Jake Garcia Bio
Steven Jacob Garcia, known professionally as Jake Garcia, is an American professional stock car racing driver. Born on March 3, 2005, in Monroe, Georgia, Garcia has built a reputation as one of the promising young talents in NASCAR’s development pipeline. He last competed full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 13 Ford F-150 for ThorSport Racing, while also making part-time appearances in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with RSS Racing.
Garcia first attracted national attention in late model racing before transitioning to NASCAR’s national touring divisions. His rapid rise through the ranks, including becoming the youngest champion in the Southern Super Series, has established him as a driver to watch in the sport’s upper levels.
Early Life and Background
Jake Garcia was born and raised in Monroe, Georgia, where he developed an early fascination with racing. Growing up in the southeastern United States, he was surrounded by a strong short-track racing culture that helped shape his ambitions as a young driver. His family supported his interest in motorsports, allowing him to pursue karting and open-wheel competition before he was old enough to drive on public roads.
Garcia attended Athens Academy, a private school in Athens, Georgia, where he balanced his academic responsibilities with an increasingly demanding racing schedule. He graduated as part of the class of 2023, completing his high school education while simultaneously competing at a high level in NASCAR’s development series.
Path to NASCAR
Garcia made his midget racing debut in 2016 in the USAC Eastern Midget Series, beginning his open-wheel career at just eleven years old. He spent three years competing in midget cars, building foundational race craft and learning to handle high-powered equipment on short tracks across the country. In 2018, he transitioned to late model racing, making his first start with the Champion Racing Association.
The move to stock cars proved to be a turning point. In 2019, Garcia captured the pro late model track championship at Five Flags Speedway, signaling his arrival as a serious contender in pavement racing. The following year, he ran the full Southern Super Series schedule and earned Rookie of the Year honors, before winning the series championship in 2021 at just sixteen years old, becoming the youngest champion in series history. These accomplishments caught the attention of NASCAR team owners and opened the door to national series competition.
Jake Garcia Career
Early Career (2019-2021)
Garcia’s early stock car career was defined by rapid progression and championship-level success. After winning the pro late model track championship at Five Flags Speedway in 2019, he stepped up to regional touring competition in 2020 with a full-time Southern Super Series campaign, where he earned Rookie of the Year honors.
The following season, Garcia captured the Southern Super Series championship in 2021 at sixteen years old, setting the record as the youngest champion in the series. He also expanded his resume by competing in the CARS Tour, gaining valuable experience against seasoned veterans in super late model competition. In late 2021, he signed with David Gilliland Racing to make his ARCA Menards Series West debut at Phoenix Raceway, where he started fourth and finished sixth.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2022-2023)
On March 16, 2022, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced that Garcia would drive five races for the team in the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, beginning at Martinsville Speedway in the No. 35 truck. After failing to make the Martinsville race due to rainout qualifying, Garcia made his official Truck Series debut at Gateway Motorsports Park on June 4, 2022, where a mid-race collision with Tanner Gray left him multiple laps down and resulted in a twenty-ninth-place finish.
In December 2022, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced Garcia would run full-time in 2023, continuing in the No. 35 truck. Due to NASCAR age restrictions, he missed the season-opener at Daytona but received a playoff waiver. At Las Vegas, he scored his first career top-ten finish. He recorded seven top-tens during the regular season, though he ultimately fell short of the playoffs and finished thirteenth in the final standings. On October 16, 2023, the team announced Garcia would not return for 2024, prompting him to seek new opportunities.
ThorSport Racing Era (2024-Present)
On November 15, 2023, it was announced that Garcia would move to ThorSport Racing for the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, driving the No. 13 Ford F-150 and replacing Hailie Deegan. The transition came with a learning curve, as Garcia struggled throughout the season and managed only two top-ten finishes. His best result was a sixth-place run at Charlotte, and he ended the year seventeenth in the final standings.
Garcia returned to ThorSport Racing for the 2025 season and opened the year with a twelfth-place finish at Daytona. At Rockingham Speedway, he captured his first career pole position, a milestone moment in his young career. He successfully qualified for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs, his first appearance in postseason competition, though he was eliminated in the opening round.
Driving Style and Strengths
Garcia has demonstrated composure beyond his years, particularly in superspeedway and intermediate track conditions. His late model background has helped him develop smooth car control and consistent lap times over long runs. Working alongside his ThorSport Racing crew chief, he has shown an ability to qualify well and capitalize on track position, as evidenced by his first career pole at Rockingham.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Garcia’s signature accomplishments is his 2021 Southern Super Series championship, which made him the youngest titleholder in series history. His first career Truck Series pole at Rockingham in 2025 marked a major qualifying milestone, while his 2024 All American 400 victory further highlighted his strength in prestigious late model events. He also won the 2023 North-South Challenge, adding to his regional late model resume.
Jake Garcia Career Wins
Jake Garcia’s win collection spans regional late model racing, with championships and high-profile victories establishing him as a threat before his national NASCAR ascent. While his Truck Series win column remains empty at the time of writing, his late model achievements demonstrate a clear ability to reach victory lane.
Southern Super Series Highlights
Garcia’s most prominent late model accomplishment came in 2021, when he won the Southern Super Series championship at sixteen years old, making him the youngest champion in series history. He followed that with the All American 400 win in 2024 and the North-South Challenge victory in 2023, both marquee events on the regional super late model calendar.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his Southern Super Series success, Garcia captured the 2019 pro late model track championship at Five Flags Speedway, his first major title. He also earned Rookie of the Year honors in the Southern Super Series in 2020 and posted a strong sixth-place ARCA Menards Series West debut at Phoenix Raceway in 2021.
Jake Garcia Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Garcia was raised in Monroe, Georgia, in a family that supported his passion for motorsports from a young age. His early immersion in karting and midget racing reflects a household environment that prioritized his development as a young driver. Specific details about his parents and siblings have not been publicly disclosed.
Personal Life
Garcia attended Athens Academy in Georgia, where he balanced high school coursework with a demanding racing schedule and graduated in 2023. He maintains an active presence on social media, engaging with fans through his official accounts on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
2025 Season Performance
Jake Garcia’s 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series campaign with ThorSport Racing opened at Daytona International Speedway with a twelfth-place finish. The early-season momentum continued when he captured his first career pole position at Rockingham Speedway, a milestone that signaled his growing confidence and qualifying speed behind the wheel of the No. 13 Ford F-150.
Garcia successfully qualified for the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs, marking his first appearance in postseason competition. Although he was eliminated in the opening round, the playoff berth validated the progress made with ThorSport Racing and represented a significant step forward from his seventeenth-place points finish in 2024.
Looking ahead, Garcia’s part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series efforts with RSS Racing in the No. 29 Ford Mustang Dark Horse added another developmental dimension to his season. His April 2025 Xfinity debut attempt at Talladega Superspeedway, though unsuccessful in qualifying, reflects his ongoing pursuit of advancement within NASCAR’s national touring divisions.
