Will Rodgers Bio
William Palmer Rodgers, known professionally as Will Rodgers, is an American professional stock car racing driver born on October 8, 1994, in Maui, Hawaii. He has competed part-time across several NASCAR national and regional touring series, most recently in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the ARCA Menards Series West. Rodgers has built a reputation as a road course specialist, particularly during his earlier years in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West.
Throughout his career, Rodgers has driven the No. 70 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Cope Family Racing in the Xfinity Series, the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Young’s Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series, and the No. 88 Ford for Naake-Klauer Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series West. He currently resides in Huntersville, North Carolina.
Early Life and Background
Will Rodgers was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii, where his early years were shaped by the islands’ natural landscape and a growing curiosity about motorsports. At the age of three, Rodgers was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a chronic liver disease that required numerous biopsies and colonoscopies throughout his youth. The experience inspired him later in life to advocate for liver health awareness.
Rodgers eventually pursued racing as a serious pursuit, moving away from Hawaii and later establishing his residence in Huntersville, North Carolina, a hub for many NASCAR drivers and teams. His Hawaiian upbringing and his perseverance through health challenges in childhood helped shape the disciplined approach he would later bring to his racing career.
Path to NASCAR
Before entering NASCAR’s ladder system, Rodgers competed in the Pirelli World Challenge, gaining experience in sports car racing and road course competition. In 2016, he made his NASCAR debut in the K&N Pro Series West at Sonoma Raceway, driving for team owner Dave Hanson and finishing seventeenth in his first event. He closed that rookie season with four top-ten finishes, establishing himself as a promising road course talent.
The following year, Rodgers moved to Jefferson Pitts Racing to run the 2017 K&N Pro Series West schedule full-time. He opened the season with four consecutive top-five finishes, signaling his readiness to compete at the front of the field. His performances on road courses soon attracted the attention of NASCAR Cup Series veteran Kevin Harvick, whose mentorship proved pivotal in Rodgers’ development.
Will Rodgers Career
Early Career (2016-2017)
Rodgers’ first season in the K&N Pro Series West in 2016 served as his introduction to NASCAR’s touring series. Driving for Dave Hanson, he adapted quickly to stock car racing after his Pirelli World Challenge background, posting four top-ten results to end the year. His comfort on road courses became evident early in his stock car career.
In 2017, Rodgers elevated his program by joining Jefferson Pitts Racing for a full K&N West campaign. He recorded four straight top-five finishes to open the season and earned his first career pole at Sonoma Raceway. Although he finished second that day after a duel with Kevin Harvick, the race drew national attention and helped Rodgers secure a reputation as one of the series’ most talented young road course drivers.
K&N Pro Series East Breakthrough (2017-2018)
During the 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season, Rodgers entered the two road course events and promptly won his first career K&N Series race at Watkins Glen International, holding off Rubén García Jr. After the win, Kevin Harvick visited Rodgers in Victory Lane to congratulate him, underscoring the bond between the two drivers. Rodgers followed that victory with another road course win at New Jersey Motorsports Park later in the year.
Rodgers continued his road course dominance in 2018, returning to the East Series at New Jersey Motorsports Park, where he qualified second and led 49 of 55 laps to claim his third K&N-level road course victory in four attempts. Kevin Harvick publicly stated that Rodgers was capable of competing in an Xfinity or Cup race on a road course in the right equipment. At Sonoma the following week, Rodgers beat five Cup Series regulars to win his fourth consecutive K&N road course race and cement his status as a premier road course ringer.
ARCA Menards Series Debut (2018)
Rodgers expanded into national touring competition in 2018 when he was announced as a driver for Ken Schrader Racing for select ARCA Menards Series events, beginning with the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway. The Daytona race marked his first oval longer than one mile. After an early accident left him 30th, Rodgers rebounded with an eighth-place run at Charlotte Motor Speedway and later set a new career-best finish of sixth at Michigan International Speedway.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Debut (2019-Present)
Rodgers made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in July 2019 at Iowa Speedway, driving for Brandonbilt Motorsports in the U.S. Cellular 250. He returned to the Xfinity Series in June 2021 with Sam Hunt Racing on a three-race schedule that included Nashville Superspeedway, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. More recently, he has competed part-time in the Xfinity Series for Cope Family Racing behind the wheel of the No. 70 Chevrolet Camaro SS.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2021-Present)
Rodgers made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2021 at Watkins Glen International in the United Rentals 176. He has since run additional Truck Series events part-time, including the 2025 Ecosave 250 at the Charlotte Roval driving the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Young’s Motorsports.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rodgers is widely regarded as one of the top road course talents to emerge from the K&N Pro Series ranks. His ability to brake late, carry corner speed, and manage tire wear has translated well from sports car racing into stock car competition. On oval tracks, he has shown steady improvement and a willingness to race patiently, building finishes through consistent lap times rather than aggressive moves.
Notable Races and Milestones
His 2017 battle with Kevin Harvick at Sonoma Raceway remains a signature moment, as does his four-race K&N road course winning streak that concluded at Sonoma in 2018. His first career K&N victory at Watkins Glen International in 2017 and his three ARCA Menards Series East wins stand as the foundation of his resume.
Will Rodgers Career Wins
Will Rodgers has accumulated a small but meaningful collection of victories across NASCAR’s developmental ladder, with most of his success coming on road courses in the ARCA Menards Series East and West.
ARCA Menards Series East Highlights
Rodgers recorded three career wins in the ARCA Menards Series East (formerly the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East), all of which came on road courses. His first series victory came at Watkins Glen International in 2017, followed by additional wins at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2017 and 2018. He also recorded four top-ten finishes in East Series competition.
Other Wins and Performances
In the ARCA Menards Series West, Rodgers earned one win at Sonoma Raceway in 2018 along with 22 top-ten finishes and two poles, with a best series finish of fifth in 2017. Across the ARCA Menards Series, he posted five top-ten finishes without a victory, with a best result of 22nd in 2018.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCA Menards Series East | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series West | 1 | 22 | 2 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Will Rodgers Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Will Rodgers’ immediate family remains limited. He was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii, and later relocated to Huntersville, North Carolina, to be closer to the NASCAR heartland. Rodgers has not publicly discussed a multi-generational racing lineage tied to his family.
Personal Life
Rodgers was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) at the age of three, a chronic liver disease that required extensive medical treatment throughout his youth. He later founded the Will Rodgers Liver Health Foundation to raise awareness and support for those affected by liver disease. He continues to reside in Huntersville, North Carolina.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has seen Will Rodgers continue his part-time approach across multiple NASCAR and ARCA platforms. In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly the Xfinity Series), he has been listed with Young’s Motorsports and the No. 42 entry, competing in select events while maintaining a broader schedule in the Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series West. His Truck Series schedule included the 2025 Ecosave 250 at the Charlotte Roval driving the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Young’s Motorsports.
In the ARCA Menards Series West, Rodgers has remained active with Naake-Klauer Motorsports in the No. 88 Ford, with the 2025 General Tire 200 at Sonoma listed as a recent event. His continued presence on road and combined-discipline tracks aligns with his historical strengths and gives him opportunities to chase additional regional wins. Given the part-time nature of his 2025 program, his outlook centers on maximizing each start, building chemistry with new teams, and positioning himself for expanded opportunities in future national series seasons.