Soon-to-be 16-year-old Tristan McKee readying for NASCAR debut at Richmond

Tristan McKee is only 15 years old, but he'll be catapulted to NASCAR's national stage in two weeks in the Aug. 14 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Richmond Raceway. 

The Kannapolis, N.C., native who turns 16 on Aug. 3 — the minimum age to race in NASCAR's Truck Series at short tracks and road courses is 16 — has won twice in nine ARCA Menards Series starts, and it was announced Thursday that he'll race in five Truck Series races this season behind the wheel of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado.

"It's been a long time coming," McKee said Friday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. "I've been waiting for my 16th birthday next Monday. That was kind of what we've been waiting on for me to be able to run the Truck Series. Just super excited and thankful to get in the 77 truck."

Tristan McKee's path to NASCAR

McKee became a Spire development driver in January 2025 and won in his ARCA Menards Series debut at Watkins Glen last August. He's also the youngest winner in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour, as he won a race at Dillon Motor Speedway in South Carolina at the age of 12.

The Spire No. 77 that McKee will pilot is ninth in the Truck Series owner standings through 16 races and picked up a win on May 1 with Carson Hocevar at Texas.

In addition to Richmond, McKee will also drive the No. 77 at New Hampshire (Aug. 22), Bristol (Sept. 17), Phoenix (Oct. 16) and Martinsville (Oct. 30).