Jackson Reed McLerran Bio
Jackson Reed McLerran (born May 3, 1999) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Portland, Tennessee. He last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East, where he drove the No. 96 Toyota for MAN Motorsports. After cutting his teeth in regional late model competition, McLerran advanced into NASCAR’s development ladder with a debut on the ARCA national stage in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Jackson Reed McLerran was born on May 3, 1999, in Portland, Tennessee, in the United States. Growing up in a region with deep grassroots racing roots, he was exposed to short tracks and local speedways at a young age. Portland and the surrounding Sumner County area have long produced short-track talent, and McLerran followed that pathway from an early stage in his life.
He attended Westmoreland High School, balancing his studies with an aggressive schedule of local racing. His teenage years were spent honing his craft on Tennessee short tracks, where he learned the fundamentals of stock car racing. Family support and time behind the wheel of late models helped shape his transition from weekend hobbyist to serious competitor.
Path to NASCAR
Before reaching NASCAR-sanctioned events, McLerran built his résumé in regional touring series. He competed in events organized by the Champion Racing Association (CRA), including the CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour and the CRA Street Stocks Series. Those programs gave him a chance to race against veteran short-track drivers and to sharpen his race craft on ovals across the Midwest and Southeast.
His results in the CRA ranks were enough to catch the attention of ARCA-level teams, and in 2024 he was confirmed for a national-series ride. The opportunity represented the natural next step from regional late models into a NASCAR development pipeline. The jump also aligned with his long-term ambition of climbing toward NASCAR’s top three national series.
Jackson Reed McLerran Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
McLerran’s early career revolved around the Champion Racing Association, where he raced in both the CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour and the CRA Street Stocks Series. Those events took him across a wide range of short tracks, from high-banked ovals to flatter, technical layouts. Running full seasons in regional touring competition allowed him to log laps against seasoned veterans and to refine his driving technique.
During this developmental period, McLerran focused on consistency, learning how to manage tires, conserve equipment, and finish races. The CRA series acted as a proving ground, where drivers either establish themselves or fade away. His progression through these programs positioned him to attract attention from higher-level teams looking for emerging talent.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2024)
In 2024, McLerran was confirmed to make his debut in the ARCA Menards Series at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, driving the No. 96 Toyota for MAN Motorsports. Because the event was a combination race with the ARCA Menards Series East, it also served as his first start in the East Series. The opportunity marked his arrival on a national NASCAR development stage.
McLerran started the race in the thirtieth position but was unable to make it to the finish. He ended the event in twenty-sixth after being caught up in a crash, a frustrating but common outcome for a driver experiencing the higher speeds and tighter competition of the ARCA national tour. Despite the result, the start itself represented a major career milestone, validating years of regional effort and giving him valuable seat time on a national-level circuit.
MAN Motorsports Era (2024–Present)
McLerran’s tenure with MAN Motorsports began with his 2024 ARCA debut, where the Tennessee-based team fielded the No. 96 Toyota for him at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The organization has a long history of supporting young drivers stepping up from regional competition, and McLerran fit that profile. Aligning with MAN Motorsports gave him a stable environment to focus on learning new tracks and adjusting to the demands of the ARCA platform.
In 2025, it was confirmed that McLerran would return for a partial schedule in the ARCA Menards Series East, this time driving the No. 95 entry for MAN Motorsports. The change in car number reflects the East Series’ typical numbering structure for part-time entrants. The continued partnership indicates mutual confidence between driver and team as McLerran works to expand his résumé and pursue full-season opportunities.
Driving Style and Strengths
McLerran’s background in regional late model and CRA competition has given him a strong foundation in short-track and intermediate oval racing. He is accustomed to running in traffic, navigating tight packs, and adapting his line as track conditions change. His pairing with MAN Motorsports gives him access to experienced crew members who can translate his feedback into setup adjustments across a variety of ARCA circuits.
Notable Races and Milestones
His most notable milestone to date is his 2024 debut at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, which simultaneously served as his first ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East start. While the finish was abbreviated by a crash, the event itself confirmed his transition from regional racing to NASCAR’s development ladder and remains the cornerstone of his early national résumé.
Jackson Reed McLerran Career Wins
At the ARCA Menards Series level, McLerran is in the early stages of his national career and has not yet recorded a victory. His competitive résumé is built on regional experience with the CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour and CRA Street Stocks Series, where he developed the race craft needed to graduate to NASCAR-sanctioned competition. He will look to record his first ARCA-level win as his 2025 East Series program develops.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
McLerran’s primary ARCA Menards Series highlight remains his 2024 debut at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, where he started thirtieth and finished twenty-sixth after an incident. The start served as a combination event with the ARCA Menards Series East, allowing him to gain experience in both series on the same weekend. As of his last confirmed activity, he had not secured a top-ten finish or victory at the ARCA national level.
Other Wins & Performances
Before stepping up to ARCA, McLerran competed in the CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour and the CRA Street Stocks Series, regional programs that helped him sharpen his skills. Detailed win totals in those series are not publicly confirmed, and his primary verified achievements remain his advancement to the ARCA Menards Series and the start of a partial East Series schedule in 2025.
Jackson Reed McLerran Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about McLerran’s immediate family and racing lineage is limited. He grew up in Portland, Tennessee, an area with a strong short-track culture, and attended Westmoreland High School. Specific details about parents, siblings, or extended family members involved in motorsports have not been publicly verified.
Personal Life
McLerran is based in his home region of Tennessee, where he continues to be active in regional and ARCA-level stock car racing. He maintains a public presence on social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, where fans can follow his racing updates. Additional confirmed details about his personal life, such as marital status or children, are not publicly available at this time.
2025 Season Performance
For 2025, McLerran is committed to a partial schedule in the ARCA Menards Series East with MAN Motorsports, switching to the No. 95 entry after running the No. 96 the previous year. The change keeps him aligned with the same team while giving him a fresh number under the East Series’ typical partial-season framework. He will balance this ARCA schedule with continued regional commitments as opportunities arise.
The core storyline of his 2025 campaign centers on consistency, mileage, and finishing strong runs. After a crash-shortened debut in 2024, his priority will be logging clean, complete races and posting his first competitive results at the ARCA level. Strong qualifying efforts and avoiding early-race incidents will be central benchmarks for measuring progress throughout the year.
With continued partnership from MAN Motorsports and the experience gained at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in 2024, McLerran enters 2025 with a clear development path. If he can translate regional speed into reliable ARCA finishes, a full-time East Series ride and a future step toward NASCAR’s top three national series remain realistic long-term goals.
