades.
Personal Life
Mike Basham was raised in Henryville, Indiana, and has built his racing career around that Midwest short-track base. His family ties to ARCA remain central to his identity as a driver, with multiple relatives having competed in the series over the years.
2025 Season Performance
Basham’s 2025 ARCA Menards Series efforts have continued his pattern of selective, part-time appearances. His most recent verified start came at the 2025 Owens Corning 200 at Toledo, where he drove one of his familiar Fast Track Racing entries. He has maintained a presence in the ARCA Menards Series East as well, with the schedule showing future Rockingham dates for the No. 11 Fast Track Racing team.
While victory lane has remained out of reach, Basham’s focus on clean finishes and reliable mid-pack or top-ten runs has kept him competitive within the underdog teams he represents. His role as a steady veteran continues to provide a developmental benchmark for younger drivers in smaller ARCA programs.
Looking ahead, Basham is positioned to continue balancing ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East starts with Fast Track Racing and Shearer Speed Racing. His experience across dirt and pavement venues should keep him a regular in the field for the remainder of 2025 and into 2026.