Will Kimmel Bio
Will Kimmel III (born May 11, 1988) is an American stock car racing driver from Sellersburg, Indiana. He competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 68/69 Ford for the family-owned Kimmel Racing operation. Kimmel has also made part-time starts across NASCAR’s three national touring series, building a versatile résumé that spans stock car racing’s regional and national ranks.
Early Life and Background
Will Kimmel III was born on May 11, 1988, in Sellersburg, Indiana, and grew up in a household deeply rooted in American motorsports. His father, Bill Kimmel Jr., is a well-known figure in short-track racing, which provided young Will with early access to race shops, late models, and a working understanding of car preparation from a young age.
That family connection shaped his formative years, giving him a clear entry point into competitive racing. By the time he was ten, Kimmel had already begun turning laps in local equipment, learning the basics of race craft on short ovals across Indiana and the surrounding Midwest region. The Kimmel family name quickly became associated with a steady pipeline of talent moving from local tracks toward higher-profile series.
Path to NASCAR
Kimmel launched his formal racing career in 1998, working his way up through the Late Model ranks in the Midwest. In 2006, he began competing at Salem Speedway, where he earned the track’s Rookie of the Year award for Super Late Model drivers. The following season, he captured the Salem Speedway Super Late Model championship, becoming the youngest driver ever to claim that title at the historic Indiana oval.
Those early Super Late Model results opened the door to the ARCA Racing Series, where Kimmel made his debut in 2008. Over the next several seasons, he balanced ARCA starts with select NASCAR opportunities, including a Camping World Truck Series debut at Kentucky Speedway in 2010 and a Nationwide Series start at the same track the following year with Go Green Racing. His progression from Salem Speedway champion to multi-series national driver marked a steady, family-supported climb through the American stock car ladder.
Will Kimmel Career
Early Career (1998–2007)
Will Kimmel III began racing in 1998 and spent his earliest years developing his skills on short tracks across the Midwest. His breakthrough came at Salem Speedway, one of the most respected short ovals in the country, where he was named Rookie of the Year in the Super Late Model division in 2006. The strong start set the stage for a championship run the following season, when he captured Salem’s Super Late Model title and became the youngest driver in track history to do so.
These early accomplishments established Kimmel as a driver to watch on the Indiana racing scene and gave him the experience needed to test himself against stronger regional and national competition. By the close of 2007, he had built a solid foundation in Super Late Models, positioning himself to make the jump into the ARCA Racing Series in 2008.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2008–2013)
Kimmel made his ARCA Racing Series debut in 2008 and became a regular competitor in the years that followed. Between 2008 and 2013, he logged 62 ARCA starts, gaining valuable experience on a wide range of tracks. His best ARCA result during that stretch came at Salem Speedway in 2011, where he finished second. The consistent ARCA schedule helped Kimmel refine his race craft and build the kind of stamina required for longer touring series.
Beyond ARCA, Kimmel added a notable short-track victory to his résumé by winning the Polar Bear 150 street-stock race at Rockingham Speedway in 2010, a result that came against a field that included NASCAR star Kurt Busch. That win underscored his versatility and his ability to perform against high-profile competition in any car he drove.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Debut (2010)
Kimmel made his NASCAR national-series debut in 2010, driving the No. 44 Ford in a Camping World Truck Series event at Kentucky Speedway. He finished 21st in that race, completing a clean debut on one of the Truck Series’ most demanding intermediate tracks. The start was an important step in his career, confirming he could transition from short ovals to the longer, faster layouts that define NASCAR’s national series.
NASCAR Xfinity Series (2011–2014)
The following year, Kimmel made his first NASCAR Nationwide Series start at Kentucky Speedway, driving for Go Green Racing. The race ended early after an accident, leaving him with a 35th-place finish, but it gave him critical seat time at the national level. In January 2014, he announced plans to drive part-time for TriStar Motorsports in the Nationwide Series, competing in five events behind the wheel of the No. 44 Toyota during the 2014 season.
That agreement gave Kimmel his most extensive Nationwide Series opportunity to date and reflected the growing reputation of Kimmel Racing as a credible partner for national-level efforts. The schedule allowed him to continue balancing ARCA starts with NASCAR’s second-tier series.
NASCAR Cup Series (2015)
On May 12, 2015, Kimmel made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut with Go FAS Racing in the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. He finished 38th in that race, completing a five-lap-down run. Later that season, he returned to Cup competition for the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, where he finished 39th. Those two starts cemented his status as a driver who had competed at NASCAR’s top level, completing a full-circle journey from local Indiana short tracks to the premier national series.
Kimmel Racing Era (2014–Present)
Through the later stages of his career, Kimmel has continued to drive part-time for Kimmel Racing, the family-owned team that fields his ARCA Menards Series entries in the No. 68/69 Ford. The setup keeps him connected to the family operation that launched his career while allowing him to remain active on track without the demands of a full national-series schedule.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kimmel is widely recognized for his short-track instincts, an area sharpened by years of Late Model and ARCA competition at tight, abrasive ovals. He is comfortable in traffic, patient on long runs, and accustomed to working through mechanical challenges that often come with part-time entries. His ability to adapt to multiple car types, including Ford and Toyota equipment, has also been a defining part of his professional value.
Notable Races and Milestones
Highlights of Kimmel’s career include his 2010 Polar Bear 150 street-stock win at Rockingham Speedway over Kurt Busch, his youngest-ever Salem Speedway Super Late Model championship in 2007, his 2010 NASCAR Truck Series debut at Kentucky, his 2015 Sprint Cup Series debut in the Quaker State 400, and a runner-up ARCA finish at Salem in 2011.
Will Kimmel Career Wins
Will Kimmel III has built a varied win list that stretches from regional Late Model championships to high-profile short-track special events. While his national-series victories remain limited, his regional and ARCA-level success has defined his standing within the Kimmel Racing family operation.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Across 62 ARCA Racing Series starts between 2008 and 2013, Kimmel recorded a best finish of second at Salem Speedway in 2011. He has remained a regular presence in the ARCA Menards Series in subsequent seasons as a part-time competitor for Kimmel Racing, with verified Cup-level series wins not established from available sources.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside ARCA, Kimmel captured the Salem Speedway Super Late Model Rookie of the Year award in 2006 and the track’s Super Late Model championship in 2007. He also won the 2010 Polar Bear 150 street-stock race at Rockingham Speedway, a result that stands among the most notable of his career.
Will Kimmel Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Will Kimmel III comes from one of the most recognized racing families in Indiana. His father, Bill Kimmel Jr., has long been a fixture in Midwest short-track racing and played a direct role in launching Will’s career. His uncle, Frank Kimmel, is one of the most successful ARCA drivers in series history, giving the Kimmel name a strong presence across American stock car racing.
Personal Life
Kimmel continues to be closely tied to his family operation, Kimmel Racing, where he serves as a driver in the ARCA Menards Series while contributing to the team’s broader efforts. Further personal details are not publicly verified from available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Will Kimmel III is expected to continue part-time in the ARCA Menards Series in 2025, driving the No. 68/69 Ford for Kimmel Racing. As an established family operation, Kimmel Racing typically fields entries at a selection of ARCA events each season, allowing Kimmel to balance racing with team management responsibilities.
His 2025 schedule is expected to focus on ovals that have historically suited his short-track background, with the No. 68 and No. 69 entries providing flexibility across the ARCA calendar. The team’s longstanding ties to ARCA and the broader Kimmel family racing legacy give Kimmel a stable platform from which to chase another strong run in the series.
Looking ahead, Kimmel’s outlook for 2025 centers on consistency, finishing races, and maximizing results on tracks where his Late Model and ARCA experience translate most directly. Whether those efforts include additional NASCAR starts remains unconfirmed, but his ongoing role with Kimmel Racing keeps him firmly in the conversation among active American stock car racers.
