Luke Baldwin Is Living the NASCAR Dream He Never Thought Was Possible

Luke Baldwin admits that racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series still doesn’t feel completely real. And to be honest, that may be exactly what keeps the budding racer grounded.

Baldwin wasn’t a child prodigy groomed for racing's spotlight growing up. Sure, he loved NASCAR, religiously watched races, and basked in the atmosphere whenever he was lucky enough to be at the track, but becoming a professional race car driver was always an unattainable fantasy. Even with his father, veteran crew chief and former team owner Tommy Baldwin Jr., deeply embedded in the sport, Luke never expected that a driving career would be waiting for him.

“I was really just a kid who grew up liking NASCAR,” Baldwin said in an exclusive interview with Racing America. “[I thought] it’d be cool to be a race car driver, but I didn’t really think it was possible.”

Not only did it turn out to be possible, but now, Baldwin, who recently joined forces with Clear 28 Agency, is preparing for a 12-race Truck Series schedule with Team Reaume in 2026. Driving in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is an accomplishment that still stops the young driver in his tracks.

That sense of disbelief has never been more poignant than during Baldwin's Truck Series debut last season at Martinsville Speedway. Baldwin showed legitimate pace early in the race, but circumstances outside of his control led to a 22nd-place finish. While the result didn’t reflect the speed shown, simply getting the chance to compete in the NASCAR National Series ranks mattered far more to Baldwin than his finishing position on that night.

After the race, the Baldwin family, his father included, were visibly emotional. It was a proud moment for everyone.

"It's just like one huge blessing, to be honest with you,” Baldwin said. “because, growing up -- I didn't know that it was really possible.”

That wasn't the only moment in his debut NASCAR Truck Series season where the reality of his situation caught him off guard. During last year’s event at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Baldwin found himself racing side-by-side with three-time series champion Matt Crafton, which was surreal as Crafton is a driver he grew up watching every weekend.

“I went down the front stretch, and I felt like I stopped in time and my mind went blank,” Baldwin recalled. “I said, ‘Holy cow, I’m racing Matt Crafton right now for a position in the NASCAR Truck Series.’”

That fan-first perspective hasn’t faded.

Baldwin says he still spends his weekends in the grandstands, watching Cup and Xfinity races as if he bought a general admission ticket when he's not behind the wheel. Baldwin's mindset is one deeply rooted in appreciation for the sport, and obviously, the young racer is shaped by a path that didn’t follow the modern NASCAR development blueprint.

Before stepping into NASCAR National Series equipment last season, Baldwin built his reputation in modified racing, where he became a two-time SMART Modified Tour champion, and in the CARS Tour, where he helped Rick Ware Racing claim an owner's championship last year.

While the drivability of those cars doesn't translate to the NASCAR trucks, Baldwin credits modified racing, where his family is well-known, with shaping how he approaches competition in fendered stock car competition.

“You race against those grassroots guys that kind of teach you to just take care of your stuff and treat other people the way you want your race car to be treated," Baldwin explained. "So I think it provided me with a really good perspective, compared to a lot of kids that go through late model racing and the way things go over there. And obviously, I race late models too, and I've made my fair share of mistakes, but [modifieds have] definitely opened my eyes to a different kind of respect level that you don't get anywhere else."

That foundation has carried over as Baldwin adapts to heavier, more aerodynamically dependent trucks. He’s quick to admit that not everything translates, but the mental approach does. In the modified ranks, Baldwin says he has learned patience, how to manage races, and how to better understand when to push his car and when to simply survive.

Those lessons should serve him well in 2025, when he takes the next step with Team Reaume, as many young drivers in the Truck Series ranks have trouble finding the checkered flag due to a lack of patience.

Baldwin’s deal with the Ford-backed Reaume organization includes 12 Truck Series starts, a significant jump from the five races he made last season with ThorSport Racing.

Baldwin's decision to drive for Team Reaume in 2026 wasn’t a choice that was made lightly. Baldwin’s father spent months evaluating options. After quietly vetting programs behind the scenes, his father recommended Reaume as the right fit. What Tommy Baldwin Jr. found in his tour of the Team Reaume shop surprised him.

“He was very, very impressed,” Baldwin said. “From the haulers to pit boxes to engines, rear ends, hubs, brakes; it was top-of-the-line stuff.”

After touring the shop himself, Baldwin shared that confidence.

The young racer sees a team that has spent the last two years assembling the pieces to build an organization ready to climb the ranks. Supported by upgraded equipment, an expanding relationship with Ford, and a clear desire from team owner Josh Reaume to elevate the program, Baldwin is bullish on what Team Reaume is bringing to the table in 2026.

“I think this is the year,” Baldwin said. “I think we should be able to turn some heads.”

Ford’s involvement extends beyond the race shop. Baldwin recently logged his time in a simulator session as part of the manufacturer’s development program. The sim time unquestionably will add yet another layer to his growth as a driver this season.

Baldwin is also exploring ways to improve on road courses, which has become an increasingly important skill as the NASCAR sanctioning body continues to expand its road racing footprint.

With limited road course experience, Baldwin has embraced a learner’s mindset, karting at Trackhouse Motorplex, and he will turn laps in Legend cars around the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. Baldwin says he will lean on experienced instructors to build a foundation for his road racing acumen.

“I don’t expect to go out and compete at a high level right away,” Baldwin said. “I just want to learn.”

Despite the added Truck Series races, Baldwin will not rush his growth or trajectory behind the wheel. The driver expects to compete in 40 to 50, or perhaps more, races this year across multiple disciplines. Baldwin views diversity in his schedule and overall seat time as more valuable than going full-time NASCAR National Series racing before he’s ready.

That patience, combined with perspective, may be Baldwin’s greatest asset. He understands how rare these opportunities are. Not long ago, he was just another fan dreaming from the stands.

“If you told me five or six years ago that I’d be racing in the Truck Series,” Baldwin said, “I would’ve called you crazy.”

-Photo Credit: Craig White | TobyChristie.com