Jake Finch Bio
James “Jake” Finch Jr. is an American professional stock car racing driver born June 16, 2005, in Lynn Haven, Florida. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 17 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Hendrick Motorsports, and also ran part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East. In 2025, he made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with Hendrick Motorsports, marking a significant step in his young but already accomplished motorsports career.
Finch’s rise through the ranks has been shaped by his family’s deep roots in motorsports, giving him access to competitive machinery and experienced personnel from an early age. His combination of natural talent, strong early results, and association with elite organizations positions him as one of the most promising young drivers in American stock car racing.
Early Life and Background
James “Jake” Finch Jr. was born June 16, 2005, in Lynn Haven, Florida, and grew up immersed in the world of professional motorsports. His father, James Finch, is the former owner of a NASCAR Cup Series team, Phoenix Racing, and also operates Phoenix Construction, an airport construction company. This unique upbringing gave Jake exposure to professional racing environments and operations that few young drivers experience.
Before he committed fully to racing, Jake Finch was an active baseball player for his local school, demonstrating athletic ability across multiple disciplines at a young age. He attended A. Crawford Mosley High School in Lynn Haven, Florida, where he balanced his education with his growing racing commitments, ultimately graduating in the class of 2023.
Path to NASCAR
Finch began his racing career in go-karts at a young age, building the foundational skills and race craft that would later translate to success in full-sized stock cars. He made his first notable step into late model competition in 2020, driving in three races for Anthony Campi Racing. In his very first start, he dominated the field, leading the most laps and securing a victory. He followed that debut win with two additional podium-worthy performances, finishing second in each of his next two starts and immediately establishing himself as a driver to watch.
His family’s racing team, Phoenix Racing, reopened its doors in 2021 after having been sold in 2013, giving Jake a home in a family-operated operation with NASCAR Cup Series pedigree. He drove in several late model races for Phoenix Racing that season and expanded his experience further in 2022 by entering the SRL Southwest Tour, running two events with finishes of 22nd and 23rd in his first two starts. In March 2022, Phoenix Racing announced that Finch would make his ARCA Menards Series East debut at Five Flags Speedway, the first time the team had competed in a NASCAR-sanctioned race since 2013.
Jake Finch Career
Early Career (2020–2022)
Finch’s competitive racing career began in earnest in 2020, when he drove three late model races for Anthony Campi Racing. He won his debut race by dominating the field and leading the most laps, then backed it up with two consecutive second-place finishes. These results in his first three career starts immediately caught the attention of the racing community and signaled his potential at the highest regional levels.
In 2021, Phoenix Racing — the former NASCAR Cup Series team owned by his father, which had been sold to Harry Scott Jr. in 2013 — reopened and brought Finch into its driver lineup for late model competition. He continued his development throughout 2021 and 2022, building his resume across late models and the SRL Southwest Tour while also breaking into the ARCA Menards Series ecosystem.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2022–2024)
On March 15, 2022, Phoenix Racing announced that Finch would make his ARCA Menards Series East debut at Five Flags Speedway, marking the return of the Finch family team to NASCAR-sanctioned competition after nearly a decade. He continued to expand his ARCA footprint that season, signing with Venturini Motorsports in April 2022 for races at Dover in the East Series and Pocono in the main ARCA Menards Series. He also returned to Phoenix Racing for the East Series race at Nashville, where he started on the pole, led 44 laps, and finished second.
Finch’s hard work and consistent development in the ARCA Menards Series culminated in 2024, when he captured his first major career victory by winning the General Tire 200. This win represented a breakthrough moment in his career, validating years of development and confirming his ability to compete and win at the national touring series level.
Hendrick Motorsports Era (2025–Present)
On April 16, 2025, Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced on The Dale Jr. Download that Finch would make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in 2025, driving the No. 17 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Hendrick Motorsports. The Hendrick Motorsports organization formally confirmed the arrangement in July 2025, scheduling Finch’s debut at Dover Motor Speedway. This move placed one of the sport’s most accomplished organizations firmly behind a driver widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents in the NASCAR pipeline.
At 20 years old, Finch entered the 2025 season carrying the momentum of his 2024 General Tire 200 victory and the developmental experience gained across multiple ARCA and late model campaigns. His part-time Xfinity Series schedule allows him to continue running ARCA races with Venturini Motorsports in the No. 25 Toyota Camry while gaining invaluable experience in NASCAR’s premier feeder series with one of its most elite teams.
Driving Style and Strengths
Finch has demonstrated strong adaptability across track types, with proven results on both short tracks and superspeedways throughout his late model and ARCA career. His race craft reflects the technical foundation built through years of go-kart and late model competition, and his ability to lead races — evidenced by his 44-lap lead at Nashville and his dominant debut late model win — shows a natural aptitude for managing equipment and executing race strategy.
Notable Races and Milestones
Finch’s most significant milestone to date is his 2024 General Tire 200 victory in the ARCA Menards Series, representing his first win at the national touring series level. His pole position and 44-lap led effort at Nashville in 2022 demonstrated his ability to dominate a strong ARCA field, while his immediate success in late model racing — winning his very first start — remains one of the most impressive debuts in his career. His NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Dover Motor Speedway in July 2025 marks the beginning of his national NASCAR chapter.
Jake Finch Career Wins
Jake Finch has captured a verified career victory in the ARCA Menards Series, highlighted by his 2024 General Tire 200 win. Throughout his late model and ARCA development career, he has also earned multiple pole positions and led significant laps across several events, establishing a pattern of front-running performances even before his first major series victory.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Finch’s General Tire 200 victory in 2024 stands as his signature career win to date, earned in the ARCA Menards Series with Venturini Motorsports. The win capped a period of steady progression through the ARCA ranks, following his 2022 Nashville performance where he started on pole and led 44 laps in an ARCA Menards Series East event. His ability to compete for wins in the ARCA ecosystem made him a natural candidate for the Hendrick Motorsports Xfinity Series program in 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
In his late model debut season in 2020, Finch won his very first start for Anthony Campi Racing after dominating the race and leading the most laps, then followed that victory with two additional second-place finishes in his next two starts — a remarkable start to any professional racing career. He has also earned at least one pole position in ARCA Menards Series East competition, achieved during his 2022 Nashville drive.
Jake Finch Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Finch comes from a family with deep involvement in professional motorsports. His father, James Finch, owned and operated Phoenix Racing, a NASCAR Cup Series team that competed at the sport’s highest level before being sold in 2013. Phoenix Racing reopened in 2021 under the Finch family’s stewardship, providing Jake with one of the most meaningful developmental opportunities of his early career. James Finch also operates Phoenix Construction, an airport construction company, reflecting the family’s broader business interests alongside motorsports.
Personal Life
Jake Finch was raised in Lynn Haven, Florida, and attended A. Crawford Mosley High School, graduating in the class of 2023. Before committing fully to his racing career, he was an active baseball player for his local school, showing athletic versatility at a young age. He is the son of James Finch and maintains an Instagram presence under the handle jamessfinch.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents Jake Finch’s most significant career step to date, as he competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driving the No. 17 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Hendrick Motorsports. The partnership was announced publicly by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in April 2025 and formally confirmed by Hendrick Motorsports ahead of Finch’s debut at Dover Motor Speedway in July 2025. Running with one of NASCAR’s most historically successful organizations provides Finch a strong platform to showcase his talent at the national level.
At 20 years old and fresh off his 2024 General Tire 200 victory in the ARCA Menards Series, Finch enters the 2025 season with genuine momentum and a résumé that supports his elevation to NASCAR’s Xfinity Series. His part-time schedule also allows him to continue running ARCA Menards Series races for Venturini Motorsports in the No. 25 Toyota Camry, maintaining the developmental continuity that has served him well throughout his career. Finch’s combination of youth, recent success, and Hendrick Motorsports backing makes him one of the most closely watched young drivers in NASCAR heading into the 2025 season.
