Shane Backes Bio
Shane Backes (born April 19, 1976) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 67 Chevrolet for Maples Motorsports. Based in the United States, Backes continues to balance limited national-level starts with ongoing development as a late-career entrant in stock car racing.
A native of Evans, Georgia, Backes first took an interest in motorsports at an early age and has built his career around regional and short-track competition. His current program with Maples Motorsports represents his first sustained presence on a national tour in the ARCA Menards Series.
Early Life and Background
Shane Backes was born on April 19, 1976, in Evans, Georgia. He grew up in the United States and was introduced to racing at a young age. According to verified biographical details, Backes first sat behind the wheel of a race car at the age of eleven, beginning what would become a lifelong involvement in motorsports.
His early exposure came through grassroots-level events and local short tracks in the Georgia area. Like many drivers of his generation, Backes developed his craft on local ovals before progressing to bigger stages. His formative years were spent learning the basics of race craft, car control, and mechanical sympathy on regional circuits.
Beyond his introduction to racing, Backes also gained experience in the International Hot Rod Association, a sanctioning body known for drag racing and grassroots-level events. That varied background gave him a broader comfort level with different types of race cars and track configurations before he transitioned to stock car racing’s national ladder.
Path to NASCAR
Backes has not competed in NASCAR’s three national series. His progression through motorsports has instead focused on regional stock car events and, more recently, the ARCA Menards Series platform, which serves as a key development feeder for NASCAR. His move to ARCA competition in 2025 marked the first time he had competed at a national touring level in stock car racing.
The opportunity to join Maples Motorsports opened the door to that next step. With limited resources and a part-time schedule, Backes approached his ARCA entry as a chance to gain experience on road courses and ovals against deeper fields of established developmental talent. The program signaled a clear shift from regional racing toward national-level visibility.
Shane Backes Career
Early Career (Pre-2025)
Before entering the ARCA Menards Series, Shane Backes competed in regional stock car events in the United States, including time spent in the International Hot Rod Association. Those early starts helped him refine his driving technique and build a foundation for higher-level competition.
His career trajectory remained largely regional for many years. While specific wins and championships from that era are not documented in available sources, Backes continued to stay active in racing, maintaining the seat time needed to eventually make a national-series debut.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2025)
In 2025, it was revealed that Shane Backes would make his ARCA Menards Series debut at Watkins Glen International. He was initially announced as the driver of the No. 00 Toyota for VWV Racing, but the entry was withdrawn shortly after. Backes was quickly picked up by Maples Motorsports to drive the No. 67 Chevrolet for the same race.
At the General Tire 100 at The Glen, Backes placed 25th in the lone practice session, qualified 23rd, and finished 24th after being involved in a crash midway through the race. He returned with Maples Motorsports at Madison International Speedway, where he placed 19th in practice, qualified 21st, and finished 17th despite an early incident with Lawless Alan. Backes also closed the season at Toledo Speedway in the Owens Corning 200.
ARCA Menards Series West Debut (2025)
Backes expanded his national-level schedule in 2025 by adding the ARCA Menards Series West. He made his series debut at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring in the Star Nursery 150 and also competed at Phoenix in the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100. His West program gave him additional track diversity across ovals of varying sizes.
Maples Motorsports Era (2025–Present)
Backes joined Maples Motorsports in 2025 and has remained with the team since. Driving the No. 67 Chevrolet, he has balanced part-time ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West starts. His best finish in the ARCA Menards Series came in his debut season, where he was classified 68th in the final standings, while his best ARCA Menards Series West finish was 22nd.
In 2026, Backes was confirmed for the pre-season ARCA Menards Series test at Daytona International Speedway, driving the No. 1 Chevrolet for Maples Motorsports. He recorded the 75th quickest time across the two test sessions, continuing his development on one of stock car racing’s most demanding tracks.
Driving Style and Strengths
Backes has shown versatility across both road courses and ovals, with his strongest moments coming on shorter tracks such as Madison International Speedway. His experience in the International Hot Rod Association and regional stock car racing has given him a broad mechanical comfort level, though he remains in an early development phase at the ARCA national level.
Notable Races and Milestones
His ARCA Menards Series debut at Watkins Glen International in 2025 stands as a career milestone, marking his first national touring-level start. The season-ending race at Toledo Speedway and his Las Vegas Bullring debut in the ARCA Menards Series West round out his most significant career moments to date.
Shane Backes Career Wins
Across his ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West starts in 2025, Shane Backes has not recorded a victory, top-ten finish, or pole position. Verified results from those seasons show zero wins, zero top tens, and zero poles across both series.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Backes made three starts in the ARCA Menards Series during 2025 at Watkins Glen, Madison, and Toledo. His best result came at Madison International Speedway with a 17th-place finish. His best championship standing was 68th in 2025.
ARCA Menards Series West Highlights
In the ARCA Menards Series West, Backes competed at the Las Vegas Bullring and Phoenix in 2025. His best series finish was 22nd in the final 2025 standings. No wins, top tens, or poles were recorded.
Shane Backes Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information regarding Shane Backes’ family background is limited. No verified details about his parents or any racing lineage within his family are currently available.
Personal Life
Verified personal details about Shane Backes beyond his birthplace of Evans, Georgia, and his motorsports career are not currently available.
2025 Season Performance
Shane Backes’ 2025 season marked his debut in national-level ARCA competition. He competed in the ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen, Madison, and Toledo, while also running two ARCA Menards Series West events at Las Vegas and Phoenix. Best results included a 17th-place finish at Madison in the main series and a 22nd-place championship position in the West.
Across both series, Backes recorded zero wins, zero top-ten finishes, and zero pole positions. His results reflected the steep learning curve of stepping up from regional racing to national-level ARCA fields, with crash damage at Watkins Glen and an early incident at Madison highlighting the challenges of his debut campaign.
With the confirmed 2026 Daytona test participation already secured, Backes enters the new season with continued support from Maples Motorsports. Growth on superspeedways and larger ovals is expected to be a focal point as he works to improve lap speed and consistency against more experienced ARCA competition.