Will Rodgers Bio
William P. Rodgers (born October 8, 1994) is an American professional stock car racing driver who last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 70 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Cope Family Racing. He has also driven part-time in the ARCA Menards Series West with Naake-Klauer Motorsports and in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Young’s Motorsports, and has competed in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, and the Pirelli World Challenge.
A versatile competitor with a reputation for road course excellence, Rodgers built his name in NASCAR’s developmental ranks before reaching the national touring series. Off the track, he has been a vocal advocate for liver health following a childhood diagnosis.
Early Life and Background
Will Rodgers was born in Maui, Hawaii, and later relocated to Huntersville, North Carolina, a community widely known as a hub for NASCAR teams and racing operations. His upbringing in Hawaii gave him early exposure to a wide range of motorsports, including local short-track events and regional competitions that helped shape his interest in racing.
At the age of three, Rodgers was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a chronic liver disease that required numerous biopsies and colonoscopies during his youth. Despite the medical challenges, he pursued racing seriously, channeling his energy into karting and open-wheel competition before transitioning to stock cars.
Rodgers later founded the Will Rodgers Liver Health Foundation, a charitable effort aimed at raising awareness of PSC and supporting patients and families affected by liver disease. The foundation reflects his ongoing commitment to giving back to a cause that has shaped his personal journey.
Path to NASCAR
Rodgers’ professional path to NASCAR began in the Pirelli World Challenge, a multi-class sports car series that allowed him to sharpen his race craft against experienced pilots. In 2016, he moved into the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, driving for team owner Dave Hanson, where he made his series debut at Sonoma Raceway and finished the season with four top-ten results.
The following year marked his breakthrough, as he joined Jefferson Pitts Racing for a full K&N Pro Series West campaign and opened 2017 with four consecutive top-five finishes. That summer, a memorable battle at Sonoma Raceway with 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick brought Rodgers national attention and helped open doors to higher-level opportunities.
By 2018, Rodgers had established himself as one of the K&N ranks’ premier road course specialists, and in 2019 he made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Iowa Speedway. His progression from regional sports car racing through NASCAR’s developmental ladder illustrated a measured climb toward the sport’s national series.
Will Rodgers Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Rodgers began his NASCAR career in 2016 in the K&N Pro Series West with Dave Hanson, posting a seventeenth-place finish in his Sonoma Raceway debut and ending the year with four top-ten results. The experience gave him a foothold in NASCAR’s developmental pipeline and prepared him for a full-time opportunity the following season.
In 2017, Rodgers ran the full K&N Pro Series West schedule with Jefferson Pitts Racing, opening the year with four consecutive top-five finishes. He added two road course wins in the K&N Pro Series East at Watkins Glen International and New Jersey Motorsports Park, signaling his growing comfort on technical circuits.
K&N Pro Series Breakthrough (2017–2018)
The 2017 K&N Pro Series West race at Sonoma Raceway became the defining moment of Rodgers’ early career. After earning his first career pole position, he led early and finished second to Kevin Harvick, whose post-race praise and public endorsement elevated Rodgers’ profile across the NASCAR community.
Rodgers carried that momentum into 2018, dominating road course events in both the K&N East and K&N West series. He won at New Jersey Motorsports Park by leading 49 of 55 laps, then beat a stacked Sonoma field that included Aric Almirola, William Byron, Daniel Suárez, Erik Jones, and Alex Bowman to claim his fourth consecutive K&N-level road course victory. These results established him as one of the developmental ladder’s most consistent road course threats.
ARCA and National Series Debut (2018–2019)
Rodgers expanded into the ARCA Racing Series in 2018, running select races for Ken Schrader Racing beginning at Daytona International Speedway, where a lap-21 accident left him classified 30th. He rebounded with an eighth-place run at Charlotte Motor Speedway and a career-best sixth at Michigan International Speedway, demonstrating growing comfort on larger ovals.
In July 2019, Rodgers made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with Brandonbilt Motorsports in the U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway. He also returned to the K&N Pro Series West at Sonoma, where he served as a driver coach for fellow competitor Hailie Deegan, reflecting a growing leadership role within the NASCAR development pipeline.
Part-Time National Series Career (2021–Present)
Rodgers returned to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in June 2021 with Sam Hunt Racing, running a three-race schedule that included Nashville Superspeedway, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. His part-time approach allowed him to balance national series opportunities with continued ARCA and truck series starts.
More recently, Rodgers has driven the No. 70 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Cope Family Racing in the Xfinity Series, the No. 88 Ford for Naake-Klauer Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series West, and the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Young’s Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. His willingness to compete across multiple series has kept him active on race weekends and broadened his experience with different teams and manufacturers.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rodgers is best known for his road course expertise, where precise braking points, smooth throttle control, and consistent lap times have earned him victories at Watkins Glen, New Jersey Motorsports Park, and Sonoma. His calm demeanor behind the wheel and his willingness to learn from Cup Series veterans have made him a respected presence in the garage. His partnerships with established crew chiefs and team owners have allowed him to translate qualifying speed into race results on technical circuits.
Notable Races and Milestones
His 2017 duel with Kevin Harvick at Sonoma Raceway, his K&N East victory at Watkins Glen International, and his 2018 win over five Cup Series drivers at Sonoma stand out as signature performances. Reaching the NASCAR Xfinity Series with both Sam Hunt Racing and Cope Family Racing represented important milestones in his climb through the national ranks.
Will Rodgers Career Wins
Will Rodgers has built a resume highlighted by road course victories in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West, as well as consistent top results across ARCA, the Pirelli World Challenge, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. His wins have come on some of North America’s most respected road and oval circuits, reflecting his adaptability as a stock car racer.
K&N Pro Series Highlights
Rodgers captured his first K&N Series victory at Watkins Glen International in 2017, holding off Rubén García Jr. to reach Victory Lane. He added a second East Series win at New Jersey Motorsports Park that same year and returned to New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2018, leading 49 of 55 laps for a third K&N-level road course victory. His Sonoma Raceway triumph later in 2018, where he outpaced five Cup Series drivers, cemented his reputation as a premier road course talent.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his K&N success, Rodgers posted consistent finishes in the Pirelli World Challenge and earned strong results in the ARCA Racing Series, including a career-best sixth at Michigan International Speedway in 2018. His part-time Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series schedules with Sam Hunt Racing, Cope Family Racing, Brandonbilt Motorsports, and Young’s Motorsports have provided additional opportunities to compete at NASCAR’s national level.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR K&N Pro Series East | 3 | — | — |
| NASCAR K&N Pro Series West | 1 | — | 1 |
Will Rodgers Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Rodgers’ immediate family remains limited, with no widely confirmed details about parents or siblings tied directly to motorsports. His path into racing was shaped largely by his own initiative, his Hawaii upbringing, and his relocation to the NASCAR hub of Huntersville, North Carolina.
Personal Life
Rodgers was born in Maui, Hawaii, and currently resides in Huntersville, North Carolina, a community closely associated with NASCAR team operations. He continues to manage his health while running the Will Rodgers Liver Health Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by primary sclerosing cholangitis. He remains active on social media, where he shares updates about his racing schedule and charitable work.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Will Rodgers’ status across the NASCAR Xfinity Series, ARCA Menards Series West, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points to a continued part-time schedule. His most recent national series activity has come with Cope Family Racing in the Xfinity Series, Naake-Klauer Motorsports in ARCA West, and Young’s Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series.
With a focus on selective starts rather than a full points campaign, Rodgers’ 2025 outlook emphasizes race-by-race opportunities rather than a sustained championship bid. His established relationship with multiple team owners provides flexibility to align his schedule with tracks that suit his road course strengths.
As the season unfolds, Rodgers is positioned to use his part-time platform to deliver competitive runs at road course events and select ovals while continuing his advocacy through the Will Rodgers Liver Health Foundation. His experience across NASCAR’s developmental and national ranks makes him a dependable option for teams seeking a proven road course ringer.