2025 CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Champion Tristan McKee Joining JR Motorsports Lineup

JR Motorsports announced Friday that Spire Motorsports development driver Tristan McKee will join the team's NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series lineup for the next three years.

McKee, who won the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Driver's Championship in 2025, will make his O'Reilly Auto Parts Series debut in JR Motorsports' No. 9 Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, August 13, 2027. The race will be two weeks after McKee's 17th birthday, making him eligible to compete on road courses and ovals 1.25 miles or shorter in the O'Reilly Series.

He will compete in the series throughout 2028 in compliance with the NASCAR rulebook before joining JRM for a full-time NOAPS campaign in 2029.

“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 will also continue competing with Spire Motorsports part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2027. He finished fifth with the team at Bristol in September, while also clinching the 2026 ARCA Menards Series East championship that weekend.

“I can’t wait to get started at Bristol next year with JRM,” said McKee. “It means the world to have the opportunity to compete in one of their cars and I can’t thank Dale (Earnhardt Jr.), Kelley, LW and everyone at JRM and Spire for this chance. I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can build together.”

“We’ve been really fortunate to be a part of Tristan’s development and felt that this next step to JRM was the best thing for him as we look ahead to the future,” added Spire Co-Owner Jeff Dickerson. “JRM has been the benchmark of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for years and I can’t think of a better place for Tristan to go and to learn from than with the best that the series has to offer.”

McKee won four races and tallied nine top five finishes and 11 top 10s en route to the 2025 CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Championship. That made McKee the youngest champion in the history of the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli. He won in his ARCA Menards Series debut at Watkins Glen International during the 2025 season.

The Virginia driver also competed in the Trans Am doubleheader weekend at Watkins Glen International in 2026, winning the second race of the weekend. He won four of eight ARCA Menards Series East events this year to secure that series' championship, with victories at Hickory Motor Speedway, Rockingham Speedway, Toledo Speedway and Iowa Speedway.

Further details regarding McKee's competition schedule for JR Motorsports in 2027 and beyond will be made at a later date.

-Photo credit: Chris Clark Photography