Kole Raz Bio
Kole Raz (born March 13, 2003) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 76 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for AM Racing, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving for the same organization. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Raz built his reputation on regional short tracks before stepping onto the national NASCAR ladder.
Early Life and Background
Kole Raz was born on March 13, 2003, in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He grew up in a region with a deep tradition of grassroots motorsports, where short tracks and super late model events are woven into local culture. From a young age, Raz was surrounded by racing through his older brother, Gracin Raz, who competed in the West Series, then known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, between 2014 and 2017. Watching his brother compete helped shape his early understanding of the sport.
Raz’s uncle, Douglas J. Raz, works in the automotive industry as a painter at the West Hills Collision Center in Portland, Oregon. That family connection to car preparation and bodywork gave Raz additional insight into the mechanical side of racing, an understanding that would later help him communicate effectively with crews of his own. Together, these influences laid the foundation for his transition from local tracks to national series.
Path to NASCAR
Before reaching the national NASCAR ladder, Raz sharpened his skills in a collection of regional touring series. He raced in the Northwest Super Late Model Series, the Budweiser Crown Series, the ASA Southern Super Series, and the SRL Spears Southwest Tour Series. Among those, the SRL Spears Southwest Tour proved to be his most productive platform. In 2021, he earned seven top-ten finishes and ended the year fifth in the points standings.
Those regional results gave Raz the visibility needed to move up. In 2023, he made his ARCA Menards Series West debut at Shasta Speedway, driving the No. 5 Toyota for Jerry Pitts Racing. He qualified fifth and finished third behind Trevor Huddleston and Sean Hingorani. He followed that with another third-place run at Evergreen Speedway, again trailing Tyler Reif and Hingorani, confirming his readiness for longer national campaigns.
Kole Raz Career
ARCA Menards Series West Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Raz’s debut season in the ARCA Menards Series West in 2023 established him as a regular front-runner in the series. His pair of third-place finishes with Jerry Pitts Racing demonstrated consistent pace, and the team kept him on the roster heading into the following year. Those podium results were an important signal that his regional form could translate to a national NASCAR-sanctioned stage.
In 2024, Raz returned to action at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, once again driving the No. 5 Toyota for Jerry Pitts Racing. The event, the MMI Oil Workers 150, marked his breakthrough moment. Raz captured his first ARCA West victory, opening his national-series win column and validating the path he had taken through the West Coast short tracks. The win also cemented a working relationship with JPR that would shape the next stage of his career.
AM Racing Era (2025–Present)
On September 1, 2025, it was announced that Raz would make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at World Wide Technology Raceway, fielding a second AM Racing entry, the No. 76. The opportunity paired him with AM Racing’s Xfinity program, and he continued with the team into ARCA Menards Series competition behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang Dark Horse. The move from Toyota to Ford also signaled a new manufacturer alignment as he transitioned to a higher tier of stock car racing.
Raz’s arrival at AM Racing positioned him within a multi-series operation that fields both Xfinity and ARCA programs. Driving the No. 76 entry on ovals such as World Wide Technology Raceway gave him a chance to measure himself against full-time Xfinity drivers while continuing to log laps in ARCA. The arrangement allowed the team to evaluate his adaptability across two national series in the same season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Raz built his reputation on short, demanding oval tracks, where tire conservation and restart discipline are essential. His background in the SRL Spears Southwest Tour, a series known for abrasive surfaces, has given him a strong feel for managing equipment over long runs. Working with a Ford-powered AM Racing program also suggests a crew-chief pairing focused on stable long-run pace, an asset for tracks where clean air is hard to hold.
Notable Races and Milestones
His 2024 victory in the MMI Oil Workers 150 at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway stands as his signature result, his first win in a NASCAR-sanctioned national series. Earlier, his back-to-back third-place ARCA West finishes at Shasta Speedway and Evergreen Speedway in 2023 announced him as a serious contender in the West division. His 2025 Xfinity debut at World Wide Technology Raceway marked his arrival on the national NASCAR ladder.
Kole Raz Career Wins
Raz has recorded at least one confirmed win in a NASCAR-sanctioned national series. His breakthrough came in the ARCA Menards Series West in 2024, while driving for Jerry Pitts Racing. As of the 2025 season, he continues to compete in both the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where a maiden national-series victory remains a key career objective.
ARCA Menards Series West Highlights
Raz’s ARCA West resume includes multiple podium finishes and one victory. He opened his ARCA West career with consecutive third-place results at Shasta Speedway and Evergreen Speedway in 2023, and his first series win came in 2024 at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. Each of those events was contested with Jerry Pitts Racing in the No. 5 Toyota, giving him a stable platform to build his national résumé.
Other Wins & Performances
Outside of ARCA West, Raz’s most consistent success came in the SRL Spears Southwest Tour Series. In 2021, he posted seven top-ten finishes and finished fifth in the season standings, a result that helped secure his transition to ARCA. He has also competed in the Northwest Super Late Model Series, the Budweiser Crown Series, and the ASA Southern Super Series.
Kole Raz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Racing runs in the Raz family. Kole is the younger brother of Gracin Raz, who competed in the West Series, then known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, from 2014 to 2017. Their uncle, Douglas J. Raz, works as a painter at the West Hills Collision Center in Portland, Oregon, a profession that has given the family firsthand experience in race-car preparation.
Personal Life
Raz continues to be based in the Pacific Northwest, near his hometown of Lake Oswego, Oregon. His brother Gracin remains a close influence, and the family’s automotive connections in the Portland area have supported his racing efforts. He keeps an active presence on social media, including a public Facebook profile, where fans can follow updates about his racing schedule.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks Raz’s most ambitious campaign to date. On September 1, 2025, it was revealed that he would make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at World Wide Technology Raceway with a second AM Racing entry, the No. 76 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. The same team has also fielded him in the ARCA Menards Series, giving Raz the rare opportunity to run two national series in a single year.
Raz’s 2025 schedule represents a deliberate step up in competition. Moving from the Toyota-powered Jerry Pitts Racing program to AM Racing’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse Xfinity car required him to adapt to a new manufacturer, a new team structure, and longer track configurations. His continued ARCA starts ensure he keeps refining his racecraft between Xfinity weekends, an arrangement that mirrors how many young drivers balance learning curves on the national ladder.
Looking ahead, the priority for Raz and AM Racing is to convert promising pace into measurable results. A debut Xfinity start at World Wide Technology Raceway offers a chance to log clean laps and learn from veteran teammates, while additional ARCA Menards Series races provide opportunities to chase a second series victory. With backing from a multi-series team and a clear development path, Raz’s 2025 campaign is positioned as the foundation for a longer climb through the NASCAR ranks.