Miguel Gomes Bio
Miguel Gomes (born February 29, 1980) is a Portuguese professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 69 Ford for Kimmel Racing. Born in Lisbon, Portugal, Gomes built his career across European and American stock car circuits, competing in both the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and the ARCA Menards Series.
Over the course of his career, Gomes has driven for several teams in multiple countries, working his way from regional competition to national NASCAR-affiliated series. He is recognized for his international racing path, transitioning between European and American stock car programs.
Early Life and Background
Miguel Gomes was born on February 29, 1980, in Lisbon, Portugal. Growing up in the Portuguese capital, he developed an early interest in motorsports, which is a popular pursuit among European racing enthusiasts. Lisbon’s motorsports culture provided an early foundation for his interest in competitive driving.
Details about his family background, parents, and early education are not widely documented in available sources. However, his eventual decision to pursue stock car racing, a discipline more commonly associated with American circuits, set him apart from many of his European contemporaries, who typically gravitated toward open-wheel or touring car racing.
Gomes eventually pursued a professional driving path that blended European and American racing traditions. His willingness to cross continents in pursuit of racing opportunities became a defining characteristic of his career trajectory.
Path to NASCAR
Gomes entered the NASCAR pipeline through the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, a Europe-based stock car championship sanctioned by NASCAR. In 2021, it was announced that he would drive the No. 46 Chevrolet for Marko Stipp Motorsport for the full season in the EuroNASCAR 2 division. During that campaign, he was also entered in both the Rookie Trophy and Legend Trophy standings, highlighting his status as a newcomer to the series.
He finished fifteenth in the final EuroNASCAR 2 standings that year, with his best result being a ninth-place finish at the second race at Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic. He also placed third in the Rookie Trophy. On January 6, 2022, Gomes was retained by Stipp Motorsport for the 2022 season following a contract extension. That year, he finished sixteenth in the standings with three top-ten finishes, including a best result of ninth at the season-opening race at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Spain.
In 2023, Gomes moved up to the EuroNASCAR Pro division with the same team, marking his transition to the top tier of the European NASCAR ladder. Later that same year, he participated in pre-season testing for the ARCA Menards Series at Daytona International Speedway with Fast Track Racing in the No. 01 Ford, signaling his intent to move into American stock car racing.
Miguel Gomes Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Miguel Gomes began his documented professional stock car racing career in 2021 with Marko Stipp Motorsport in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. Driving the No. 46 Chevrolet in the EuroNASCAR 2 division, he balanced a full-season schedule with eligibility for both the Rookie Trophy and Legend Trophy. His best result that season was a ninth-place finish at Autodrom Most, and he secured third place in the Rookie Trophy standings.
The following year, Stipp Motorsport extended his contract, keeping him in the No. 46 Chevrolet for the 2022 EuroNASCAR 2 campaign. Gomes delivered three top-ten finishes during the season, with a season-high ninth-place result at the opening race at Circuit Ricardo Tormo. He finished sixteenth in the final championship standings.
EuroNASCAR Pro and ARCA Transition (2023)
In 2023, Gomes was promoted to the EuroNASCAR Pro division, the premier class of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, remaining with Stipp Motorsport. The move represented a significant step up in competition and marked his arrival at the top level of European stock car racing.
That same year, Gomes took part in pre-season testing for the ARCA Menards Series at Daytona International Speedway. Driving the No. 01 Ford for Fast Track Racing, he did not turn a lap in the Friday session and placed thirtieth in the Saturday session. Roughly one month after the test, it was announced that he would compete in the ARCA season-opening race at Daytona, this time driving the No. 02 Chevrolet for Young’s Motorsports. After starting thirty-eighth, he finished thirty-first after suffering a cut tire late in the race.
Kimmel Racing Era (2025)
In 2025, it was revealed that Gomes would return to the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 69 Ford for Kimmel Racing. His announced return was tied to a race at Kansas Speedway, signaling a renewed commitment to American stock car racing after his initial ARCA appearance in 2023.
Miguel Gomes Career Wins
Across his documented career in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and the ARCA Menards Series, Miguel Gomes has not recorded a victory. His results include top-ten finishes in EuroNASCAR 2 competition and mid-pack finishes in limited ARCA Menards Series starts.
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Highlights
Gomes’ strongest documented results came during his EuroNASCAR 2 seasons with Marko Stipp Motorsport in 2021 and 2022. He earned multiple top-ten finishes, including ninth-place results at Autodrom Most and Circuit Ricardo Tormo. In 2023, he advanced to the EuroNASCAR Pro division, taking on the top tier of European stock car competition.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
In the ARCA Menards Series, Gomes has made limited appearances. His debut at Daytona International Speedway with Young’s Motorsports in 2023 resulted in a thirty-first-place finish after a late-race cut tire. His planned 2025 return with Kimmel Racing in the No. 69 Ford at Kansas Speedway represents his next documented ARCA effort.
Miguel Gomes Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information regarding Miguel Gomes’ family background and racing lineage is limited. There is no widely documented record of parents, siblings, or a multi-generational racing family associated with his career.
Personal Life
Miguel Gomes was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and has spent portions of his career based in Europe and the United States in order to pursue racing opportunities across both continents. Further details about his marital status, spouse, or children are not publicly documented.
2025 Season Performance
Miguel Gomes’ 2025 season centers on a part-time return to the ARCA Menards Series with Kimmel Racing. He is scheduled to drive the No. 69 Ford, with an announced start at Kansas Speedway. The partnership marks a new chapter following his earlier ARCA appearance with Young’s Motorsports at Daytona in 2023.
His 2025 campaign reflects a continued commitment to American stock car racing while building on his European NASCAR experience. With limited starts planned, Gomes’ focus is on completing race distance, gaining track time, and developing his program with Kimmel Racing in the ARCA Menards Series environment.
Looking ahead, the 2025 season offers Gomes an opportunity to expand his presence in the ARCA Menards Series and refine his approach to oval racing in the United States. Further schedule additions beyond Kansas Speedway have not been publicly confirmed at this stage.