Spire Motorsports driver prospect Tristan McKee is moving up the NASCAR ranks with a multi-year deal taking him through 2029.
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McKee, 16, will join JR Motorsports for 2027, 2028, and 2029 while continuing in his role as a Spire Motorsports development driver. He will make his O'Reilly Auto Parts Series debut in August 2027 after turning 17, and he will compete for the first time at Bristol Motor Speedway.
McKee will then continue to compete part-time in 2028 while driving for JR Motorsports. He will move to a full-time schedule in 2029 after turning 18.
The North Carolina native will continue to make part-time starts in the Craftsman Truck Series next season while driving for Spire Motorsports. This fits with the rules laid out by NASCAR.
His ascent continues.
Tristan McKee is joining JR Motorsports, starting with his NOAPS debut in 2027 and an expanded schedule in 2028 and 2029. pic.twitter.com/lXfbp4CYBs
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) October 16, 2026
Drivers can compete in O'Reilly Auto Parts Series road course races and events at ovals shorter than 1.25 miles in length after turning 17. They must still be 18 to compete on ovals larger than 1.25 miles.
The minimum age for Truck Series drivers at these shorter oval tracks and road courses will remain 16.
"Adding a driver like Tristan to our organization for multiple years is a testament to how we operate as a company," said JRM CEO Kelley Earnhardt-Miller.
"JRM has always looked to help the growth of young, up-and-coming drivers and Tristan fits that mold. His accomplishments at such a young age behind the wheel speak for itself and I'm really looking forward to watching him develop and mature over these next three years while competing for race wins and championships."
McKee has already achieved success in lower racing series while waiting to be old enough to compete in the national series. He has scored four wins in the ARCA Menards Series, and he has won an ARCA Menards Series East championship.
McKee also became the youngest driver in history to win a Trans Am Series championship after capturing the TA2 Series title in 2025.
"I think he's doing a great job," Spire Motorsports driver Michael McDowell said in May. "Like I said, he's very mature for his age, and he's very switched on.
"He's got great parents, and that's a big part of it. He's got a great foundation. He's somebody that 10 or 15 years from now, you guys are still going to be talking to him here, for sure. He's definitely the real deal."
