Caesar Bacarella Bio
Caesar Peter Bacarella (born December 18, 1975) is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 5 and No. 45 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Alpha Prime Racing. Bacarella has also driven in the ARCA Menards Series and Pirelli World Challenge. Born in Parkland, Florida, Bacarella entered professional racing in 2017 and has since established himself in NASCAR’s second-tier series while building his own racing organization.
Early Life and Background
Caesar Peter Bacarella was born on December 18, 1975, in Parkland, Florida. He developed an interest in motorsports during his formative years in the Southeastern United States, a region with deep stock car racing roots. Bacarella pursued racing as a passion project in adulthood before making his professional debut in his early 40s.
His background outside of racing provided him with the business foundation needed to eventually become a team owner. This dual role as both driver and owner would become a defining characteristic of his NASCAR career.
Path to NASCAR
Bacarella began his professional racing career in the ARCA Menards Series in 2017, driving for Finney Racing in the No. 80 car. His debut came at Daytona International Speedway, where he finished 33rd after being involved in a wreck. He made a second start at Talladega Superspeedway, finishing 25th. These early superspeedway experiences helped prepare him for the transition to NASCAR.
In 2017, Bacarella made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with B. J. McLeod Motorsports in the Ticket Galaxy 200 at Phoenix Raceway. His entry into NASCAR’s national series marked the beginning of a journey that would eventually lead him to team ownership.
Caesar Bacarella Career
Early Career (2017-2020)
Bacarella’s first NASCAR Xfinity Series race in 2017 at Phoenix proved eventful. He qualified 37th on owner points and finished 30th after cutting down on playoff contender Brennan Poole early in the race. The incident drew criticism from drivers and led to discussions about NASCAR’s driver approval process. He returned the following week at Homestead-Miami Speedway, finishing 31st.
In 2018, Bacarella drove the No. 8 car at the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. He also expanded his racing resume by joining Squadra Corse Garage Italia Americas for the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge Sprint-X races, demonstrating versatility across different forms of motorsport competition.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2021-2024)
In August 2021, Bacarella and Tommy Joe Martins announced the formation of Alpha Prime Racing, with plans to compete full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2022. Bacarella, Martins, and Rajah Caruth were expected to run the full season under part-time schedules. However, in November 2021, NASCAR indefinitely suspended Bacarella for substance abuse after he claimed he unknowingly took a workout supplement on the banned substances list.
Bacarella enrolled in NASCAR’s Road to Recovery program and was reinstated on February 14, 2022. For the 2023 season, he continued with a partial schedule and scored his first career Xfinity Series top-ten with a sixth place finish at Talladega Superspeedway on April 22.
In 2024, Bacarella and Alpha Prime announced he would run at least four races in the No. 45 on superspeedways. He delivered strong results, scoring his second career top-ten at Talladega with a seventh place finish, followed by his third career top-ten at Michigan International Speedway—his first top-ten on a non-superspeedway track.
Alpha Prime Racing Era (2018-Present)
As co-founder of Alpha Prime Racing, Bacarella has balanced driving duties with team ownership responsibilities. The team has developed into a competitive Xfinity Series operation with multiple entries. Bacarella’s role has evolved from driver-partner to established team principal who also competes in selected races.
In August 2025, Alpha Prime announced Bacarella would drive a fourth entry at Daytona in the No. 5 car, using owner’s points from the now-defunct Our Motorsports team. This expanded his opportunities to compete and showcase the team’s capabilities.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bacarella has demonstrated particular strength on superspeedway tracks, where his racing style has produced consistent top-ten results. His development as a driver has progressed from early struggles to competitive finishes, particularly at restrictor-plate venues like Daytona and Talladega. His ability to run competitively at non-superspeedway tracks, as evidenced by his Michigan performance, shows continued growth as a racer.
Notable Races and Milestones
Bacarella’s career highlights include his first Xfinity Series top-ten at Talladega in April 2023, where he finished sixth. The fall Talladega race in 2025 marked a new career-best with a fifth place finish, his first top-five in the series. His Michigan International Speedway top-ten in 2024 proved he could compete beyond superspeedways, while his reinstatement in 2022 showed his resilience in returning to competition.
Caesar Bacarella Career Wins
Caesar Bacarella has competed primarily in a part-time capacity across the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series. While he has not recorded a victory in NASCAR competition, he has achieved multiple top-ten and top-five finishes, including career-best results at superspeedway venues.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Highlights
Bacarella has scored three career top-ten finishes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. His first came at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2023 with a sixth place finish. A seventh place at Talladega followed in 2024, and he achieved a career-best fifth place at Talladega in 2025. His Michigan International Speedway top-ten in 2024 marked his first top-five finish on a non-superspeedway track.
Other Wins & Performances
In the ARCA Menards Series, Bacarella made two starts in 2017 with Finney Racing. His debut at Daytona resulted in a 33rd place finish after an accident, while his Talladega start produced a 25th place result. He also competed in Pirelli World Challenge Sprint-X events in 2018 with Squadra Corse Garage Italia Americas.
Caesar Bacarella Family
Information about Caesar Bacarella’s family background and personal life is not publicly available through verified sources at this time.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season saw Bacarella continue his part-time Xfinity Series schedule with Alpha Prime Racing. In August, Alpha Prime announced he would drive a fourth entry at Daytona in the No. 5 car, utilizing owner’s points from Our Motorsports. The season highlighted his strength on superspeedways.
At the fall Talladega race, Bacarella achieved a career-best fifth place finish, his first top-five in the Xfinity Series. This result demonstrated his growth as a driver and Alpha Prime Racing’s competitive capabilities. His partnership with co-owner Tommy Joe Martins continued to provide opportunities for competition across multiple entries.