Kyle Weatherman
Kyle Weatherman (born August 28, 1997) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Wentzville, Missouri, who primarily competes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.[1] Weatherman began his racing career at age eight in go-karts alongside his father and younger brother, progressing to Bandolero cars and the National Legends Touring Series.[2][3] At 15, he became the youngest Legends National Champion by winning the title at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.[4] He moved to North Carolina at 17 to pursue a professional career and debuted in the ARCA Menards Series in 2013, earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2015 with a victory at New Jersey Motorsports Park, along with 10 top-five finishes across 22 starts from 2016 to 2017.[5][2] Weatherman entered NASCAR's premier series with a debut in the Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway in 2017 for Rick Ware Racing, accumulating 11 starts through 2019 with teams including StarCom Racing.[2][6] In the Xfinity Series, his first top-10 finish came at Kentucky Speedway in 2020 with Mike Harmon Racing, and he has since driven for multiple teams, including Jesse Iwuji Motorsports (10 top-20s in 18 starts in 2022), Our Motorsports, FRS Racing, and a full-time stint in 2024 with DGM Racing in the No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro, where he recorded two top-10 finishes.[2][7] Known for his versatility and ability to outperform underfunded equipment, Weatherman has received praise from Hendrick Motorsports for his contributions to Chevrolet's simulator program and from team owners for his hands-on approach to car preparation.[7] Following his departure from DGM Racing after the 2024 season, Weatherman did not compete in the 2025 NASCAR season.[8]Early life
Family background
Kyle Weatherman was born on August 28, 1997, in Wentzville, Missouri.[1][9] He is the eldest child in his family, growing up in a household that nurtured his early passion for motorsports.[2] His father, Daryn Weatherman, played a pivotal role as a supportive figure, introducing Kyle to racing at age eight through go-karting alongside his younger brother, Clayton Weatherman.[2][10] Daryn funded and managed the family's racing efforts via Weatherman Motorsports, dedicating long hours at his St. Charles Glass business to support his sons' pursuits.[11] His mother, Lori Weatherman, also contributed to the family's encouragement of Kyle's interests. Clayton, who shares a close sibling bond with Kyle, later pursued a racing career in the ARCA Menards Series.[12] The Weatherman family's childhood environment in Missouri, centered around local tracks and family outings, fostered Kyle's deep interest in motorsports from a young age.[2] At age 17, Weatherman relocated from Missouri to North Carolina to advance his racing ambitions.[5]Entry into racing
Kyle Weatherman began his racing career at the age of eight, competing in go-kart events alongside his father and brother in local tracks near his hometown in Missouri.[2] This early involvement, supported by his family's roots in the state, laid the groundwork for his development in motorsports.[13] At age ten, Weatherman transitioned to Bandolero racing, a youth-oriented stock car series designed for beginners, where he competed for four years and honed his skills in competitive environments.[2] His progression culminated in 2009 when he secured the INEX Bandolero Bandits National Championship, marking his first major title in the discipline.[13] By age twelve, Weatherman advanced to Legends Car racing, another introductory stock car format emphasizing car control and track awareness through regional and invitational events.[3] He built experience in these circuits before achieving a breakthrough in 2011 by winning the USLCI Legend Car National Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, becoming one of the youngest victors in the event's history at that point.[10][14] These formative years in go-karts, Bandoleros, and Legends Cars allowed Weatherman to transition seamlessly into broader local and regional stock car competitions, establishing core techniques in handling, strategy, and consistency essential for higher-level racing.[2]Racing career
ARCA Menards Series
Kyle Weatherman competed in the ARCA Menards Series from 2013 to 2017, accumulating 50 starts across multiple teams, including Cunningham Motorsports and Lira Motorsports.[6] His career highlights include one victory at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2015, five pole positions, 25 top-five finishes, 36 top-ten finishes, and 813 laps led.[15] Weatherman earned the 2015 Rookie of the Year award, the inaugural Sioux Chief Short Track Challenge championship that year, and shared the Bill France Four Crown award with teammate Blake Jones in 2015 for strong performances in the series' four dirt and short-track events.[16][17][18] Weatherman's peak seasons were 2015 and 2016, where he made 30 combined starts, achieved his lone win and best points finish of seventh, and secured multiple podium results.2015 Season
In his rookie year, Weatherman made 15 starts, primarily with Cunningham Motorsports, securing one win, ten top fives, thirteen top tens, and three poles while finishing tenth in the final standings with 3,565 points.[19][20]| Position | Race | Track | Date | Starting Pos. | Finishing Pos. | Status/Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARCA 150 presented by Unique Pretzels | New Jersey Motorsports Park | May 24 | 2 | 1 | Running/150 |
| 2 | (Representative top finishes; full season included four second-place results at Salem, Iowa, Springfield, DuQuoin, and Kansas) | Various short tracks | Various | Various | 2 | Running |
| 10 | Overall points | - | - | - | 10th | 3,565 pts |
2016 Season
Weatherman ran 15 of 20 events with Lira Motorsports, posting zero wins but seven top fives and nine top tens en route to a career-best seventh in points with 3,165 points; his top finishes included runner-up results at Iowa Speedway and Kansas Speedway.[9]| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Starts | 15 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Top 5s | 7 |
| Top 10s | 9 |
| Poles | 1 |
| Points Position | 7th (3,165 points) |
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Weatherman competed in a single NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event, making his series debut in 2015 driving the No. 58 Ford F-150 for Lira Motorsports.[21] This limited participation came shortly after his successful rookie season in the ARCA Menards Series.[21] In the Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20, 2015, Weatherman qualified 21st and finished 23rd, completing 131 of 150 laps while running at the conclusion of the race.[22] He earned 21 points for the effort but did not lead any laps.[23] Across his one start, Weatherman recorded no wins, top-10 finishes, or pole positions, with an average starting position of 21st and an average finishing position of 23rd.[24]| Year | Race | Track | Start | Finish | Car | Laps | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 23 | Homestead-Miami Speedway | 21 | 23 | 58 | 131 | Running |
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Kyle Weatherman debuted in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2019 and competed part-time through 2024, primarily driving for teams like JD Motorsports and DGM Racing. Over 139 starts, he recorded no wins or poles but secured five top-10 finishes, with his best career result an eighth-place finish at Dover Motor Speedway in April 2024. His average finishing position across all starts was 24.9, reflecting consistent mid-pack performances in a competitive field.[15][25] The following table summarizes Weatherman's season-by-season statistics in the Xfinity Series from 2018 to 2024, based on official records. No activity occurred in 2018.| Year | Starts | Wins | Top 5s | Top 10s | Poles | Avg. Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2019 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31.6 |
| 2020 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27.0 |
| 2021 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25.8 |
| 2022 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21.7 |
| 2023 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23.6 |
| 2024 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24.0 |
NASCAR Cup Series
Kyle Weatherman has made 11 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2017 to 2019.[29]| Date | Race | Track | Start | Finish | Laps | Led | Status | Car # | Team/Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 30, 2017 | 33 | First Data 500 | 38 | 35 | 488/505 | 0 | Running | 51 | Lilly Trucking / Chevrolet |
| Nov 12, 2017 | 35 | Can-Am 500 | 39 | 34 | 294/312 | 0 | Running | 51 | Prevagen / Chevrolet |
| Jul 1, 2018 | 17 | Overton's 400 | 30 | 33 | 255/267 | 0 | Running | 99 | St. Charles Glass / Chevrolet |
| Jul 22, 2018 | 20 | Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 | 35 | 31 | 294/301 | 0 | Running | 99 | StarCom Fiber / Chevrolet |
| Jul 29, 2018 | 21 | Gander Outdoors 400 | 23 | 31 | 161/164 | 0 | Running | 99 | StarCom Fiber / Chevrolet |
| Sep 16, 2018 | 27 | South Point 400 | 33 | 26 | 269/272 | 0 | Running | 99 | StarCom Fiber / Chevrolet |
| Oct 21, 2018 | 32 | Hollywood Casino 400 | 37 | 35 | 216/267 | 0 | Transmission | 99 | StarCom Fiber / Chevrolet |
| Nov 4, 2018 | 34 | AAA Texas 500 | 36 | 34 | 323/337 | 0 | Running | 99 | Rewards.com / Chevrolet |
| Nov 18, 2018 | 36 | Ford EcoBoost 400 | 35 | 36 | 256/267 | 0 | Running | 99 | International Marine / Chevrolet |
| Jun 9, 2019 | 15 | FireKeepers Casino 400 | 33 | 36 | 69/203 | 0 | Crash | 51 | Jacob Companies / Ford |
| Aug 24, 2019 | 24 | Bass Pro Shops Night Race | 38 | 31 | 474/500 | 0 | Running | 52 | Belmont Classic Cars / Chevrolet |
Personal life
Family and relationships
Kyle Weatherman was born and raised in Wentzville, Missouri, as the oldest child of Daryn and Lori Weatherman. His parents provided strong support for his early interest in racing, with his father Daryn actively involved in facilitating go-kart sessions and Legend car competitions alongside Kyle and his siblings from a young age.[2][10] This familial encouragement extended to his career aspirations, enabling his relocation to Concord, North Carolina, at age 17 to pursue professional stock car racing full-time.[5] Weatherman shares a close bond with his younger brother, Clayton Weatherman (born June 5, 1999), who is also a professional stock car racing driver and has competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, including a test session with Lira Motorsports.[30] The brothers began racing together in go-karts, fostering a competitive yet supportive sibling dynamic centered on their shared passion for motorsports. He also has a younger sister, Kerstyn Weatherman, completing the immediate family unit.[31] In his personal life, Weatherman is married to Megan Weatherman, whom he wed in 2023. The couple has been open about their joint experiences with hair thinning, collaborating with Hair Club to raise awareness and share their restorative journey.[32][33][34]Residence and mentorship
Born in Wentzville, Missouri, Kyle Weatherman relocated to North Carolina at the age of 17 to advance his professional racing aspirations.[5] Upon arriving, he settled in Concord and lived with established NASCAR driver Chris Buescher, who became a key mentor in his career.[35][36] Buescher offered valuable guidance on stock car racing techniques, media interactions, and overall career progression, significantly shaping Weatherman's development as a driver.[2] Residing in North Carolina, widely recognized as the epicenter of NASCAR with the majority of teams headquartered in the Charlotte region, provided Weatherman with proximity to industry networks and opportunities for collaboration within the motorsports community.[37]Motorsports career results
NASCAR Cup Series
Kyle Weatherman has made 11 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2017 to 2019.[29]| Date | Race | Track | Start | Finish | Laps | Led | Status | Car # | Team/Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 30, 2017 | 33 | First Data 500 | 38 | 35 | 488/505 | 0 | Running | 51 | Lilly Trucking / Chevrolet |
| Nov 12, 2017 | 35 | Can-Am 500 | 39 | 34 | 294/312 | 0 | Running | 51 | Prevagen / Chevrolet |
| Jul 1, 2018 | 17 | Overton's 400 | 30 | 33 | 255/267 | 0 | Running | 99 | St. Charles Glass / Chevrolet |
| Jul 22, 2018 | 20 | Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 | 35 | 31 | 294/301 | 0 | Running | 99 | StarCom Fiber / Chevrolet |
| Jul 29, 2018 | 21 | Gander Outdoors 400 | 23 | 31 | 161/164 | 0 | Running | 99 | StarCom Fiber / Chevrolet |
| Sep 16, 2018 | 27 | South Point 400 | 33 | 26 | 269/272 | 0 | Running | 99 | StarCom Fiber / Chevrolet |
| Oct 21, 2018 | 32 | Hollywood Casino 400 | 37 | 35 | 216/267 | 0 | Transmission | 99 | StarCom Fiber / Chevrolet |
| Nov 4, 2018 | 34 | AAA Texas 500 | 36 | 34 | 323/337 | 0 | Running | 99 | Rewards.com / Chevrolet |
| Nov 18, 2018 | 36 | Ford EcoBoost 400 | 35 | 36 | 256/267 | 0 | Running | 99 | International Marine / Chevrolet |
| Jun 9, 2019 | 15 | FireKeepers Casino 400 | 33 | 36 | 69/203 | 0 | Crash | 51 | Jacob Companies / Ford |
| Aug 24, 2019 | 24 | Bass Pro Shops Night Race | 38 | 31 | 474/500 | 0 | Running | 52 | Belmont Classic Cars / Chevrolet |
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Kyle Weatherman debuted in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2019 and competed part-time through 2024, primarily driving for teams like JD Motorsports and DGM Racing. Over 139 starts, he recorded no wins or poles but secured five top-10 finishes, with his best career result an eighth-place finish at Dover Motor Speedway in April 2024. His average finishing position across all starts was 24.9, reflecting consistent mid-pack performances in a competitive field.[15][25] The following table summarizes Weatherman's season-by-season statistics in the Xfinity Series from 2018 to 2024, based on official records. No activity occurred in 2018.| Year | Starts | Wins | Top 5s | Top 10s | Poles | Avg. Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2019 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31.6 |
| 2020 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27.0 |
| 2021 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25.8 |
| 2022 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21.7 |
| 2023 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23.3 |
| 2024 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24.0 |
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Weatherman competed in a single NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event, making his series debut in 2015 driving the No. 58 Ford F-150 for Lira Motorsports.[21] This limited participation came shortly after his successful rookie season in the ARCA Menards Series.[21] In the Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20, 2015, Weatherman qualified 21st and finished 23rd, completing 131 of 150 laps while running at the conclusion of the race.[22] He earned 21 points for the effort but did not lead any laps.[23] Across his one start, Weatherman recorded no wins, top-10 finishes, or pole positions, with an average starting position of 21st and an average finishing position of 23rd.[24]| Year | Race | Track | Start | Finish | Car | Laps | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 23 | Homestead-Miami Speedway | 21 | 23 | 58 | 131 | Running |
ARCA Menards Series
Kyle Weatherman competed in the ARCA Menards Series from 2013 to 2017, accumulating 50 starts across multiple teams, including Cunningham Motorsports and Lira Motorsports.[6] His career highlights include one victory at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2015, five pole positions, 25 top-five finishes, 36 top-ten finishes, and 813 laps led.[6] Weatherman earned the 2015 Rookie of the Year award, the inaugural Sioux Chief Short Track Challenge championship that year, and shared the Bill France Four Crown award with teammate Blake Jones in 2015 for strong performances in the series' four dirt and short-track events.[16][17][18] Weatherman's peak seasons were 2015 and 2016, where he made 30 combined starts, achieved his lone win and best points finish of seventh, and secured multiple podium results.2015 Season
In his rookie year, Weatherman made 15 starts, primarily with Cunningham Motorsports, securing one win, ten top fives, thirteen top tens, and three poles while finishing tenth in the final standings with 3,565 points.[19][38]| Position | Race | Track | Date | Starting Pos. | Finishing Pos. | Status/Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARCA 150 presented by Unique Pretzels | New Jersey Motorsports Park | May 24 | 2 | 1 | Running/150 |
| 2 | (Representative top finishes; full season included five second-place results at Salem, Iowa, Springfield, DuQuoin, and Kansas) | Various short tracks | Various | Various | 2 | Running |
| 10 | Overall points | - | - | - | 10th | 3,565 pts |
2016 Season
Weatherman ran 15 of 20 events with Lira Motorsports, posting zero wins but seven top fives and nine top tens en route to a career-best seventh in points with 3,165 points; his top finishes included runner-up results at Iowa Speedway and Kansas Speedway.[9]| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Starts | 15 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Top 5s | 7 |
| Top 10s | 9 |
| Poles | 1 |
| Points Position | 7th (3,165 points) |