Scott Melton Bio
Scott Melton (born November 30, 1961) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Michigan. He last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 68 Ford Mustang for Kimmel Racing. A late-bloomer in the sport, Melton began his competitive racing career in 2018 after years of involvement as a team sponsor and supporter.
Early Life and Background
Scott Melton was born on November 30, 1961, in Rockford, Michigan, where he was also raised. He grew up in the western part of the state and later settled in nearby Greenville, Michigan. Before stepping into the driver’s seat himself, Melton built a career in the insurance industry and today operates the Melton-McFadden Insurance Agency, with offices in Greenville and Belding, Michigan. His familiarity with the regional business community and the short tracks of Michigan helped lay the groundwork for his later move into competitive racing.
Melton is a father of eight children. While his personal and professional life kept him close to home for many years, his longtime passion for stock car racing never faded. He became a familiar figure at local short tracks in Michigan as both a fan and a sponsor, frequently backing his own race efforts before eventually deciding to climb behind the wheel.
Path to NASCAR
Although Melton never drove in any of NASCAR’s three national touring series, his career arc mirrors the regional ladder that many late-model and ARCA drivers use as a proving ground. He cut his competitive teeth at Springport Speedway in 2018, racing in the track’s 4 Cylinder division. That local experience was enough to convince him that he was ready for a larger stage.
Conversations with veteran car owner Bill Kimmel, the owner of Kimmel Racing, opened the door to a step up into the ARCA Menards Series. Kimmel Racing, a long-established team on the ARCA circuit, gave Melton the equipment and infrastructure needed to make the jump from local racing to a national touring series. The partnership marked Melton’s official transition into professional stock car competition at the age of 56.
Scott Melton Career
Early Career (2018)
Scott Melton’s competitive racing career began in 2018 at Springport Speedway, where he ran in the 4 Cylinder division. The season served as a testbed for his ambitions, allowing him to gain seat time and learn race craft on a tight, short-track layout. By the end of that year, Melton had decided that he wanted more, and he set his sights on the ARCA Menards Series.
Through discussions with Bill Kimmel, owner of Kimmel Racing, Melton secured a ride in the national ARCA Menards Series for 2019. The arrangement gave him a ready-made team, a Ford Mustang, and a path into races at some of the most iconic ovals in the country. It was a quick but calculated rise from a regional hobbyist to a nationally sanctioned driver.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Melton made his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2019 at Berlin Raceway, where he finished fifteenth. A second start at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park followed, ending in a 25th-place result. Despite the modest finishes, Melton ran roughly half of the season and showed steady improvement, earning two top-ten finishes. His best run of the year came at Michigan International Speedway, where he posted a career-best ninth-place finish at the time. He closed the 2019 season ranked 15th in the overall ARCA standings.
In 2020, Melton recorded what would stand as his breakout campaign. He piled up three top-ten finishes across the schedule and matched his previous best result of ninth, this time at Kansas Speedway. The consistency kept him in the mix on intermediate tracks and demonstrated that his early results were no fluke. He followed up in 2021 with another strong run, highlighted by a tenth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway, one of the most demanding tracks on the ARCA calendar.
Kimmel Racing Era (2019–2022)
Throughout his ARCA Menards Series career, Melton has been paired with Kimmel Racing, driving the team’s No. 68 Ford Mustang. The partnership with owner Bill Kimmel has provided Melton with continuity and a familiar crew, allowing him to focus on his growth as a driver rather than team logistics. The No. 68 entry has become synonymous with Melton’s presence on the ARCA grid.
The 2022 season brought the most serious setback of Melton’s career. During the General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway, he was involved in an accident that resulted in a compound fracture in his left leg. The injury forced him to miss time on track, but his determination to race again never wavered. He returned later in the 2022 season at Pocono Raceway, completing a comeback that underscored his commitment to the sport.
Driving Style and Strengths
Melton’s racing résumé suggests a driver who thrives on consistency and patience rather than raw aggression. His best results have come at large, sweeping ovals such as Michigan International Speedway, Kansas Speedway, and Talladega Superspeedway, where track position and clean air reward drivers who can avoid trouble. Working with the Kimmel Racing organization has given him experienced crew chief support and a stable technical package, two ingredients that have helped him maximize finishes in a part-time program.
Notable Races and Milestones
Two moments stand out as defining races in Melton’s career. The first is his ninth-place run at Michigan International Speedway in 2019, a home-state result that announced his arrival on the ARCA stage. The second is his return to competition at Pocono Raceway in 2022 after his Talladega injury, a comeback that showed his resilience. His tenth-place finish at Talladega in 2021 also remains one of the most competitive Superspeedway results by a part-time veteran in recent ARCA memory.
Scott Melton Career Wins
Scott Melton has not recorded a victory in the ARCA Menards Series. His competitive résumé is built on consistency, durability, and a series of strong top-ten finishes rather than trips to Victory Lane. Even so, his steady presence in the field for Kimmel Racing has earned him a respected reputation among ARCA insiders.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Across his ARCA Menards Series career, Melton has accumulated at least five top-ten finishes, spread across his 2019, 2020, and 2021 seasons. His first top-ten came in 2019 at Michigan International Speedway, and he added three more in 2020, including a ninth-place run at Kansas Speedway. In 2021, he capped his stretch of consistent runs with a tenth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway. His best career ARCA result remains ninth, posted at both Michigan and Kansas.
Other Wins & Performances
Outside of the ARCA Menards Series, Melton’s only other documented competitive experience is his 2018 4 Cylinder racing at Springport Speedway. While he did not pursue national touring championships in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, his regional résumé and ARCA results have made him a recognizable part-time competitor on the national stock car ladder.
Scott Melton Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Scott Melton was born and raised in Rockford, Michigan, in a family that became well-known locally through his insurance business rather than through a multi-generational racing tradition. As a longtime business owner in western Michigan, he has often blended his two careers by sponsoring his own race efforts. His decision to start racing in his late fifties was a personal pursuit rather than a continuation of a family motorsports legacy.
Personal Life
Melton resides in Greenville, Michigan, and is a father of eight children. Outside of racing, he continues to operate the Melton-McFadden Insurance Agency, which has locations in Greenville and Belding, Michigan. His dual life as a business owner and part-time ARCA driver has made him a distinctive figure on the regional and national stock car scene.
2025 Season Performance
Scott Melton is not confirmed to be competing in the ARCA Menards Series during the 2025 season. As of the most recent verified records, his last start came in 2022, when he returned at Pocono Raceway following his Talladega injury. Any 2025 plans with Kimmel Racing and the No. 68 Ford Mustang have not been officially announced.
If Melton does return to the track in 2025, his role with Kimmel Racing would likely continue to be part-time, given his business obligations in Michigan. His history of top-ten runs at Michigan International Speedway and Kansas Speedway suggests he would enter the season focused on intermediate tracks, where his measured driving style has historically produced his best results.
Fans of the ARCA Menards Series will be watching closely to see whether the veteran Michigan driver makes another appearance behind the wheel. Should he return, the foundation built with Kimmel Racing, combined with his experience at Superspeedways and intermediates, would give him a credible shot at adding more top-ten finishes to a résumé already marked by grit and determination.