Brian Finney

    0

    Brian Finney Bio

    Brian Finney (born September 27, 1977) is an American professional stock car racing driver and crew chief from Merritt Island, Florida. He last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 69 and No. 80 Chevrolet entries for his own team, Finney Racing Enterprises. In addition to his driving duties, Finney also serves as a crew chief for Scofield Motorsports, balancing two roles within the short-track racing community.

    Early Life and Background

    Brian Finney was born on September 27, 1977, and grew up in Merritt Island, Florida, a coastal community on the Space Coast known for its deep ties to motorsports and engineering. Florida’s strong short-track culture, combined with the proximity to facilities throughout the central part of the state, gave Finney an early environment rich in grassroots racing opportunities. Local late model events and regional touring series provided the foundation for his development as a driver.

    Before reaching the ARCA level, Finney built his résumé in a variety of Florida-based stock car series. He competed in the FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Model Series, the Florida Pro Series, and the Bright House Challenge Series, gaining experience on a wide range of short tracks and ovals. These regional seasons allowed him to refine his race craft, learn car setup, and prepare for the step up to a national touring series.

    Path to NASCAR

    Finney’s transition toward national competition came through ARCA, a respected stepping-stone series for drivers aiming toward the NASCAR ladder. In 2012, he made his ARCA Racing Series debut at Lucas Oil Raceway, driving his self-owned No. 3 Chevrolet. He started 22nd and finished one lap down in 12th, a solid first effort that confirmed his readiness for longer and more competitive events.

    Following his debut season, Finney continued to grow within ARCA, gradually increasing his schedule and improving his results year by year. Working as both a driver and team owner, he managed his own equipment while learning the operational side of the sport. That dual experience as a driver and crew chief would later shape his broader career, including his work with Scofield Motorsports.

    Brian Finney Career

    Early Career (2012-2015)

    Finney’s earliest ARCA Racing Series seasons were spent learning the rhythms of a national tour. In 2012, he ran two events, finishing 12th at Lucas Oil Raceway before a 29th-place result at Salem Speedway limited by handling issues. In 2013, he expanded his schedule to four races in the No. 80, posting a best finish of 10th at Mobile International Speedway and steadily building confidence on intermediate and short tracks alike.

    By 2014, Finney had completed five ARCA starts with a best result of 13th at Salem, and in 2015, he matched that consistency with four more races and two top-ten finishes. His best result of the period came at Toledo Speedway, where he finished seventh, signaling progress. Throughout these years, Finney continued to campaign his own equipment, balancing preparation, driving, and team management.

    ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2016-2018)

    The 2016 season marked a clear step forward for Finney. Running three races in collaboration with Kimmel Racing in the No. 69, he opened the year at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway with a career-best third-place finish despite starting 22nd. He backed that performance with top-20 results at Toledo and Indianapolis, demonstrating improved pace and consistency.

    In 2017, Finney returned to Nashville, this time in the No. 80, finishing 11th. He entered Toledo in a Ford, but a practice-session fire forced him to extinguish the flames on his own car, a situation that drew attention and led to safety-protocol adjustments by the series. Combined with his second entry, the No. 04 of Scott Reeves, the team withdrew from the event and did not attempt another race that year. In 2018, after a year-long hiatus, Finney returned at Salem in the No. 80 Chevrolet and finished 17th despite a vibration that developed a quarter of the way through the event.

    Finney Racing Enterprises Era (2020-Present)

    Finney’s 2020 schedule reflected the next phase of his career, with continued involvement in the main ARCA series and a debut in the ARCA Menards Series East. He made his East debut at New Smyrna Speedway, starting 19th and finishing 14th. He also competed at Indianapolis in the main ARCA series, driving the No. 69 Chevrolet and finishing 11th despite being ten laps down.

    As both a driver and a crew chief, Finney has continued to operate Finney Racing Enterprises while supporting Scofield Motorsports on the setup side. His recent work has combined part-time driving with crew chief responsibilities, giving him a steady presence in the ARCA paddock.

    Driving Style and Strengths

    Finney has built a reputation for persistence and self-reliance, often preparing and managing his own cars while racing them. He has produced his strongest results on short tracks and fairground ovals, with standout performances at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and Toledo Speedway. His ability to recover from poor starting positions, including a charge from 22nd to third at Nashville, points to strong race-pace awareness and tire management.

    Notable Races and Milestones

    Finney’s career-best ARCA finish of third came at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2016, where he drove the No. 69 for Kimmel Racing. His debut in the ARCA Menards Series East at New Smyrna Speedway in 2020 added another major line to his résumé, and his run at Indianapolis in the main ARCA series the same year highlighted his willingness to take on premier venues.

    Brian Finney Career Wins

    Brian Finney has competed across the FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Model Series, the Florida Pro Series, the Bright House Challenge Series, and the ARCA Racing Series, building a long résumé in stock car racing. His career has been defined more by steady finishes, owner-driver campaigns, and crew chief work than by victory lane visits at the national level.

    ARCA Menards Series Highlights

    Finney has notched a career-best ARCA Racing Series finish of third at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2016. He has also recorded two top-ten runs at Toledo Speedway and a top-ten at Mobile International Speedway, showcasing his ability to perform on short tracks. His results have come in a mix of self-owned entries and a collaboration with Kimmel Racing in the No. 69.

    Other Wins and Performances

    Before reaching ARCA, Finney raced across Florida’s regional stock car scene in the FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Model Series, the Florida Pro Series, and the Bright House Challenge Series. Those seasons helped him develop the car control and team-management skills that later supported both his driving and crew chief careers.

    Brian Finney Family

    Family Background and Racing Lineage

    Publicly available information about Brian Finney’s family background is limited. He is closely associated with Finney Racing Enterprises, the team under which he has fielded his own ARCA entries, suggesting a strong family-style ownership presence within his operation.

    Personal Life

    Finney is based in his home state of Florida and remains active in the stock car racing community through both driving and crew chief duties. Further details about his personal life, including marital status and children, are not publicly confirmed in available sources.

    2025 Season Performance

    Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Brian Finney is expected to continue balancing his roles as a part-time driver and crew chief. His most recent national-level starts have come in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East, including the Indianapolis and New Smyrna Speedway events in 2020. With Finney Racing Enterprises fielding the No. 69 and No. 80 Chevrolets, he remains positioned to enter selected ARCA events when scheduling and equipment allow.

    In addition to his own driving program, his crew chief work with Scofield Motorsports is likely to keep him closely tied to the ARCA paddock throughout 2025. That role gives him insight into setup trends and race strategy, which can translate into stronger runs when he does strap into a car. His dual responsibilities make him a steady presence in the short-track and ARCA ecosystems.

    While the 2025 schedule has not been fully announced in available sources, Finney’s track record suggests a continued focus on select ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East events, with a particular emphasis on the short tracks and fairground ovals where he has historically performed best. His experience at Nashville, Toledo, Salem, and Mobile positions him well for any return to those venues during the upcoming season.