Matt Kemp Bio
Matt Kemp (born January 25, 1999) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Sawyer, Michigan. He last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 9, No. 10, and No. 12 Ford and Toyota entries for Fast Track Racing. Over the course of his career, Kemp has built a reputation through short-track racing in the Midwest before advancing to NASCAR’s ARCA development ladder.
Early Life and Background
Matt Kemp was born on January 25, 1999, in Sawyer, Michigan, a small community in the southwestern part of the state. Growing up in the Midwest placed him in the heart of a region with deep short-track racing roots, and he developed an early interest in stock car competition. The local racing culture of Michigan offered plenty of opportunities for young drivers to test their skills on tight ovals and regional circuits.
From a young age, Kemp gravitated toward racing programs that allowed him to gain seat time and learn the craft of driving a stock car. His early years behind the wheel helped him build a foundation in car control, race craft, and the patience required to navigate long green-flag runs. Those formative experiences would later shape his approach as he moved up the ladder toward NASCAR’s developmental series.
Path to NASCAR
Kemp’s path to NASCAR’s national development ladder began in the Midwest indoor and regional racing scene. From 2014 to 2015, he made select starts in the Midwest Indoor Racing Series Arena-Mini Cup Division, the Vores Compact Touring Series in the North Division, and the Great Lakes Super Mini Cup Series. These short-track and indoor programs gave him valuable experience against seasoned local competition.
In 2019, Kemp stepped up to run a full season in the Midwest Classic Racers Series, piloting the No. 1a entry. He won one race at South Bend Motor Speedway and posted top-ten finishes in every event, finishing third in the championship standings. Between 2020 and 2021, he finished second in the points and won six races, and in 2022, he captured seven victories and clinched the Midwest Classic Racers Series championship over Troy Hoffman by more than fifty points. That title run helped open the door to NASCAR’s ARCA Menards Series.
Matt Kemp Career
Early Career (2014-2015)
Kemp’s earliest documented racing came in the Midwest Indoor Racing Series Arena-Mini Cup Division, where he made select starts in 2014 and 2015. The Arena-Mini Cup format gave him a chance to develop his feel for stock cars in a controlled environment, racing against other aspiring drivers in the Midwest region.
During the same period, he also competed in the Vores Compact Touring Series North Division and made a lone start in the Great Lakes Super Mini Cup Series. These regional programs allowed Kemp to refine his driving fundamentals and prepare for the jump to weekly short-track racing at a higher level.
Midwest Classic Racers Series Breakthrough (2019-2022)
Kemp’s breakout stretch came in the Midwest Classic Racers Series, where he ran a full schedule beginning in 2019. Driving the No. 1a entry, he won at South Bend Motor Speedway, recorded top-ten finishes in every race, and ended the season third in points. The consistency he displayed that year established him as a championship contender heading into the next season.
Over the following campaigns, Kemp elevated his performance. In 2020 and 2021 combined, he finished second in the championship standings and added six victories to his résumé. The 2022 season marked his crowning achievement, as he won seven races, posted top-ten finishes in every event, and captured the series championship over Troy Hoffman by more than fifty points. That title cemented his status as one of the top short-track drivers in the Midwest.
ARCA Menards Series Debut (2023-Present)
In 2023, Kemp made his ARCA Menards Series debut at Berlin Raceway, driving the No. 12 Ford for Fast Track Racing. He started twelfth but finished thirteenth after encountering a rear-end issue on the car. He later added a start at Iowa Speedway, where he also made his ARCA Menards Series East debut in a combination event, starting fifteenth and finishing nineteenth after 29 laps due to mechanical trouble. A third appearance came at Kansas Speedway in the No. 11, where he finished twentieth because of vibrations in the car.
In 2024, it was announced that Kemp would return to the East Series at Flat Rock Speedway, again with Fast Track Racing. He had earlier tested with the team at the ARCA pre-season test at Daytona International Speedway, placing 47th overall across the two testing days. At Flat Rock, he started and finished in the same position, sixth. He also returned to the main ARCA series at Berlin Raceway, finishing seventeenth due to mechanical issues, and closed the season with a Toledo Speedway start in the No. 01 Ford, where he finished 21st after only seven laps because of additional mechanical trouble.
Fast Track Racing Era (2023-Present)
Kemp’s tenure with Fast Track Racing has been built around patience and development. The team has fielded multiple cars for him, including the No. 9, No. 10, No. 11, No. 12, and No. 01 entries, reflecting the part-time nature of his schedule. Driving both Ford and Toyota chassis, Kemp has continued to log laps and gain experience on a variety of track types across the ARCA platform.
In 2025, Kemp made his superspeedway debut at Talladega Superspeedway, driving the No. 12 Ford for Fast Track Racing. The race ended early with a 35th-place finish after suspension issues, but the appearance represented another important milestone as he tackled his first high-speed drafting event. He continues to develop with the team as he builds his résumé in the ARCA ranks.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kemp’s racing background on tight Midwest ovals has given him strong short-track instincts and the ability to maintain consistent lap times over long runs. His Midwest Classic Racers title run, in which he finished in the top ten in every race of the 2022 season, highlights his race-craft and patience. Working with Fast Track Racing, he has been able to apply those skills to a wider range of tracks, including intermediate and superspeedway venues.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among his career highlights, Kemp points to his 2022 Midwest Classic Racers Series championship as his defining achievement. His ARCA Menards Series debut at Berlin Raceway in 2023 marked his first national-level start, while his 2025 Talladega Superspeedway appearance represented his first superspeedway race. A sixth-place run at Flat Rock Speedway in 2024 stands as one of his strongest ARCA results to date.
Matt Kemp Career Wins
Matt Kemp’s documented victories are concentrated in the Midwest Classic Racers Series, where he built the foundation of his résumé. His win totals in that series are supported by available records, while ARCA Menards Series wins have not been recorded.
Midwest Classic Racers Series Highlights
Kemp opened his Midwest Classic Racers Series win column with a victory at South Bend Motor Speedway in 2019, a season in which he also finished third in the championship standings. He added six wins across the 2020 and 2021 seasons, finishing second in the points during that span, before delivering his most dominant campaign in 2022.
In 2022, Kemp won seven races and finished in the top ten in every event on the schedule. That consistency carried him to the series championship, which he won over Troy Hoffman by more than fifty points. The title remains the headline achievement of his career.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of the Midwest Classic Racers Series, Kemp has yet to record a documented victory at the ARCA Menards Series level. His early-career appearances in the Midwest Indoor Racing Series Arena-Mini Cup Division, the Vores Compact Touring Series North Division, and the Great Lakes Super Mini Cup Series helped him develop as a driver but did not produce championship-level results.
Matt Kemp Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Matt Kemp’s family background and any racing lineage is limited. He grew up in Sawyer, Michigan, a region known for producing short-track talent, but specific details about parents or relatives involved in racing have not been confirmed.
Personal Life
Details about Matt Kemp’s personal life, including marital status, spouse, and children, are not publicly confirmed in available sources. He maintains a presence on social media under the handles associated with Matt Kemp Racing.
2025 Season Performance
Matt Kemp’s 2025 season has been centered on continuing his development with Fast Track Racing in the ARCA Menards Series. His first documented appearance of the year came at Talladega Superspeedway, where he made his superspeedway debut in the No. 12 Ford. The race ended with a 35th-place result after suspension issues, but the start itself represented an important step in expanding his experience to drafting tracks.
As a part-time driver, Kemp’s 2025 schedule with Fast Track Racing has allowed him to remain active on the ARCA platform while balancing other commitments. Working with a team that has fielded him in a range of car numbers and manufacturer combinations, he has continued to log laps and build chemistry with his crew.
Looking ahead, Kemp’s priority is gaining more seat time and improving his finishing positions in ARCA competition. With his Midwest Classic Racers championship credentials and a growing list of ARCA starts at tracks like Berlin, Iowa, Kansas, Flat Rock, Toledo, and Talladega, he remains a developing talent working toward a full-time opportunity at the national level.