Shane Backes Bio
Shane Backes (born April 19, 1976) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 67 Chevrolet for Maples Motorsports. Backes is a late-career entrant whose story is defined by persistence and a lifelong love for short-track racing.
Early Life and Background
Shane Backes was born on April 19, 1976, in Evans, Georgia, USA. Growing up in the southeastern United States placed him in the heart of stock car country, where local short tracks and grassroots events shape the early years of many drivers. This environment gave Backes direct exposure to the culture of American oval racing from a young age.
Backes first began racing at the age of eleven, which is consistent with the traditional path taken by many drivers who learn the craft in entry-level divisions before moving up the ladder. Before turning his focus to stock cars, he also competed in the International Hot Rod Association, an organization known for drag racing events. That early variety helped him build a broad mechanical and competitive foundation.
Path to NASCAR
Backes has followed the traditional American short-track route, sharpening his skills in regional and national touring events before reaching the ARCA Menards Series. His earlier experience in the International Hot Rod Association gave him comfort with high-speed competition and prepared him for the demands of full-bodied stock cars.
Through years of persistence on smaller circuits, Backes built the resume needed to attract the attention of established ARCA teams. That groundwork ultimately led to his opportunity to compete in the ARCA Menards Series, where he began piloting the No. 67 Chevrolet for Maples Motorsports.
Shane Backes Career
Early Career
Backes began his racing career as a child, first climbing into a race car at age eleven. He later branched out into drag racing, competing in events sanctioned by the International Hot Rod Association. These formative years helped him develop the discipline and car control required for the heavier, more demanding world of stock car racing.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2025)
In 2025, Backes announced plans to make his ARCA Menards Series debut at Watkins Glen International. The original plan called for him to drive the No. 00 Toyota for VWV Racing, but the entry was withdrawn a couple of days later. Maples Motorsports quickly secured his services, putting him behind the wheel of the No. 67 Chevrolet.
At Watkins Glen, Backes placed 25th in the lone practice session, qualified 23rd, and finished 24th after suffering a crash midway through the race. He returned with Maples Motorsports at Madison International Speedway, where he ranked nineteenth in practice, qualified 21st, and finished 17th despite an early-race incident with Lawless Alan. Backes is scheduled to round out the season with Maples at the year-ending race at Toledo Speedway.
Maples Motorsports Era (2025–Present)
The partnership with Maples Motorsports has defined Backes’s national-series career to this point. Running the No. 67 Chevrolet, he has balanced learning the nuances of ARCA competition with steady seat time at a variety of tracks. The team has committed to fielding the car for him through the season finale at Toledo Speedway.
Maples Motorsports has provided Backes with a consistent platform to develop as a part-time driver. His progress between Watkins Glen and Madison International Speedway showed incremental improvement in qualifying and race pace, signaling momentum heading into the closing stretch of the schedule.
Driving Style and Strengths
Backes is still in the development phase of his ARCA career, and his early performances have highlighted a willingness to race in traffic and learn from on-track contact. His background in drag racing through the International Hot Rod Association suggests comfort with throttle control and straight-line power, while his stock car experience at Madison International Speedway points to growing confidence on short ovals. Continued seat time with Maples Motorsports should further refine his race craft.
Notable Races and Milestones
Backes’s 2025 debut at Watkins Glen International marked his first start in the ARCA Menards Series. His follow-up appearance at Madison International Speedway produced a stronger finishing position, and his scheduled entry at Toledo Speedway represents his third national-series start, all with Maples Motorsports behind the wheel of the No. 67 Chevrolet.
Shane Backes Career Wins
As a part-time driver in the early stages of his ARCA Menards Series career, Shane Backes has not yet recorded a verified victory at the national-series level. His competitive record so far is measured in completed laps, lessons learned, and incremental progress with Maples Motorsports. Future wins will depend on continued development and additional seat time across the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series West.
Shane Backes Family
Personal Life
Publicly verified details about Shane Backes’s family and personal life are limited. He was born and raised in Evans, Georgia, and continues to pursue his racing career as an American stock car driver competing in the ARCA Menards Series.
2025 Season Performance
Shane Backes’s 2025 season is centered on a part-time ARCA Menards Series campaign with Maples Motorsports in the No. 67 Chevrolet. After a challenging debut at Watkins Glen International that ended with a 24th-place finish following a mid-race crash, he showed improvement at Madison International Speedway with a 17th-place result.
The Maples Motorsports team has continued to support Backes with engineering feedback and consistent track time, allowing him to focus on completing races and learning each circuit. With the season-ending race at Toledo Speedway still on his schedule, Backes has a clear opportunity to log another clean finish and build momentum heading into 2026.