Dale Shearer Bio
Dale J. Shearer, born on August 26, 1959, is an American professional stock car racing driver. A late-blooming racer from the Midwest, he is best known for his part-time efforts in the ARCA Menards Series, where he has competed behind the wheel of the No. 98 Toyota Camry for his own team, Shearer Speed Racing. Over the course of a career that began in the late 2000s, Shearer has built a reputation as a determined owner-driver who competes against much younger rivals while balancing life off the track.
Early Life and Background
Dale J. Shearer was born on August 26, 1959, in Chillicothe, Missouri. Although he grew up far from the major stock car hubs of the East and Southeast, his family ties to motorsport ran deep. Shearer’s father worked as a pit steward at Kline’s Speedway, a local short track, and that connection planted the earliest seeds of his interest in racing.
Despite that early exposure, Shearer did not sit in a race car himself until he was twenty-one years old. Like many regional racers of his generation, he began by converting street cars into race cars and competing on the dirt tracks near his home. Those grassroots years on local short tracks helped him develop the patience and mechanical awareness that have since become trademarks of his approach to racing.
Path to NASCAR
Shearer’s route to NASCAR’s developmental ladder was unconventional. While many drivers spend their teenage years in karts and late models, he spent his twenties and thirties continuing to race at the grassroots level and working in a career outside of motorsport. He eventually settled in Alhambra, Illinois, where he works as a computer programmer for the Madison County, Illinois, government.
His professional stock car racing career did not begin until 2008, when he debuted in the ARCA Re/Max Series, which serves as a key developmental series for stock car racing in the United States. That late-career start set the tone for the years that followed, as he balanced family, a full-time job, and his growing passion for short-track and superspeedway competition.
Dale Shearer Career
Early Career (2008-2012)
Shearer made his ARCA Re/Max Series debut in 2008, driving the No. 73 Ford that he owned himself. The first start came at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, where handling issues left him with a 28th-place finish. He added two more starts that year at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds and Salem Speedway, gaining valuable seat time at a variety of tracks.
In 2009, he made two more ARCA starts, with a best result of 27th at Berlin Raceway. After sitting out the 2010 season, he returned in 2011 for appearances at Springfield and DuQuoin. The 2012 campaign marked his most active stretch to that point, with five starts and a personal-best 17th-place finish at Winchester Speedway. These early years were less about results and more about learning the rhythm of national-level stock car competition.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2014-2019)
The 2014 season saw Shearer run five ARCA races, and the year ended on a dramatic note at Kansas Speedway, where he was collected in a multi-car crash involving Galen Hassler and Tom Berte and classified 26th. From 2015 to 2018, he continued to run a majority of his schedule with his own team, building consistency and experience on a variety of track types.
In 2019, Shearer partnered with Kimmel Racing to run the No. 69 Ford at Madison International Speedway, where clutch issues left him 18th and last. He added two more starts that season at Elko Speedway and Springfield, rounding out a transitional year that set the stage for his next chapter as a team owner.
Shearer Speed Racing Era (2023-Present)
After stepping away from ARCA competition from 2020 to 2022, Shearer announced in 2023 that he would return with his own organization, now rebranded as Shearer Speed Racing, fielding the No. 98 Toyota in select ARCA Menards Series events. He also committed to running the full ARCA Menards Series East schedule that year. Longtime racing sponsor Josh’s Eggs adorned the car for the full East Series run.
The 2023 East Series campaign produced the first top-ten finish of Shearer’s career, a 10th-place run at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, along with results of 14th at Five Flags Speedway and Dover Motor Speedway, 11th at Flat Rock Speedway, 18th at Iowa Speedway after a transmission issue, 19th at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, and a 19th at the Milwaukee Mile before a mechanical retirement at Bristol Motor Speedway. He closed the year sixth in the final East Series standings. In 2024, he announced plans to return for the full East schedule once more, with additional attempts at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
Driving Style and Strengths
Shearer is best known for his patience and his willingness to race clean, which has helped him log long runs at a variety of track types. His background as a self-funded owner-driver forces him to focus on mechanical sympathy and consistent lap times rather than outright aggression. Working with his own team also allows him to communicate directly with his crew and adapt the car to his comfort zone throughout a race weekend.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among the most meaningful moments of Shearer’s career is his first ARCA top-ten finish at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2023, a result that validated years of grassroots effort. Earlier milestones include his ARCA debut at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in 2008 and his personal-best 17th-place finish at Winchester Speedway in 2012. The 2014 Kansas Speedway race, despite its crash-marred ending, stands as another defining chapter in his racing story.
Dale Shearer Career Wins
Dale Shearer’s career has been built on persistence rather than victories, and no race wins have been recorded in the ARCA Menards Series or its East counterpart through his documented seasons. His most celebrated result to date is a 10th-place finish at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2023, which marked his first top-ten in national stock car competition. He has also shown steady improvement on the East Series circuit, culminating in a sixth-place finish in the 2023 final standings.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Across his ARCA career, Shearer’s strongest single result is a 17th-place run at Winchester Speedway in 2012, while his first top-ten at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2023 stands as the most important milestone. He closed the 2023 ARCA Menards Series East season in sixth place in the final standings, a strong result for an owner-driver program.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the ARCA national tour, Shearer’s results include regional starts at Berlin Raceway, Elko Speedway, and Madison International Speedway, tracks that have helped round out his experience on a variety of short-track layouts. While no victories have been recorded at these venues, consistent finishes have built his confidence heading into each new season.
Dale Shearer Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Shearer’s introduction to racing came through his father, who worked as a pit steward at Kline’s Speedway, a local short track in the region where he grew up. That family connection gave him a behind-the-scenes view of the sport long before he ever climbed behind the wheel. The lessons he absorbed in the pits during his youth shaped his approach to teamwork and car preparation.
Personal Life
Shearer currently resides in Alhambra, Illinois, where he works as a computer programmer for the Madison County, Illinois, government. He and his wife, Dianna, have two children and four grandchildren. He balances his racing program with his family life and his career in public-sector technology, a routine that requires careful planning during race weeks.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season, Dale Shearer is expected to continue fielding the No. 98 Toyota Camry for Shearer Speed Racing. Following a 2024 announcement that included plans to attempt both Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, the team has built its schedule around a mix of superspeedway events and traditional short-track stops. The combination of a returning driver and a stable team lineup gives the program a clear foundation.
The 2023 East Series campaign produced a sixth-place finish in the final standings and Shearer’s first career top-ten at Nashville, setting realistic benchmarks for the year ahead. The team is focused on continuing to log clean finishes on the East Series circuit while chasing strong results on the bigger tracks. With Josh’s Eggs continuing as a primary sponsor, the program has the resources needed to attempt a fuller national schedule.
Looking ahead, the outlook for Shearer is steady rather than flashy. His goals for 2025 include improving his average finishing position, avoiding the mechanical issues that hampered his 2023 runs, and building momentum for a potential full-time ARCA Menards Series effort in the seasons that follow. His experience as an owner-driver continues to make him a respected figure in the ARCA garage.