Tim Richmond Bio
Timothy Richmond (born September 12, 1998) is an American professional stock car racing driver who last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series. He is best known for driving the No. 27 car for his own team, Richmond Motorsports, and for his earlier stint with Wayne Peterson Racing, where he turned heads by finishing races in underfunded equipment. Although his name matches that of a legendary NASCAR Cup Series veteran from the 1980s, Tim Richmond is not related to the former driver of the same name.
Early Life and Background
Timothy Richmond was born on September 12, 1998, in Ottawa, Illinois, where he continues to make his home. Ottawa, a small city along the Illinois River, has a long tradition of grassroots short-track racing, and Richmond grew up surrounded by that culture. His family became deeply involved in local motorsports, eventually playing a direct role in supporting racing teams and acquiring equipment.
Before turning his attention to stock cars, Richmond gained experience in road racing, learning the fundamentals of car control, race craft, and endurance behind the wheel. That background helped him adapt quickly when he moved to oval racing and joined an ARCA team. His family’s willingness to invest in newer composite-bodied cars, which the series was beginning to require, reflected a serious commitment to his racing ambitions.
Path to NASCAR
Richmond’s path to national stock car competition ran through the ARCA Menards Series, a traditional stepping stone for drivers aiming toward NASCAR. Rather than following the conventional late-model ladder, he jumped directly into ARCA competition after his road racing stint, debuting in 2019 with Wayne Peterson Racing. His immediate results with the underfunded team caught the attention of team owner Wayne Peterson and led to a nearly full-season effort.
Although he has not yet advanced to the NASCAR national series, his progression from a small, resource-limited operation to running his own team demonstrates the same entrepreneurial spirit common among drivers chasing a Cup Series dream. His family’s hands-on involvement, including purchasing newer cars and supporting crew improvements, has been central to that climb.
Tim Richmond Career
Early Career (2019)
Tim Richmond made his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2019 at Five Flags Speedway, driving the No. 06 car for Wayne Peterson Racing. Although he finished 14th and was 25 laps down, the result was significant for the team, which often struggled simply to reach the finish line. Peterson’s small operation was still running older steel-bodied cars while the series shifted toward newer composite-bodied equipment, and Richmond’s ability to complete the race in that older car impressed the crew.
That performance earned him additional seat time, and what began as a one-off start quickly expanded into a near full-season campaign. Richmond also entered the battle for ARCA Rookie of the Year in 2019, an impressive feat for a driver with limited oval experience. He ended the season eighth in series points, the highest finish ever recorded by a Wayne Peterson Racing driver and a clear step above teammate Con Nicolopoulos’s consecutive 11th-place finishes from the prior two seasons.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2020–2022)
On December 23, 2019, ARCA announced that Richmond would return to Wayne Peterson Racing for a full 2020 season. He opened the year with an 18th-place run at Daytona and followed it with a 23rd-place DNF at Phoenix, learning the rhythm of the series’ bigger tracks.
In 2021, Richmond took the biggest leap of his young career by leaving Peterson and co-founding Richmond Clubb Motorsports with fellow ARCA driver Alex Clubb. The pair shared the No. 27 car as co-owners and teammates, even fielding a second entry at the Milwaukee Mile so both could compete head-to-head. Much of the equipment from WPR transferred to the new team, along with crew chief Brad Frye, ensuring continuity. Richmond’s 2021 season was cut short after a crash at Michigan, where he was hit by Drew Dollar and sidelined for the remainder of the year. For 2022, he rebranded the operation as Richmond Motorsports and continued as the sole driver of the No. 27.
Richmond Motorsports Era (2022–Present)
Running Richmond Motorsports as a single-driver team allowed Timothy Richmond to take full control of his racing program. Operating out of Ottawa, Illinois, he fields the familiar No. 27 in the ARCA Menards Series on a part-time basis, balancing team ownership with driving duties. The move marked a transition from employee to entrepreneur within the series.
Although detailed results from the most recent campaigns are limited in the available records, Richmond’s presence as both owner and driver reflects steady progress for a self-funded team. His family continues to play an active role in operations, mirroring the grassroots approach that has defined his career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Richmond’s background in road racing gave him polished car-control skills that translated well to ovals, particularly in long runs where smooth inputs preserve tire life. Working with crew chief Brad Frye, he demonstrated patience and consistency in older equipment, traits that helped Wayne Peterson Racing log finishes it had rarely achieved with previous drivers. His willingness to take on a co-ownership role also shows a strategic mindset beyond the cockpit.
Notable Races and Milestones
His 2019 Five Flags Speedway debut stands as a signature early moment, simply reaching the finish line in a steel-bodied car against newer composite-bodied rivals. The 2021 launch of Richmond Clubb Motorsports, with a second car entered at the Milwaukee Mile, is another milestone that highlighted his ambition. The 2020 Daytona International Speedway opener, one of stock car racing’s most demanding tracks, also marked a step up in competition level.
Tim Richmond Career Wins
Tim Richmond’s career to this point has been defined more by perseverance and program-building than by victory lane. His most notable accomplishments include finishing races and seasons with underfunded teams and then creating his own operation. Verified win totals at the national ARCA level are not documented in the available sources, so detailed victory statistics are not reported here.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
In his debut 2019 season with Wayne Peterson Racing, Richmond scored an eighth-place finish in the final ARCA Menards Series standings, the best result ever achieved by a WPR driver. He followed that with a full-season effort in 2020 and expanded into team ownership in 2021. His transition to Richmond Motorsports in 2022 marked his arrival as a team owner-driver.
Other Wins and Performances
Before ARCA, Richmond competed in a road racing series, building the foundational skills that helped him adapt quickly to stock cars. Specific regional wins from that period are not documented in the available records.
Tim Richmond Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
The Richmond family has been deeply involved in Timothy Richmond’s racing career from the beginning. Family members helped improve Wayne Peterson Racing during the 2019 season, contributing both financial support and hands-on effort. They invested in newer composite-bodied cars to keep pace with ARCA’s equipment transition, a decision that shaped the team’s competitiveness.
Personal Life
Richmond and his family reside in Ottawa, Illinois, the city where he was born and raised. He is not related to Tim Richmond, the NASCAR Cup Series driver who raced in the 1980s and shares his name.
2025 Season Performance
As of the 2025 season, Timothy Richmond is listed as a part-time competitor in the ARCA Menards Series driving the No. 27 for Richmond Motorsports. Detailed race-by-race results for the current year are not included in the available records, so specific finishes and point standings cannot be reported.
His continued presence as both owner and driver signals a long-term commitment to the series and to building a sustainable program. The family’s continued investment in equipment and personnel suggests the team plans to expand its schedule when resources allow.
Looking ahead, Richmond’s focus appears to be on growing Richmond Motorsports into a stronger full-time ARCA operation. Any future move toward NASCAR national series competition would likely depend on additional sponsorship and on consistent finishes at the ARCA level.