Vicente Salas Bio
Vicente Austin Salas (born August 20, 2002) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Temecula, California. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 45 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Alpha Prime Racing. In addition to his real-world racing, Salas is also an active competitor in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, where he won the 2023 Contender Series championship. His career began at local karting tracks in California and has steadily progressed through late models and into NASCAR’s national series.
Early Life and Background
Vicente Austin Salas was born on August 20, 2002, in Temecula, California. Growing up in Southern California placed him near a strong regional karting scene, and he began racing karts at local tracks in 2018. That early exposure to competitive motorsports helped him build a foundation in race craft, car control, and the discipline required to climb through the grassroots levels of the sport.
By the time he was fifteen years old, Salas had moved up to shifter karts and was competing at a national level. His progression through the karting ranks in California gave him a broad base of experience on a variety of track types and surfaces. The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily halted his real-world racing activities, but it also opened a new door in the form of sim racing.
Path to NASCAR
During the pandemic, Salas switched his focus to the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, where he quickly found success. He scored a dominant victory in the 2021 eNASCAR race at Richmond Raceway, leading every single lap of the event. That performance helped establish his reputation as a serious competitor in the virtual racing community.
Salas began competing in real-life late model racing in 2022 through the CARS Tour, which marked his first time behind the wheel of an actual stock car. A strong fourth-place finish in his debut convinced team owner Justin Carroll to give him a full-time ride in the series for the 2023 season. On March 18, 2024, it was announced that he would make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Circuit of the Americas, driving the No. 20 truck for Young’s Motorsports. He later made a second Truck Series start at World Wide Technology Raceway in the No. 91 for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing.
Vicente Salas Career
Early Career (2018-2022)
Salas began his racing career in 2018 at local karting tracks in California, gradually working his way up the ladder. By age fifteen, he had advanced to shifter karts and was competing at a national level, gaining valuable experience against a wide range of competitors. The COVID-19 pandemic paused his karting and on-track development, but he transitioned into the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series during that period.
In 2022, Salas moved into real-life stock car racing for the first time, entering the CARS Tour late model ranks. His strong showing in his first race, finishing fourth, earned him a full-time seat in the series for 2023 under team owner Justin Carroll. This transition from karts and sim racing to physical late models represented a significant step in his career development.
eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Breakthrough (2021-2023)
Salas made his mark in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series with a commanding victory in the 2021 race at Richmond Raceway, where he led every single lap. That performance was a defining early moment in his sim racing career and helped build his profile as a serious talent in the virtual stock car community. He continued to develop in the series, eventually winning the 2023 Contender Series championship.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Debut (2024)
On March 18, 2024, it was announced that Salas would make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Circuit of the Americas, driving the No. 20 truck for Young’s Motorsports. Starting 31st, his race ended early with transmission issues, and he finished 34th. He made a second Truck Series start at World Wide Technology Raceway, driving the No. 91 for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, continuing his progression into NASCAR’s national series.
Alpha Prime Racing Era (2024-Present)
Salas has competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 45 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Alpha Prime Racing. His move into the Xfinity Series with Alpha Prime Racing represents a significant step up to one of NASCAR’s premier national touring divisions. Driving for an established team has given him the opportunity to continue building experience at the national level while balancing his commitments in sim racing and other series.
Driving Style and Strengths
Salas’s background in shifter karts and sim racing has helped him develop strong car control and adaptability across a variety of track types. His dominance in the eNASCAR Richmond race, where he led every lap, suggests a driver capable of controlling a race from the front when his equipment is dialed in. Working with teams like Alpha Prime Racing and McAnally-Hilgemann Racing has given him valuable exposure to professional crew chief partnerships and race strategy at the national level.
Notable Races and Milestones
One of the defining early milestones in Salas’s career was his dominant 2021 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series victory at Richmond Raceway, where he led every single lap. His real-life debut at Circuit of the Americas in 2024 marked his entry into NASCAR’s national series, and his transition to the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Alpha Prime Racing represents a major step in his progression toward top-tier stock car competition.
Vicente Salas Career Wins
Vicente Austin Salas has built a varied racing resume that spans karting, eNASCAR, late models, and NASCAR’s national series. His most notable victory came in the 2021 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series event at Richmond Raceway, where he led every lap en route to the win. He also captured the 2023 Contender Series championship in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series.
eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Highlights
Salas has been a consistent competitor in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, with his signature win coming at Richmond Raceway in 2021. He built on that success by winning the 2023 Contender Series championship, further establishing himself as one of the top talents in the sim racing ranks.
Other Wins and Performances
In the CARS Tour, Salas earned a full-time ride in 2023 after a strong fourth-place finish in his 2022 debut, demonstrating his potential in real-life stock car competition. While specific race wins in the CARS Tour are not detailed in available sources, his progression from karts to late models to NASCAR’s national series reflects steady career growth.
Vicente Salas Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Vicente Austin Salas’s family background is limited. What is known is that he grew up in Temecula, California, and began his racing journey at local karting tracks in 2018, suggesting an early family support for his motorsports interests.
Personal Life
Details about Salas’s personal life, including marital status and family, are not widely documented in public sources. He continues to focus on building his career across both real-world and sim racing platforms.
2025 Season Performance
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Vicente Austin Salas is expected to continue balancing his commitments in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series with part-time opportunities in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driving the No. 45 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Alpha Prime Racing. His prior experience in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2024 has given him additional national series experience that should serve him well as he continues to develop.
As a young driver still in the early stages of his national-level career, Salas’s 2025 focus will likely be on maximizing track time and building consistency in the Xfinity Series. His success in sim racing, including the 2023 Contender Series championship, provides a strong foundation for continued growth in the real-world stock car ranks.