Ryan Ellis Bio
Ryan James Ellis, born on November 29, 1989, is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Young’s Motorsports. Over the course of his career, Ellis has also made appearances in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, building a reputation as a versatile competitor across multiple touring divisions.
A third-generation racecar driver, Ellis has spent more than two decades developing his craft on ovals, road courses, and temporary circuits. From his earliest days behind the wheel of a Quarter Midget to his current ride in one of NASCAR’s national series, he has consistently demonstrated adaptability and a strong will to compete at every level he has entered.
Early Life and Background
Ryan James Ellis was born on November 29, 1989, in Torrance, California, though he was raised in Ashburn, Virginia, by his parents, Jim Ellis and Jane Ellis. He grew up alongside a younger sister, Kara, in a household where racing was a family tradition. Coming from a family of drivers, Ellis was introduced to motorsports at a very young age and quickly took to competitive environments.
Ellis began driving Quarter Midgets at the age of four and, in his very first QMA Dirt National Championship race, came close to winning. He went on to enjoy a stellar seven-year career in Quarter Midgets, becoming Virginia’s all-time QMA leader and one of the most successful open-wheel racers in the state. His early success in Quarter Midgets established a foundation that would carry him into bigger and faster machines as a teenager.
Ellis graduated from Stone Bridge High School in 2008 and later attended George Mason University, where he also played for the college hockey team. He ultimately completed his degree through Appalachian State University. During his college years, he balanced academics with an increasingly demanding racing schedule, all while continuing to pursue his passion for hockey at a competitive level.
Path to NASCAR
At the age of twelve, Ellis transitioned into the Legends Car scene, campaigning for the open-wheel INEX Legends Cars series. He won Young Lion and Semi-Pro titles in 2002, 2003, and 2004, and in 2005 he captured the Virginia State Pro Championship while finishing fourth nationally. These accomplishments positioned him as one of the top young talents in short-track racing.
In 2006, Ellis made a short-lived entry into full-bodied stock cars, pacing the NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Rookie standings at Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Virginia. He also branched into road racing with the National Auto Sport Association, winning the 2006 NASA Hyperfest event at Summit Point and the NASA Mid-Atlantic Legends Road Racing Championship, while narrowly missing the inaugural NASA National Championships at Mid-Ohio.
By 2008, Ellis was deep into Spec Miata competition, finishing as runner-up in the NASA Mid-Atlantic Spec Miata championship and earning NASA Mid-Atlantic Driver of the Year honors. The following year, Volkswagen of America selected him as one of only fifteen drivers for the 2009 Jetta TDI Cup series, where he also dominated the Teen Mazda Challenge and won the West Coast Championship.
Ryan Ellis Career
Early Career (1994–2013)
Ellis’s early career was defined by open-wheel success, highlighted by his dominance in Quarter Midgets and Legends Cars throughout the mid-Atlantic region. In 2010, he opened the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup season with two consecutive wins at Virginia International Raceway and set a new track record there, finishing sixth in the season standings. That success led to a test program with several Grand-Am teams, eventually resulting in a deal with APR Motorsport for 2011.
In 2011, Ellis made an immediate impact in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, breaking the Daytona International Speedway qualifying record by nearly two seconds and winning the season opener with teammate Ian Baas. He added a win at Homestead-Miami Speedway, finished third in the championship standings, and was named ST Rookie of the Year. He continued in sports car competition through 2013 with teams including Insight Racing, i-MOTO Racing, and Team SkullCandy Nissan, earning poles and strong finishes along the way.
NASCAR Breakthrough (2014–2019)
For 2014, Ellis moved to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, running a partial schedule in the No. 28 for FDNY Racing. During that same year, he made his Sprint Cup Series debut in the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at Phoenix, driving the No. 33 for Circle Sport, where he finished 40th in a rain-shortened event. Over the next two seasons, he split time between the Xfinity Series and the Truck Series while continuing to chase competitive opportunities.
In 2016, Ellis began running multiple Cup Series races for BK Racing in the No. 93 with sponsorship from ScienceLogic, starting at Richmond. When sponsorship fell through, he took on a public relations role with Go Fas Racing while still competing part-time in the Xfinity Series for B. J. McLeod Motorsports. This period tested his resilience but also strengthened his network within the garage.
Alpha Prime Racing and DGM Racing Era (2022–2024)
Ellis joined Alpha Prime Racing in 2022 for a partial Xfinity Series schedule, scoring a career-best 13th-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in his first race with the team. In 2023, he returned to Alpha Prime on an expanded part-time schedule, eventually competing in nearly every race of the season and helping the organization build momentum heading into the following year.
By 2024, Ellis had moved up to a full-time ride in the No. 43 for Alpha Prime Racing. On October 18, 2024, it was announced that he would leave the team at season’s end to join DGM Racing for a full-time campaign in 2025. The transition marked a new chapter and reflected his continued growth as a consistent presence in the Xfinity Series garage.
Young’s Motorsports Era (2025–Present)
On December 6, 2024, DGM Racing confirmed that Ellis would drive the No. 71 for the 2025 season, but a later move placed him behind the wheel of the No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Young’s Motorsports in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The change positioned him with a single-car operation focused on weekly development and consistent finishes.
On May 24, 2025, Ellis scored his first career top-ten finish across all three NASCAR national series at Charlotte Motor Speedway, finishing eighth. The result validated his move and gave Young’s Motorsports its strongest result of the season, signaling that his best years in stock car racing may still be ahead of him.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ellis is widely regarded for his road-course background, which gives him an edge on the technical circuits visited by the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. His patience in long runs, ability to manage tire wear, and comfort in traffic make him a steady finisher. Pairing that with his open-wheel roots, he brings a smooth, calculated style that suits the demands of multi-class weekends.
Notable Races and Milestones
His first career top-ten across all three national series at Charlotte in 2025 stands as a defining milestone. Earlier highlights include his 2011 Rolex 24-style Daytona win in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and his Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup sweep at Virginia International Raceway. Each step has reflected steady progression through every level of American motorsports.
Ryan Ellis Career Wins
Ellis has built a varied win ledger that spans Quarter Midgets, Legends Cars, Spec Miatas, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. His victories have come on ovals, road courses, and temporary street circuits, showcasing his adaptability across different racing formats.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Highlights
In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Ellis’s top highlight is his eighth-place run at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, 2025, which marked his first top-ten across all three NASCAR national series. While a win in the series has not yet been recorded, the milestone cemented his arrival as a consistent weekly competitor. He continues to chase his first victory in the series with Young’s Motorsports.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of NASCAR, Ellis captured the 2005 Virginia State Legends Pro Championship, the 2009 Teen Mazda West Coast Championship, and the 2011 NASA SU National Championship. He was also named Grand-Am ST Rookie of the Year in 2011. These titles and honors underline the depth of his resume beyond stock car racing.
Ryan Ellis Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ellis comes from a multi-generational racing family. His parents, Jim Ellis and Jane Ellis, raised him in Ashburn, Virginia, and his younger sister, Kara, also shares the family’s motorsports background. As a third-generation racecar driver, Ellis represents a continuing family tradition that began long before his own career took shape.
Personal Life
Ellis is married to Allison Ellis, and the couple currently resides in Huntersville, North Carolina. Allison is known locally for her philanthropic work and her love for dogs. Outside of racing, Ellis is an avid hockey player who has competed at a professional level and continues to play recreationally in Charlotte with several fellow NASCAR personalities.
2025 Season Performance
Ryan Ellis’s 2025 season has been defined by his transition to Young’s Motorsports and the No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro SS in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The early part of the year focused on building chemistry with a new crew chief and adjusting to the rhythms of a single-car operation based in the heart of NASCAR country.
The breakthrough came on May 24, 2025, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Ellis finished eighth to record his first career top-ten across all three national series. The result energized the Young’s Motorsports camp and gave the team a strong foundation to build on through the summer stretch of the schedule.
Looking ahead, Ellis and Young’s Motorsports are focused on stacking consistent top-fifteenth results while chasing the occasional top-ten. With momentum on his side and a clear comfort level in the new ride, Ellis is positioned to deliver his strongest national-series campaign to date as the 2025 season unfolds.
