Jackson McLerran Bio
Jackson Reed McLerran (born May 3, 1999) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 96 Toyota for MAN Motorsports. McLerran is a developing driver from the Southeast who has worked his way from regional touring series into the national ARCA ladder.
Early Life and Background
Jackson Reed McLerran was born on May 3, 1999, in Portland, Tennessee. Portland is a small community north of Nashville that has produced a steady stream of short-track talent, and McLerran grew up surrounded by that racing culture. He later attended Westmoreland High School, where he balanced his education with an early commitment to grassroots racing.
McLerran’s introduction to motorsports came through local short tracks in Tennessee, where weekend programs such as late models and street stocks are a common proving ground for young drivers. Those tracks taught him the basics of race craft, including tire management and close-quarters racing, and gave him the seat time needed to move up the ladder.
Path to NASCAR
Before reaching the ARCA level, McLerran competed in regional series sanctioned by the Champion Racing Association (CRA). He ran the CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour and the CRA Street Stocks Series, two pavement touring divisions that operate primarily across the Midwest and Southeast. Those series are recognized development paths for drivers aiming to reach the ARCA Menards Series and, eventually, the NASCAR national ranks.
His progression through CRA caught the attention of MAN Motorsports, a Toyota-supported team that fields entries in the ARCA Menards Series. The relationship created a clear opportunity for McLerran to step onto a national stage in 2024, where he would make his ARCA debut and begin logging laps at higher-profile tracks.
Jackson McLerran Career
Early Career (CRA Series)
McLerran’s earliest documented stock car work came in the CRA Street Stocks Series, a low-budget entry-level division that races on short ovals. The series gave him experience in tight fields where passing and patience both matter, and it served as a training ground for his later move to faster touring equipment.
He then advanced to the CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour, a step up in competition that features longer races and tougher fields. Running the All-Stars Tour helped him prepare for the longer runs, higher speeds, and larger pit crews that come with national-level ARCA competition.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2024)
McLerran made his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2024 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, driving the No. 96 Toyota for MAN Motorsports. The event was also a combination race with the ARCA Menards Series East, meaning the same start also counted as his debut in the East Series.
He lined up in thirtieth on the grid and was unable to complete the event without incident, finishing twenty-sixth after a crash took him out of contention. Despite the early ending, the start represented a major milestone: his first laps in a national ARCA car and his first race on a track tied to the NASCAR ladder.
MAN Motorsports Era (2024–Present)
MAN Motorsports has been McLerran’s home team since his ARCA arrival, providing him with Toyota-backed equipment and crew support. The team fields Toyota entries across the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East, two key steps on the path toward NASCAR’s national touring divisions.
For 2025, it was announced that McLerran would return to the team for a partial schedule in the ARCA Menards Series East. This time he moved into the No. 95 entry, signaling continued faith from MAN Motorsports in his development as a young driver.
Notable Races and Milestones
McLerran’s most notable race to date is his 2024 debut at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The start marked his first appearance on a national ARCA card and his introduction to combination-race weekends shared between the main ARCA Menards Series and the East Series.
Jackson McLerran Career Wins
At the national ARCA level, McLerran is still in the early stages of his career and has not yet recorded a feature win in the ARCA Menards Series or the ARCA Menards Series East. His documented results focus on building experience rather than chasing victories.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
McLerran’s ARCA Menards Series resume currently consists of his 2024 start at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The outing gave him his first laps in the series and his first national-level result, a twenty-sixth-place finish after an on-track incident.
Other Wins & Performances
Before his ARCA move, McLerran competed in the CRA Street Stocks Series and the CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour. Specific win totals from those regional seasons are not fully documented in the sources available, and any verified championship or feature victory at that level is not confirmed in the current record.
Jackson McLerran Family
Personal Life
McLerran is a native of Portland, Tennessee, and he attended Westmoreland High School. He maintains a public presence through his Facebook and Instagram accounts, where fans can follow his racing updates. Other personal details, including marital status and family members, are not publicly confirmed in the available record.
2025 Season Performance
McLerran is set for a partial 2025 schedule in the ARCA Menards Series East with MAN Motorsports, driving the No. 95 Toyota. The East Series runs a mix of short ovals and one-mile tracks, giving him another full season of seat time on circuits that feed into the main ARCA Menards Series.
The 2025 plan is built around development rather than a full championship push, with MAN Motorsports giving him consistent laps and data to learn from. Working under the Toyota development umbrella also keeps a clear path open toward higher ARCA races and, eventually, the NASCAR national touring series.