Max Reaves Bio
Max Reaves (born January 6, 2010) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. A young developmental talent, Reaves has quickly moved through the late model ranks and into national touring competition, drawing attention for his early results and his place in the history of the sport.
Early Life and Background
Max Reaves was born on January 6, 2010, in Trinity, North Carolina, in the United States. He grew up in a family with deep ties to both business and racing, which helped shape his early interest in motorsports. His father, Jeremy Reaves, is known as a co-owner of the Cook Out restaurant chain, and his grandfather, Morris Reaves, founded that franchise.
Through his family, Reaves was introduced to racing at a young age and began building his skills in grassroots competition. His younger brother, Roo Reaves, also races, making stock car competition a shared pursuit within the household. The brothers regularly compete against each other on track, and their friendly rivalry has become part of their family story.
Path to NASCAR
Reaves cut his teeth in late model racing across the Southeast, gaining experience in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series, the CARS Pro Late Model Tour, the CARS Late Model Stock Tour, and the INEX Summer Shootout. These series are common proving grounds for young drivers aiming to reach the upper levels of stock car racing. His results in these developmental tours caught the attention of major team owners.
In 2024, Reaves signed with Joe Gibbs Racing as a development driver, joining one of the most respected teams in NASCAR. On January 2, 2025, it was announced that he would run a partial schedule in both the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East, piloting the No. 18 Toyota Camry. With that step, he became the first driver born in the 2010s to compete in an ARCA race.
Max Reaves Career
Early Career (2023-2024)
Reaves built his early resume in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series, a respected regional late model tour in the Carolinas. He competed consistently against older and more experienced drivers, learning the demands of stock car racing at short tracks across the region. His hard work paid off in 2024 when he captured the Carolina Pro Late Model Series championship, establishing himself as one of the top young talents in the area.
Alongside his Carolina Pro Late Model efforts, Reaves gained further experience in the CARS Pro Late Model Tour and the CARS Late Model Stock Tour. He also competed in the INEX Summer Shootout, a legendary Bandolero and Legend Cars event held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. These varied programs helped him adapt to different car types and track layouts, preparing him for the next step in his career.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2025)
Reaves made an immediate impact in his first ARCA Menards Series start, scoring a runner-up finish at Berlin Raceway. The strong debut showed he could compete against veteran drivers on a new level. The following week at Elko Speedway, Reaves went one better, winning the race after a late-race battle with Brenden Queen and Lavar Scott.
He continued his strong form by winning at Madison International Speedway, leading all but one lap after starting from the pole position. These early victories confirmed that Reaves was a serious contender in the ARCA Menards Series and highlighted his ability to perform under pressure.
ARCA Menards Series East Breakthrough (2025)
On March 22, 2025, Reaves became the first driver born in the 2010s to win an ARCA race. The victory came on his East Series debut at Five Flags Speedway, where he started from the pole position and dominated the event. The win marked a historic moment for both Reaves and the series.
After missing the East Series race at Rockingham, Reaves returned to form by winning the next two events at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and Flat Rock Speedway. With those victories, he became the first driver to win in his first three ARCA Menards Series East starts since Will Rodgers. His run of consecutive wins established him as the hottest young driver in the ARCA ladder.
Joe Gibbs Racing Era (2024-Present)
Reaves joined Joe Gibbs Racing as a development driver in 2024, giving him access to the resources and engineering expertise of one of the premier teams in American motorsports. The partnership led to a partial schedule in 2025 across both ARCA national and regional competition, with Reaves behind the wheel of the No. 18 Toyota Camry.
His results in the Toyota have been outstanding from the start, with multiple victories across both ARCA series in his rookie season. The strong early pace has positioned Reaves as a rising star within the Joe Gibbs Racing development pipeline and a name to watch as he progresses through the NASCAR ranks.
Driving Style and Strengths
Reaves has shown a strong ability to start near the front and convert qualifying speed into race-leading performance. His wins at Madison and Five Flags, both led from the pole, demonstrate his comfort leading a race and managing pace from the front. He has also proven his race craft by working through traffic and making decisive passes, as seen in his overtake-heavy win at Elko.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Reaves’ signature moments are his historic first ARCA victory at Five Flags Speedway, his three-race winning streak to open his ARCA Menards Series East campaign, and his early ARCA Menards Series wins at Elko and Madison. Each race added another chapter to a remarkable rookie season.
Max Reaves Career Wins
In his young career, Max Reaves has already collected multiple wins across the ARCA Menards Series, the ARCA Menards Series East, and the Carolina Pro Late Model Series. His 2024 Carolina Pro Late Model championship marked his first major title, while his 2025 ARCA victories have established him as one of the top young prospects in American stock car racing.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Reaves opened his ARCA Menards Series career with a runner-up finish at Berlin Raceway before winning at Elko Speedway the following week. He added a third victory at Madison International Speedway, where he led all but one lap from the pole. These results made his rookie ARCA national season one of the strongest debuts in recent memory.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his ARCA success, Reaves won the 2024 Carolina Pro Late Model Series championship. He also posted competitive results across the CARS Pro Late Model Tour, the CARS Late Model Stock Tour, and the INEX Summer Shootout, gaining valuable experience that prepared him for national-level competition.
Max Reaves Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Max Reaves comes from a family with both business and racing ties. His father, Jeremy Reaves, is a co-owner of the Cook Out restaurant chain, and his grandfather, Morris Reaves, founded the franchise. His younger brother, Roo Reaves, is also a racing driver, and the two brothers frequently compete against each other on track.
Personal Life
Reaves resides in the United States and continues to focus on his young racing career while balancing the demands of being a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing. His close relationship with his brother Roo remains an important part of his life, with the two sharing a passion for competition both at home and on the race track.
2025 Season Performance
Max Reaves’ 2025 season has been nothing short of historic. Running a part-time schedule in both the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East for Joe Gibbs Racing, Reaves has already captured multiple victories in his rookie year. His wins at Elko and Madison in the national ARCA Menards Series have highlighted his ability to compete and win at a new level.
His ARCA Menards Series East campaign has been equally impressive, with a debut win at Five Flags Speedway followed by victories at Nashville Fairgrounds and Flat Rock. The three-race winning streak to open his East Series career places him alongside Will Rodgers as one of only two drivers to win in their first three starts in the series.
With the support of Joe Gibbs Racing and the consistency of Toyota equipment, Reaves enters the remainder of 2025 as one of the most talked-about young talents in American motorsports. His continued development within the Gibbs system and his early race results suggest a bright future as he works toward the higher NASCAR national series.