Matt Kemp Bio
Matt Kemp (born January 25, 1999) is an American professional stock car racing driver who last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 9/10/12 Ford/Toyota for Fast Track Racing. Born in Sawyer, Michigan, Kemp began his racing journey in regional touring series before advancing to national competition in the ARCA Menards Series.
Early Life and Background
Matt Kemp was born on January 25, 1999, in Sawyer, Michigan. His introduction to motorsports came through participation in indoor and compact touring series during his mid-teens. Kemp honed his driving skills in short-track environments, competing in the Midwest Indoor Racing Series Arena-Mini Cup Division and the Vores Compact Touring Series North Division during 2014 and 2015.
Path to NASCAR
Kemp established his racing foundation in the Midwest Classic Racers Series, competing full-time in 2019. Driving the No. 1a entry, he secured his first victory at South Bend Motor Speedway and achieved top-ten finishes throughout the season, finishing third in the championship standings. His performance improved between 2020 and 2021, as he claimed second in the points standings while collecting six race wins.
The 2022 season marked Kemp’s breakthrough with seven race victories and top-ten finishes in every event. He won the Midwest Classic Racers Series championship by over fifty points ahead of Troy Hoffman. This success propelled him toward national competition in the ARCA Menards Series.
Matt Kemp Career
Early Career (2014-2022)
Kemp’s professional racing began in regional touring circuits, with select starts in the Midwest Indoor Racing Series and Vores Compact Touring Series in 2014 and 2015. He also made a single start in the Great Lakes Super Mini Cup Series during this period. These early experiences provided essential development in compact car competition.
The Midwest Classic Racers Series became Kemp’s primary focus from 2019 to 2022. After a successful third-place points finish in 2019, he accumulated six wins and a second-place points result across the 2020 and 2021 seasons. His championship-winning 2022 campaign featured seven victories and top-ten finishes in every race.
ARCA Menards Series Debut (2023-2024)
Kemp made his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2023 at Berlin Raceway, driving the No. 12 Ford for Fast Track Racing. Starting twelfth, he finished thirteenth after experiencing rear-end issues. His second start at Iowa Speedway marked his ARCA Menards Series East debut during a combination event, where he started fifteenth but retired early due to mechanical problems, finishing nineteenth.
Kemp added another start at Kansas Speedway in the No. 11 entry, finishing twentieth due to car vibrations. In 2024, he returned to the East Series at Flat Rock Speedway with Fast Track Racing after participating in pre-season testing at Daytona International Speedway. At Flat Rock, he achieved a career-best sixth-place finish after starting sixth. Additional appearances at Berlin Raceway and Toledo Speedway resulted in finishes of seventeenth and 21st, respectively, both hampered by mechanical issues.
Fast Track Racing Era (2023-Present)
Kemp joined Fast Track Racing for his move to the ARCA Menards Series in 2023. The partnership provided opportunities across multiple car numbers including the No. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 01 entries. His association with the team included testing at Daytona International Speedway and competition in both the main ARCA series and the East Series.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kemp demonstrated consistency throughout his Midwest Classic Racers Series career, achieving top-ten finishes in every event during multiple seasons. His success included both short-track victories and championship-caliber point accumulations. This consistency carried over to his ARCA competition, highlighted by a sixth-place finish at Flat Rock Speedway in 2024.
Notable Races and Milestones
Kemp’s first major milestone came at South Bend Motor Speedway in 2019 with his Midwest Classic Racers Series victory. The 2022 championship victory by more than fifty points represented his career highlight in regional competition. In the ARCA Menards Series, his sixth-place finish at Flat Rock Speedway in 2024 stands as his best result in national competition.
Matt Kemp Career Wins
Matt Kemp has earned 14 verified race victories across his professional career, all achieved in the Midwest Classic Racers Series between 2019 and 2022.
Midwest Classic Racers Series Highlights
Kemp secured his first series victory at South Bend Motor Speedway in 2019. He won six races between 2020 and 2021 while finishing second in the championship standings. The 2022 season featured seven race victories and the series championship.
ARCA Menards Series Performance
Kemp has not yet secured a victory in the ARCA Menards Series. His best finish is sixth place at Flat Rock Speedway in 2024. Mechanical issues have affected multiple race outcomes.
Matt Kemp Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Information about Matt Kemp’s family background and racing lineage is not publicly available in verified sources.
Personal Life
Details about Matt Kemp’s personal life, including marital status and family members, are not documented in available public sources.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, Matt Kemp made his superspeedway debut at Talladega Superspeedway, driving the No. 12 Ford for Fast Track Racing. He finished 35th in the event after experiencing suspension issues during the race. This appearance marked his continued partnership with Fast Track Racing and expansion of his racing experience to superspeedway competition.