Will Rodgers Bio
William P. Rodgers (born October 8, 1994) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Maui, Hawaii. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 70 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Cope Family Racing, and also made part-time appearances in the ARCA Menards Series West and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Rodgers has also raced in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, and the Pirelli World Challenge over the course of his career.
Rodgers was born in Maui, Hawaii and currently resides in Huntersville, North Carolina. At the age of three, he was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a liver disease that resulted in numerous biopsies and colonoscopies throughout his youth. He later established the Will Rodgers Liver Health Foundation to support others affected by the condition. Rodgers is active on social media, connecting with fans through his Twitter and Instagram accounts under the handle @willrodgers65.
Early Life and Background
William P. Rodgers was born on October 8, 1994, in Maui, Hawaii, a tropical setting far removed from the oval tracks that would later define his professional life. Growing up in Hawaii, Rodgers was exposed to motorsports from an early age and developed a passion for racing that set him on a path toward a professional career. His upbringing in Maui shaped his identity and provided a unique backdrop to his entry into competitive motorsports.
Rodgers faced a significant health challenge early in life when he was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis at just three years old. The chronic liver disease required frequent medical procedures, including biopsies and colonoscopies, throughout his childhood and adolescence. Rather than letting the diagnosis hold him back, Rodgers has used his experience as motivation and inspiration, later founding the Will Rodgers Liver Health Foundation to raise awareness and provide support for others living with the disease. His resilience in managing his health while pursuing a demanding racing career has become a defining aspect of his personal story.
Path to NASCAR
Before reaching NASCAR’s developmental ranks, Rodgers built his foundational experience in the Pirelli World Challenge, a sports car racing series that honed his skills behind the wheel. The discipline and racecraft developed during this period provided a strong technical base and helped prepare him for the transition to American stock car racing. His performance in the Pirelli World Challenge caught the attention of team owners and opened the door to NASCAR-sanctioned competition.
In 2016, Rodgers made the leap to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, driving for team owner Dave Hanson. He made his series debut at Sonoma Raceway, finishing 17th in his first start and closing the season with four top-ten finishes. Though the results were modest in year one, the Sonoma debut was significant given that the road course layout would later become Rodgers’ signature venue. That first season laid the groundwork for the breakthrough that would follow just one year later.
Will Rodgers Career
Early Career (2016-2018)
Rodgers’ early NASCAR career was defined by steady development across multiple series and a growing reputation as a road course specialist. After his 2016 K&N Pro Series West debut season with Dave Hanson, Rodgers joined Jefferson Pitts Racing for the 2017 season, running full-time in the K&N Pro Series West. He opened 2017 with four consecutive top-five finishes and delivered a career-defining performance at Sonoma Raceway, where he qualified on pole and led early before finishing second to 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick. The race became a career turning point, drawing widespread attention to Rodgers’ talent and earning him praise from one of NASCAR’s biggest stars.
Harvi ck was effusive in his praise after the Sonoma race, stating, “That was really what this was all about, to shine a little light on a kid like Will and race against him and give him the recognition he deserves.” Rodgers acknowledged the impact, saying Harvick’s support “did wonders for my career” and called the radio shout-out and endorsement from Harvick “huge.” Rodgers added a second-place finish at Everland Speedway later that same season and earned his first career K&N Series victory at Watkins Glen International in the K&N Pro Series East, holding off Ruben Garcia Jr. after Garcia hit the wall attempting an overtaking move. He followed that win with a second road course triumph at New Jersey Motorsports Park. In 2018, Rodgers swept the K&N East road course races at New Jersey and Sonoma, with Harvick publicly noting that “in the right equipment on a road course, he’d be a top-10 competitor” at the Xfinity or Cup level.
ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series (2018-2021)
Rodgers made his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2018 with Ken Schrader Racing, making his first start on a superspeedway longer than one mile at Daytona International Speedway. After finishing 30th following an accident in the season opener, he rebounded with an eighth-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway and set a new career-best finish with sixth place at Michigan International Speedway. That same year he also made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with Brandonbilt Motorsports at Iowa Speedway in July 2019, marking his first start at NASCAR’s national series level.
Rodgers returned to the Xfinity Series in June 2021 with Sam Hunt Racing, running a three-race schedule that included stops at Nashville Superspeedway, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. His road course expertise made him a natural fit for the road course and Roval events on that schedule. Over the same general timeframe, Rodgers also competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series West for Naake-Klauer Motorsports in the No. 88 Ford, and in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Young’s Motorsports in the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado RST.
Will Rodgers Career Wins
Will Rodgers has captured multiple wins across the K&N Pro Series and ARCA developmental ranks, with a strong concentration on road course circuits where his driving ability has consistently placed him among the most competitive part-time entries. His victory tally includes wins at some of the most respected road courses in American motorsports, including Watkins Glen International and Sonoma Raceway.
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Highlights
Rodgers earned his first career K&N Series win at Watkins Glen International, one of the most prestigious road courses on the NASCAR calendar. He held off Ruben Garcia Jr. in a tense finish after Garcia made a late lunge that resulted in contact with the wall. Kevin Harvick, who did not compete in the race, visited Rodgers in Victory Lane to personally congratulate him on the win, a testament to the respect Rodgers had earned in a short time. Rodgers later scored a second K&N Pro Series East victory at New Jersey Motorsports Park, completing a dominant season on road courses at that level. His third career K&N Series road course win came at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2018, where he started second, led 49 of 55 laps, and established himself as one of the most formidable road course ringers in the developmental ranks.
Other Wins and Performances
Rodgers’ win at Sonoma Raceway in the 2018 K&N Pro Series West was particularly notable given the field of five active NASCAR Cup Series drivers — Aric Almirola, William Byron, Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones, and Alex Bowman — who also competed in the event. Rodgers beat all of them, qualifying on pole and capturing the win for his fourth consecutive road course victory at the K&N Series level. His ARCA Menards Series best finish of sixth at Michigan International Speedway in 2018 reflected his ability to translate his road course talent to strong performance on high-speed ovals as well. Rodgers’ top-ten finishes and consistent results across the K&N Pro Series West, K&N Pro Series East, and ARCA Menards Series demonstrate a versatile racing resume that spans multiple series and track types.
Will Rodgers Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Will Rodgers was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii. Information about his immediate family background and racing lineage is limited in publicly available sources, but his personal health journey and the foundation he established reflect the values instilled in him from an early age.
Personal Life
Rodgers was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis at age three, a liver disease that required ongoing medical attention throughout his youth. He turned his personal experience into a platform for advocacy, founding the Will Rodgers Liver Health Foundation to support and raise awareness for others affected by the condition. He currently resides in Huntersville, North Carolina, a community closely tied to the NASCAR industry. Rodgers maintains an active presence on social media through his Twitter and Instagram accounts, where he connects with fans and shares updates from his racing career.
2025 Season Performance
Will Rodgers entered the 2025 season driving part-time across multiple NASCAR series, continuing his established pattern of competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the ARCA Menards Series West, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In the Xfinity Series, Rodgers drove the No. 70 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Cope Family Racing, running a part-time schedule in NASCAR’s second-tier national series. His road course expertise remained a key asset, making him a valued competitor in events where technical skill on technical circuits is at a premium.
Rodgers also competed in the ARCA Menards Series West for Naake-Klauer Motorsports, driving the No. 88 Ford in the series that traces its origins to the K&N Pro Series West where he first made his name. He added a part-time schedule in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Young’s Motorsports in the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado RST. His multi-series approach in 2025 reflects a veteran driver leveraging his versatility and road course reputation across several competitive platforms simultaneously. Rodgers’ continued presence across these series underscores both his durability and his standing as a reliable competitor at NASCAR’s developmental level.