Zachary Tinkle Bio
Zachary Tinkle (born July 3, 2002) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Speedway, Indiana. He last competed full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 11 Toyota Camry for Fast Track Racing. Rising through karting and mini cup racing in the Midwest, Tinkle built a strong résumé in short-track competition before stepping into the ARCA ladder.
Early Life and Background
Zachary Tinkle was born on July 3, 2002, in Speedway, Indiana, a town known for its deep ties to motorsports. Growing up in central Indiana placed him near a network of short tracks that helped launch his career. He first got behind the wheel of go-karts and mini cup cars in the mid 2010s, learning race craft at a young age.
His early results showed promise. In 2014, Tinkle earned Rookie of the Year honors in the Central States Region Super Cups, and three years later he captured the series championship in 2017. In 2016, he added a Rockford Speedway MiniCup division championship, confirming his standing as one of the top young drivers in the region.
Path to NASCAR
Tinkle stepped up to stock car competition in 2018, joining the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman championship, where he finished fifth in points. He returned the following season and won two races on his way to the series championship, also capturing the 2019 CRA Late Model Sportsman Triple Crown and the 2019 Anderson Speedway McGunegill Engines Late Model Series title. He became the first driver to sweep all three honors in the same year.
In 2020 and 2021, he ran part-time schedules in the JEG’S / CRA All-Stars Tour and competed during Speedweeks at New Smyrna Speedway in the Pro Late Model division, recording one fastest qualifier award. In 2021, his racing plans were paused when his father, Brad Tinkle, suffered a stroke, prompting Tinkle to launch a GoFundMe to restart his career.
Zachary Tinkle Career
Early Career (2014–2019)
Tinkle’s earliest racing came in go-karts and mini cup machines, where he quickly established himself as a winner. His 2014 Rookie of the Year award in the Central States Region Super Cups marked his first major recognition, and by 2016 he had added a Rockford Speedway MiniCup division championship.
His transition to Late Model racing in 2018 produced a fifth-place championship run, and 2019 became a defining year. With two victories and a string of strong finishes, Tinkle captured the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman championship, the Triple Crown, and the Anderson Speedway McGunegill Engines Late Model Series title in a single season.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Tinkle announced a one-race deal with Wayne Peterson Racing on July 15, 2021, after the team needed a driver for an upcoming event. Peterson was impressed with Tinkle’s performance and signed him for three additional races that year. After Tim Richmond was injured at the 2021 Henry Ford Health System 200, Tinkle stepped in to replace him for the final four races of the season, gaining valuable national-series experience.
He returned to Wayne Peterson Racing for a majority of the schedule in 2022, continuing his development at the ARCA level. These seasons gave Tinkle a platform to refine his skills against seasoned competitors and prepared him for a full-time commitment in the East division.
ARCA Menards Series East Era (2021–2024)
Tinkle was originally scheduled to debut in the 2021 Pensacola 200 with Brandon Oakley Racing, but the team withdrew. He instead made his East Series debut in the 2021 Bush’s Beans 200 with Richmond Clubb Motorsports, getting his first laps in the series.
On December 6, 2022, Tinkle announced he would run full-time in the East Series in 2023, driving the No. 11 for Fast Track Racing. In their first race together, Tinkle posted a career-best seventh-place finish at Five Flags Speedway, then followed it with a sixth-place run at Dover Motor Speedway. On February 1, 2024, Fast Track Racing confirmed Tinkle would return for a second full-time season behind the wheel of the No. 11.
Fast Track Racing Era (2022–2024)
Joining Fast Track Racing gave Tinkle a stable home in the ARCA Menards Series East and a part-time schedule in the ARCA Menards Series. His first full season with the team produced consistent top-ten results and demonstrated steady improvement on ovals of all sizes.
The 2024 campaign marked his second year with the team, reinforcing his role as a development driver for the organization. His progress at tracks like Five Flags Speedway and Dover Motor Speedway highlighted his comfort on both short tracks and intermediate ovals.
Driving Style and Strengths
Tinkle’s background in short-track Late Model racing has shaped a driving style built on patience, consistency, and clean race craft. He has shown an ability to log top-ten finishes on a variety of track types, from the tight confines of Five Flags Speedway to the high-banked corners of Dover Motor Speedway. His partnership with Fast Track Racing has provided a steady platform to refine strategy and execution.
Notable Races and Milestones
His seventh-place finish at the 2023 ARCA Menards Series East opener at Five Flags Speedway marked his first career-best result at the national level. The 2019 sweep of the CRA Late Model Sportsman championship, Triple Crown, and Anderson Speedway McGunegill Engines Late Model Series title stands as one of the most decorated seasons of his career.
Zachary Tinkle Career Wins
Zachary Tinkle has built his résumé around a series of regional championships and a national series ride in the ARCA Menards Series East. His most decorated season came in 2019, when he swept the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman championship, the Triple Crown, and the Anderson Speedway McGunegill Engines Late Model Series title. He also won a Rockford Speedway MiniCup division championship in 2016 and the Central States Region Super Cups championship in 2017.
ARCA Menards Series East Highlights
Tinkle has notched career-best finishes of seventh at Five Flags Speedway and sixth at Dover Motor Speedway during his full-time seasons with Fast Track Racing. His consistent top-ten pace has established him as a reliable presence in the East Series field.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his ARCA commitments, Tinkle collected two CRA Late Model Sportsman feature wins in 2019 on his way to the series title. He also earned a fastest qualifier award during Speedweeks at New Smyrna Speedway in the Pro Late Model division, adding another milestone to his short-track résumé.
Zachary Tinkle Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Zachary Tinkle’s father, Brad Tinkle, played a central role in his son’s racing journey. Brad suffered a stroke in 2021, which temporarily halted Zachary’s career and led to a GoFundMe campaign to help him return to competition. The support of his family has remained a key part of his development as a driver.
Personal Life
Tinkle is from Speedway, Indiana, and continues to pursue his stock car racing career full-time. His social media presence includes a Facebook page under the name ZacharyTinkle53 and an Instagram account at zacharytinkle, where he shares updates on his racing schedule.
2025 Season Performance
As of early 2025, Tinkle’s most recent full-time commitment was confirmed in February 2024, when Fast Track Racing announced his return to the ARCA Menards Series East for a second consecutive season. He wrapped that campaign continuing to build top-ten consistency behind the wheel of the No. 11 Toyota Camry.
Looking ahead, Tinkle remains tied to Fast Track Racing and the ARCA platform, with his role as a development driver central to his 2025 outlook. The team partnership offers a familiar environment to chase his first ARCA national-series victory and continue climbing the stock car ladder.
His 2025 plans are expected to focus on further refining race craft, expanding his comfort on intermediate tracks, and pursuing stronger results in both the ARCA Menards Series East and select ARCA Menards Series events. With a stable team and a clear development path, Tinkle is positioned to take the next step in his career.