Rackley W.A.R. Overview
Rackley-W.A.R. is an American stock car racing team owned by Curtis Sutton and Willie Allen. The organization competes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Super Late Model events, and Pro Late Model events, building a multi-tier racing operation around Chevrolet-powered stock cars. Rackley Roofing serves as the team’s main sponsor, and the team is identified on track by its fleet of numbered Chevrolet entries.
Established in 2008 by Willie Allen as a Late Model team, Rackley-W.A.R. expanded into the Truck Series in 2021 after Curtis Sutton, the chief executive of Rackley Roofing, joined as co-owner. The team currently fields the No. 26 Chevrolet Silverado full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series for Dawson Sutton, while also running several Super Late Model and Pro Late Model entries. Originally headquartered in Centerville, Tennessee, the team announced a move to Statesville, North Carolina beginning in 2025 as part of a new partnership with Kevin Harvick Incorporated.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Rackley-W.A.R. traces its roots to 2008, when NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series veteran Willie Allen founded a Late Model program under the name Willie Allen Racing. The operation was shortened to W.A.R. as the team became established in short-track stock car racing. The organization also grew a technical side through W.A.R. Shocks, building shock absorbers for racers, which strengthened the team’s engineering knowledge of chassis and suspension setups.
The team spent more than a decade focused on Super Late Model and Pro Late Model competition, building a competitive base in regional stock car racing. The decision to step up to NASCAR’s national series came after Curtis Sutton, chief executive of Rackley Roofing, acquired a fifty percent stake in 2020. The merger created the modern Rackley-W.A.R. organization and brought both roofing-industry backing and a long-term vision for growth in the Truck Series.
Growth Into NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Competition
The team’s transition to national-level NASCAR competition began in December 2020, when Willie Allen and Curtis Sutton announced the formation of Rackley W.A.R. for the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. Former series driver Timothy Peters was confirmed as the team’s first full-time driver. Rackley W.A.R. made its official debut at the 2021 NextEra Energy 250 at Daytona International Speedway, finishing twenty-sixth after a mechanical issue.
Throughout 2021, the team expanded its competitive footprint with several part-time entries, including a one-off Truck Series return for Willie Allen at Talladega Superspeedway. Josh Berry and Brett Moffitt also made guest appearances in the No. 25 truck, giving the program additional seat time and visibility. In 2022, the team added a second truck, the No. 26, and later opened a third entry, the No. 27, which brought in Cup Series driver William Byron for a one-race appearance at Nashville Superspeedway.
Rackley W.A.R. Competitive Journey
Since its Truck Series debut in 2021, Rackley W.A.R. has grown from a single-truck operation into a multi-car program competing across national and regional stock car series. The team has recorded one race victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and continues to develop drivers across its Late Model and Pro Late Model programs. Its partnership with Kevin Harvick Incorporated, announced in October 2024, marks a significant step in the team’s long-term competitive plans.
Early Seasons and Development (2021)
Rackley W.A.R.’s first Truck Series season was a learning year for the new organization. Timothy Peters opened the schedule at Daytona, and the team worked through mechanical issues while gaining experience on the national stage. Josh Berry joined for several races and delivered a tenth-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway, which was the team’s best result of the season at that point.
Brett Moffitt and Willie Allen also made appearances in the No. 25 truck during the 2021 campaign, helping the team gather data across a variety of track types. Co-founder Willie Allen’s return to the Truck Series at Talladega, after an eight-year absence, was a milestone moment for the team. The early results were modest, but the program laid the foundation for future investment and expansion.
Breakthrough in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2022–2024)
The 2022 season represented the team’s first major breakthrough, with Matt DiBenedetto confirmed as the full-time driver of the No. 25. DiBenedetto opened the year with a tenth-place finish at Daytona and added six top-ten results during the regular season. After a stretch of finishes outside the top ten, he delivered the team’s first-ever Truck Series victory by taking the checkered flag in the Talladega fall race.
The 2023 campaign was equally significant, as DiBenedetto returned to the No. 25 and led the team into the Craftsman Truck Series playoffs for the first time. He earned nine top-ten finishes during the regular season, including a run of six consecutive top tens, and posted a best result of third at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Although DiBenedetto was eliminated at Kansas and later departed the team, the playoff appearance confirmed that Rackley W.A.R. had become a competitive force in the series.
In 2024, Ty Dillon was announced as the full-time driver of the No. 25, with Rackley Roofing returning as primary sponsor for sixteen events. Later in the season, Dawson Sutton, son of co-owner Curtis Sutton, took over the entry for the final five races. The team’s ongoing investment in young talent signaled an important step in its long-term driver development plans.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2025–Present)
Heading into 2025, Rackley W.A.R. formally committed to a long-term partnership with Kevin Harvick Incorporated, a development and technical alliance that strengthens the team’s engineering and personnel base. The organization relocated its headquarters from Centerville, Tennessee to the former GMS Racing fabrication building in Statesville, North Carolina, providing expanded shop capacity and improved proximity to the NASCAR industry hub. Dawson Sutton was confirmed as the full-time driver of the No. 26 in the Craftsman Truck Series starting in 2025.
The team continues to field Super Late Model entries for drivers including Ross Chastain, Dawson Sutton, Kevin Harvick, and William Sawalich, along with Pro Late Model entries for Isaac Kitzmiller, Jason Kitzmiller, Vito Cancilla, Kevin Harvick, and Keelan Harvick. Chevrolet remains the team’s manufacturer, and Rackley Roofing continues to serve as the primary sponsor. Through this combination of experienced ownership, manufacturer support, and a new technical partnership, Rackley W.A.R. is positioning itself as a long-term contender in NASCAR’s developing driver pipeline.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Rackley W.A.R. has built its identity around a multi-tier development pipeline, running Late Model, Pro Late Model, and Truck Series programs under one roof. The team’s Chevrolet alliance provides consistency in equipment and engineering support across all three series, while the W.A.R. Shocks business gives the team in-house expertise in chassis setup. This structure allows drivers to progress through regional and national stock car competition within the same organization.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The team’s most important milestones include its 2008 founding by Willie Allen, its 2020 ownership transition when Curtis Sutton became a co-owner, and its 2021 Truck Series debut at Daytona. Rackley W.A.R.’s first Truck Series victory came at the 2022 Talladega fall race with Matt DiBenedetto, and the team made its first playoff appearance in 2023. The 2024 partnership announcement with Kevin Harvick Incorporated and the planned move to Statesville, North Carolina in 2025 represent the latest steps in the team’s long-term growth strategy.
Rackley W.A.R. Achievements and Results
Since its founding in 2008, Rackley W.A.R. has grown from a regional Late Model team into a multi-series stock car racing operation. The team has competed in 115 Truck Series races since 2021, earning one race victory, zero pole positions, and zero Drivers’ Championships. Its competitive base in Super Late Models and Pro Late Models continues to feed driver development into the national series.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Achievements
Rackley W.A.R. has recorded one race victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, captured by Matt DiBenedetto in the 2022 Talladega fall race. The team has competed in 115 Truck Series races since its 2021 debut and reached the postseason for the first time in 2023. The 2022 breakthrough win and 2023 playoff run remain the crown-jewel moments of the team’s national series history.
Series Achievements
Beyond the Truck Series, Rackley W.A.R. has built a strong presence in Super Late Model and Pro Late Model competition. The team currently fields entries across both regional series, including cars for Ross Chastain, Kevin Harvick, and Dawson Sutton in the Super Late Model ranks. These programs serve as the foundation of the team’s driver development pipeline, helping prepare the next generation of national-level talent.