Alpha Prime Racing Overview
Alpha Prime Racing is an American professional stock car racing team that competes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Originally founded as Martins Motorsports in 2009 by Craig Martins, the organization is co-owned by Craig Martins, Tommy Joe Martins, and Caesar Bacarella. The team is headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, and currently fields multiple entries in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, including the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro and the No. 45 Chevrolet Camaro. Alpha Prime Racing represents the evolution of a family-owned operation that has competed across several NASCAR national series over the past decade and a half.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Alpha Prime Racing traces its roots to 2009 when Craig Martins established Martins Motorsports in Mooresville, North Carolina. The team began as a modest family operation competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and later expanded into the ARCA Racing Series. As a small independent organization, Martins Motorsports faced the inherent challenges of limited resources and competition against better-funded teams. The early years focused on gaining experience and building a foundation in professional stock car racing.
The team underwent significant changes in 2019 when longtime sponsor and family friend Rodney Riessen joined Craig Martins as a co-owner. This partnership helped facilitate the team’s return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020. The organization continued to develop its competitive capabilities while navigating the difficulties faced by independent racing teams in securing sponsorship and maintaining consistent funding.
A pivotal transformation occurred in August 2021 when the team announced a partnership with Caesar Bacarella. Beginning with the 2022 season, the organization rebranded as Alpha Prime Racing, taking its name from Bacarella’s fitness brand. This partnership brought additional resources and a fresh identity to the operation. Tommy Joe Martins assumed the roles of President and General Manager, guiding the team through its next phase of development and competition.
Growth Into NASCAR Xfinity Series Competition
The expansion into NASCAR Xfinity Series competition marked a significant step for the organization. Martins Motorsports first entered the series in 2014, fielding multiple car numbers including the Nos. 4, 5, 43, 44, 45, 67, and 76 throughout the season. This broad approach allowed the team to maximize track time and gain valuable experience at various venue types while pursuing competitive results.
Following a period of inactivity after the 2017 season, the team announced its return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020. The organization purchased chassis from established teams to bolster its equipment and hired experienced personnel to improve competitiveness. Midway through the 2020 season, the hiring of Buddy Sisco as crew chief led to improved results and helped establish the team as a legitimate competitor.
Since the 2022 rebranding as Alpha Prime Racing, the team has expanded its operations and driver lineup. The partnership brought additional resources that enabled the team to field more competitive equipment and attract drivers seeking opportunities with independent organizations. The team continued to develop its technical alliance strategies and shop infrastructure to support multi-car operations.
Alpha Prime Racing Competitive Journey
Alpha Prime Racing has built its competitive presence primarily in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, with a history spanning multiple NASCAR national series including the Truck Series and ARCA Racing Series. The organization’s journey reflects the challenges and achievements common to independent stock car racing teams. From humble beginnings as a family-run operation to its current status as a multi-car Xfinity Series competitor, the team has demonstrated persistence and steady improvement. Key milestones include first top-ten finishes, first top-five results, and landmark double top-five performances that have established Alpha Prime Racing as a developing force among independent teams.
Early Seasons and Development (2009-2018)
The team’s first competitive appearances came in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starting in 2009, with Tommy Joe Martins driving a limited schedule. The early years focused on gaining experience at tracks across the country while building relationships with sponsors and partners. Martins Motorsports competed intermittently in the Truck Series through 2017, with varying levels of participation depending on available resources and sponsorship.
On October 24, 2020, Tommy Joe Martins achieved both his personal and the team’s first top-ten finish at Texas Motor Speedway with a tenth-place result. This milestone represented a breakthrough moment for the organization and validated the improvements made throughout the season. The achievement came after the team had struggled early in the year, including failing to qualify for the season-opening race at Daytona and facing temporary layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Breakthrough in NASCAR Xfinity Series (2022-Present)
The 2022 season marked the official debut of Alpha Prime Racing following the rebranding from Martins Motorsports. The team entered the season with a strengthened partnership and expanded operations, fielding multiple entries with drivers including Tommy Joe Martins, Caesar Bacarella, and Rajah Caruth. The transition required significant organizational effort to update equipment, establish new partnerships, and integrate personnel under the new banner.
For the 2023 season, Alpha Prime Racing announced that Jeffrey Earnhardt would compete full-time driving the No. 44 entry with sponsorship from ForeverLawn. The season featured driver rotations due to various circumstances, with several competitors including Sage Karam, Rajah Caruth, Daniel Dye, and Greg Van Alst sharing driving duties. The team’s best finish during the 2023 season came at Martinsville where Rajah Caruth drove the No. 44 to a twelfth-place result.
The 2024 season brought stability to the No. 44 program when Alpha Prime Racing announced Brennan Poole would drive full-time with primary sponsorship from Finance Pro Plus and Macc Door Systems. This represented the team’s most committed full-time driver lineup in recent years. Meanwhile, the No. 45 program scaled back to a part-time schedule with drivers including Caesar Bacarella, Brad Perez, and others sharing seat time.
The 2025 season delivered the strongest results in team history. On March 29, 2025, Brennan Poole achieved the team’s first top-five finish on a non-superspeedway track with a fourth-place result at Martinsville. Three weeks later at Rockingham, Poole improved to a fifth-place finish while Parker Retzlaff finished third in the No. 4 entry, giving Alpha Prime Racing its first-ever double top-five performance in a single race. These results demonstrated the team’s competitive growth and positioned it among the stronger independent organizations in the series.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2025-Present)
As of 2025, Alpha Prime Racing operates as a multi-car NASCAR Xfinity Series team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. Tommy Joe Martins serves as President and General Manager, overseeing day-to-day operations and competitive strategy. The team fields the No. 44 entry full-time with Brennan Poole and continues to develop part-time programs across multiple car numbers including the Nos. 4, 5, and 45. The organization maintains its commitment to the Chevrolet manufacturer platform and has pursued partnerships to enhance technical capabilities.
The team’s current driver lineup reflects a mix of experienced competitors and developing talent. Lavar Scott was announced as the full-time driver of the No. 45 entry for the 2026 season, representing the team’s investment in emerging drivers. Alpha Prime Racing continues to pursue opportunities for growth while navigating the competitive landscape of the Xfinity Series, which features well-funded organizations with extensive manufacturer support and technical alliances.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Alpha Prime Racing operates as an independent organization without factory technical alliances or major manufacturer support programs. This structure requires the team to be resourceful and efficient with available resources while pursuing continuous improvement in all areas of operations. The team’s competitive approach emphasizes maximizing performance at each event while building toward longer-term goals. Alpha Prime Racing focuses on establishing consistency and developing programs that can attract drivers and sponsors seeking opportunities outside the largest team structures in the sport.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The most significant breakthrough for Alpha Prime Racing came in 2025 when the team achieved its first top-five finishes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The landmark double top-five result at Rockingham represented a watershed moment for the organization. Other notable milestones include the team’s first top-ten finish at Texas Motor Speedway in 2020 and the successful rebranding and expansion of operations in 2022. The team continues working toward its first series victory and championship contention while building on the foundation established over its competitive history.
Alpha Prime Racing Achievements and Results
Alpha Prime Racing competes primarily in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, with a competitive history that includes participation in the NASCAR Truck Series and ARCA Racing Series. Throughout its history, the organization has accumulated experience across multiple NASCAR national series while working to improve competitive results. The team’s total race count stands at approximately 268 starts across all series with zero wins and zero pole positions. Despite the lack of victories, the organization has achieved meaningful progress, with its most successful season coming in 2025 when multiple top-five finishes were recorded.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Achievements
Alpha Prime Racing has competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2014, with its most active period coming since the 2022 rebranding. The organization has fielded entries in car numbers 4, 5, 43, 44, and 45 across various seasons. The 2025 season delivered the team’s strongest results with first top-five finishes on non-superspeedway tracks and a landmark double top-five performance at Rockingham. Parker Retzlaff achieved a third-place finish at Rockingham in the No. 4 entry, while Brennan Poole recorded a fifth-place result in the same event, marking the first time Alpha Prime Racing earned multiple top-five finishes in a single race.
Truck Series Achievements
The team competed in the NASCAR Truck Series primarily during the 2009 through 2017 seasons. Early efforts featured Tommy Joe Martins driving limited schedules and building experience at tracks nationwide. The organization partnered with other teams including Brandonbilt Motorsports and AM Racing during various periods to maximize competitive opportunities. Truck Series participation provided valuable experience that helped prepare the team for its eventual focus on Xfinity Series competition.
ARCA Racing Series Achievements
Alpha Prime Racing, then operating as Martins Motorsports, competed in the ARCA Racing Series during the early 2010s. The team fielded entries at major events including races at Daytona International Speedway with drivers including Tommy Joe Martins. These early efforts in ARCA competition contributed to the organization’s development and provided experience at high-profile tracks before focusing primarily on NASCAR national series competition.
