Bobby Santos

Bobby Santos III Bio

Robert Santos III, nicknamed “Bobby New England,” is an American professional racing driver from Franklin, Massachusetts. Born on October 3, 1985, he has built a versatile career spanning NASCAR’s national series, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and open-wheel midget and sprint car competition. Widely respected for his ability to adapt across disciplines, Santos has won some of the most prestigious races in American short-track racing.

Santos graduated in 2004 from Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School and turned professional in 2006. He is the grandson of Bobby Santos, a former modified racer, and comes from a family deeply embedded in motorsports — his sister Erica Pitkat and brother-in-law Woody Pitkat are both racecar drivers. He is also the cousin of Ricky Santos, former University of New Hampshire quarterback and current head coach.

Early Life and Background

Robert Santos III was born and raised in Franklin, Massachusetts, a town in the southeastern part of the state with a deep connection to New England motorsports culture. Growing up in a racing family, he was immersed in the sport from a young age through his grandfather Bobby Santos, who competed on the modified circuit. That multigenerational environment provided both inspiration and practical exposure to the demands of competitive racing.

Before committing full-time to driving, Santos attended Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, graduating in 2004. The school’s hands-on technical curriculum would later prove useful in understanding vehicle mechanics and setup. His early surroundings in New England’s rich modified racing scene gave him opportunities that drivers from other regions often lack, placing him on competitive tracks from a young age.

Path to NASCAR

Santos began his competitive career in open-wheel midget racing, competing in the Northeastern Midget Association, USAC, PRA Big Car, and ISMA. He quickly established himself as one of the most promising young drivers in the Northeast, demonstrating car control and race craft that caught the attention of national-level teams. His success in regional midget competition served as the foundation for his transition into stock car racing.

In 2006, Santos signed with Bill Davis Racing after a standout season in the USAC National Midget Tour, where he recorded the most wins of any driver that year with five victories. That season included a win at O’Reilly Raceway Park in the Night Before the 500, a prestigious midget event. The combination of USAC success and a development deal with a national stock car team placed him on a clear trajectory toward NASCAR competition.

Bobby Santos III Career

Early Career (2006–2007)

Santos made his stock car debut in 2006 at Iowa Speedway, driving the No. 02 Dodge for Bill Davis Racing in the ARCA Re/Max Series. He started 10th and finished 6th, a solid result that signaled his potential in larger-bodied cars. He returned to ARCA in 2007 with Bill Davis, now piloting a Toyota Camry — a notable moment as he went on to earn Toyota’s first-ever stock car pole position at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida.

Throughout the 2007 ARCA season, Santos showed competitive pace but was plagued by incidents and mechanical failures. After leading at USA International Speedway, he was collected in an accident with a lapped car. At Kansas Speedway, a blown engine ended his day after starting second. He found consistency at Kentucky Speedway, finishing third in back-to-back races behind Erik Darnell and Erin Crocker. He also earned a pole at Pocono Raceway and qualified fifth at Talladega Superspeedway that season.

NASCAR Xfinity Series (Busch/Nationwide Series) Breakthrough (2007–2012)

Santos made his NASCAR Busch Series debut in 2007 at Richmond International Raceway for Riley D’Hondt Motorsports, qualifying seventh in the No. 91 Toyota. He ran in the top 10 early but faded to a 30th-place finish by the end. Later that season, he qualified fourth for the Camping World 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and was running in the top 10 before being collected by a lapped car. He ran two additional races for Riley D’Hondt but did not finish better than 30th in any start.

In 2011, Santos ran the NASCAR Nationwide Series season opener for Jimmy Means in a backup JR Motorsports car, finishing 17th after a practice wreck had damaged the team’s primary car. The Earnhardt family’s long-standing relationship with Means facilitated the opportunity. In 2012, he announced a part-time schedule in the Nationwide Series for Tommy Baldwin Racing while continuing full-time competition on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Era (2007–Present)

Santos has been a consistent and accomplished competitor on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, collecting his first two career wins at Thompson International Speedway in October 2007. He returned to Thompson in April 2010 to win the Ice Breaker, a prestigious season-opening event, and used that momentum to capture the 2010 Whelen Modified Tour championship. That season he recorded four wins and four pole positions, establishing himself as one of the series’ elite drivers.

Following his NASCAR national series appearances, Santos returned full-time to his roots, racing the complete Whelen Modified Tour schedule for Bob Garbarino’s Mystic Missile Racing team in the Tinio Corporation No. 44 while running a limited schedule in all three USAC divisions. His post-national-series career has been highlighted by wins at many of the nation’s largest midget and sprint car events, cementing his reputation as one of the most versatile drivers in American motorsports. Santos also registered consecutive Musket 250 victories in 2019 and 2020, adding two of the most coveted wins in New England modified racing to his resume.

Driving Style and Strengths

Santos is known for his smooth, calculated driving style and exceptional car control developed through years of open-wheel competition. His midget and sprint car background gives him an advantage in managing tight racing surfaces and adapting to changing track conditions. On Modified Tour cars, his ability to conserve equipment while pushing for position has made him a consistent threat on both short tracks and larger venues. His relationship with crew and team owners across multiple series reflects a reputation as a collaborative and technically minded driver.

Notable Races and Milestones

Among Santos’s most significant accomplishments is winning the 2006 Night Before the 500 at O’Reilly Raceway Park, a premier midget race held on the night before the Indianapolis 500. He added the Turkey Night Grand Prix in 2008 and the Little 500 USAC Sprint Car race at Anderson Speedway in 2020 to his list of signature victories. His 2010 Whelen Modified Tour championship, built on four wins and four poles, stands as the pinnacle of his NASCAR-sanctioned career to date, and his back-to-back Musket 250 wins in 2019 and 2020 confirmed his sustained excellence on New England’s most demanding stage.

Bobby Santos III Career Wins

Bobby Santos III’s career win record spans multiple racing disciplines and series, with confirmed victories in midget racing, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and USAC Sprint Car competition. His most significant achievements include a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship in 2010, four wins that same season, and a 2020 Little 500 triumph in USAC Sprint Car competition. His versatility across open-wheel and stock car formats distinguishes him as one of the more accomplished multi-discipline drivers from New England.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Highlights

Santos’s 2010 Whelen Modified Tour championship represents the defining accomplishment of his NASCAR-sanctioned career. He won the season-opening Ice Breaker at Thompson International Speedway in April 2010 and carried that momentum through four wins and four poles across the full season. He previously earned his first two Modified Tour wins at Thompson in October 2007. He has also captured back-to-back Musket 250 wins at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2019 and 2020.

Other Wins and Performances

In open-wheel competition, Santos won the Night Before the 500 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in 2006 and the Turkey Night Grand Prix in 2008, two of the most prestigious midget races in the United States. He added the 2020 Little 500 USAC Sprint Car race at Anderson Speedway to his resume, further demonstrating his ability to compete and win at the highest levels of multiple racing disciplines. His ARCA career included a Toyota stock car pole at USA International Speedway and two third-place finishes at Kentucky Speedway in 2007.

Bobby Santos III Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Bobby Santos III was born into a racing family. His grandfather, Bobby Santos, was a well-known modified racer in New England, establishing a family tradition that would shape Santos’s career path. His sister, Erica Pitkat, and brother-in-law, Woody Pitkat, both compete as racecar drivers, making the Santos-Pitkat family one of the most prominent racing families in the region. Through his mother’s side, he is also cousin to Ricky Santos, who starred as quarterback at the University of New Hampshire and is currently a head coach.

Personal Life

Santos grew up in Franklin, Massachusetts, and remains identified with New England throughout his career, earning his nickname “Bobby New England” for his regional roots and loyal fan base. He attended Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, graduating in 2004, before turning professional in motorsports. Details regarding his personal life beyond his family’s racing connections are not widely documented in public sources.

2025 Season Performance

As of the 2025 racing season, Bobby Santos III continues to compete in regional and national motorsports events, maintaining an active presence primarily in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and select USAC open-wheel competition. His recent history of consecutive Musket 250 wins in 2019 and 2020 demonstrated that he remains a serious contender at the highest level of modified racing, and his established reputation across multiple series ensures continued opportunities at premier short-track events throughout New England and beyond.