Spire Motorsports has confirmed that 15-year-old standout Tristan McKee will make his long-awaited NASCAR debut driving the No. 77 truck later this season.
So far this year, the No. 77 has seen a mix of drivers from across NASCAR’s National Series.
But, per NASCAR rules, Cup Series drivers will not be eligible to participate in the final regular season race, Chase race, or Championship race of the lower two NASCAR National Series.
Given this rule, and the fact that McKee will turn 16 on August 3, meaning he is eligible to race on road courses and ovals 1.25 miles or shorter, Spire is tabbing him to drive their No. 77 in select races for the remainder of the season.
McKee will make his debut in the penultimate race of the regular season at Richmond, followed by the regular-season finale at New Hampshire, and Chase races at Bristol, Phoenix, and Martinsville.
The team has yet to announce who will drive the truck at Kansas, Charlotte, Talladega, and Homestead.
If he makes it to the level he is currently projected to, McKee is expected to be Spire’s first end-to-end developmental prospect.
The team signed him last season as their first in-house developmental driver at just 14 years old. Last August, days after turning 15, the Virginia native won at Watkins Glen in the ARCA Menards Series, becoming the second-youngest winner in series history.
Of course, McKee is no road-course ringer, as he has built quite a reputation in regional oval racing series.
So far this season, racing for Pinnacle Racing Group in the ARCA Menards Series East, McKee has three wins and another main series ARCA win at Toledo. He is also a four-time winner in the CARS Pro Late Model Tour.
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