Will Kimmel Bio
Will Kimmel III (born May 11, 1988) is an American stock car racing driver. He currently competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 68/69 Ford for the family-owned Kimmel Racing team. He has also made part-time starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series during his career. Kimmel is a third-generation racer who has built much of his career on short tracks in the Midwest while pursuing opportunities at the national NASCAR level.
Early Life and Background
Will Kimmel III was born on May 11, 1988, in Sellersburg, Indiana, in the United States. He was raised in a family with deep roots in American motorsports, and racing was a part of his life from an early age. His father, Bill Kimmel Jr., has been a steady presence around short tracks across the region and helped guide Will’s first steps behind the wheel.
Growing up in Sellersburg placed Kimmel near a number of short tracks in Indiana and the surrounding states, which gave him easy access to local racing programs as a teenager. He began his racing career in 1998, working his way through regional stock car divisions while still balancing school and family commitments. Those early years on small ovals taught him the basics of race craft, car control, and tire management that would later shape his approach at bigger venues.
Path to NASCAR
Kimmel’s climb toward NASCAR began at Salem Speedway, a historic Indiana oval where he competed in the Super Late Model division. In 2006, he won Salem Speedway’s Rookie of the Year award for Super Late Model drivers, an early signal that he could compete with more experienced competitors. The following year, he captured the track’s Super Late Model championship, becoming the youngest driver ever to claim that title.
Those accomplishments at Salem opened the door to higher-profile opportunities. In 2008, Kimmel made his debut in the ARCA Racing Series, where he would spend several seasons developing his skills against established stock car talents. His ARCA results, combined with his short track reputation, eventually led to opportunities in NASCAR’s national touring series.
Will Kimmel Career
Early Career (1998-2007)
Kimmel’s earliest recorded racing came in 1998, when he began competing in regional stock car events as a young driver. He focused on Super Late Model racing at Salem Speedway, where he built a strong record against older and more experienced competitors. Winning the 2006 Rookie of the Year award at Salem confirmed his potential, and capturing the track championship in 2007 made him the youngest driver in Salem history to reach that level.
Those early Salem successes established Kimmel as one of the promising short-track talents in the Midwest. They also gave his family-run Kimmel Racing operation a foundation to step up into larger series.
ARCA Racing Series Breakthrough (2008-2013)
Kimmel made his ARCA Racing Series debut in 2008, joining the tour as a teenager with the family-owned Kimmel Racing team. Between 2008 and 2013, he competed in 62 ARCA events, building a steady résumé of finishes and learning the rhythms of stock car racing on a wider range of tracks. His best ARCA result during that stretch came at Salem Speedway in 2011, where he finished second.
Beyond ARCA, Kimmel added a notable short-track trophy in 2010, when he won the Polar Bear 150 street-stock race at Rockingham Speedway, beating NASCAR star Kurt Busch in the process. That victory helped raise his profile beyond the ARCA circuit.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Debut (2010)
In 2010, Kimmel made his NASCAR national-series debut in the Camping World Truck Series, entering a race at Kentucky Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 44 Ford. He finished 21st in that event, completing his first start in one of NASCAR’s top three national touring series. The Truck Series debut marked his first official NASCAR start, opening the door for additional opportunities in the years that followed.
NASCAR Xfinity Series (2011-2014)
Kimmel made his first NASCAR Nationwide Series start in 2011 at Kentucky Speedway, driving for Go Green Racing. He finished 35th in that event after being involved in an accident, a difficult but valuable learning experience at the national level. He returned to the series on a part-time basis over the following seasons, gaining more track time on intermediate ovals.
In January 2014, Kimmel announced that he would drive part-time for TriStar Motorsports during the 2014 Nationwide Series season, competing in five events in the No. 44 Toyota. The deal gave him a more structured Xfinity Series schedule and a chance to work with a larger team operation.
NASCAR Cup Series Debut (2015)
Kimmel reached the top level of NASCAR in 2015 when he made his Sprint Cup Series debut with Go FAS Racing. His first Cup start came on May 12, 2015, in the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, where he finished 38th, five laps behind the leaders. He later competed in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, where he finished 39th, completing his Sprint Cup Series starts with the team.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kimmel has spent much of his career racing on short tracks and intermediate ovals, where patient race craft and consistent lap times matter most. His years at Salem Speedway and across the ARCA circuit have given him a strong feel for handling worn tires and tight racing grooves, while his NASCAR starts have exposed him to higher-speed drafting and pack racing. Working primarily with family-run Kimmel Racing has helped him stay closely involved with car setup decisions.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Kimmel’s signature moments are his youngest-ever Salem Speedway Super Late Model championship in 2007, his 2010 Polar Bear 150 victory at Rockingham Speedway over Kurt Busch, and his Sprint Cup Series debut in the 2015 Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. His 62-race ARCA tenure between 2008 and 2013 also stands as a long-term commitment to one of NASCAR’s key development series.
Will Kimmel Career Wins
Kimmel’s verified victories are concentrated in regional and short-track stock car racing rather than in NASCAR’s national touring series. His most prominent wins include a Super Late Model championship at Salem Speedway in 2007 and a victory in the Polar Bear 150 at Rockingham Speedway in 2010.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his Salem and Rockingham highlights, Kimmel has recorded steady finishes across ARCA, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and NASCAR Cup Series competition, mostly on a part-time basis. His willingness to enter national NASCAR events with smaller teams has given him a varied résumé that spans multiple series.
Will Kimmel Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Will Kimmel III comes from one of Indiana’s well-known racing families. He is the son of Bill Kimmel Jr., a longtime racer and car owner who has guided much of Will’s career. He is also the nephew of Frank Kimmel, a multi-time ARCA Racing Series champion and one of the most successful short-track drivers in American stock car history. That family connection has shaped Kimmel’s path through short tracks and into ARCA and NASCAR competition.
Personal Life
Kimmel continues to be closely tied to the family-operated Kimmel Racing team, where he handles much of his own driving duties. His personal life remains largely private, with most public information focusing on his racing activities rather than off-track details.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Will Kimmel continues to compete part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 68/69 Ford for Kimmel Racing. His schedule typically blends a handful of ARCA events with selected short-track and regional races, allowing the family team to stay competitive while managing costs.
Kimmel’s 2025 ARCA efforts are expected to lean on the experience gained from more than 60 prior ARCA starts, with Salem Speedway and similar short tracks remaining focal points on his calendar. Working with familiar personnel inside Kimmel Racing gives him continuity in car preparation and setup direction from race to race.
While full-season championship contention is not the goal, Kimmel’s 2025 program is built around strong finishes, clean races, and continuing to develop the family team’s equipment. His part-time national NASCAR background also keeps open the possibility of selected starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series when opportunities arise.