Ryan Ellis

Ryan James Ellis (born November 29, 1989) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Young's Motorsports. He has also competed in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the past.

Racing career Early career (1994–2005)

A third-generation racecar driver, Ellis began driving Quarter Midgets at the age of four and nearly won the first QMA Dirt National Championship race he ever entered. He then went on to a stellar seven-year career in Quarter Midgets, becoming Virginia's all-time QMA leader and one of the most successful open-wheel racers in the state. A threat in QMA National competition since his debut, Ellis was soon on the lookout for his next conquest. Entering the Legends scene at the age of twelve, Ellis achieved national success campaigning for the open-wheel INEX Legends Cars. Winning Young Lion and Semi-Pro titles in 2002, 2003, and 2004, Ellis toured the nation in 2005 as a member of INEX’s elite Legends Pro division, capturing the 2005 Virginia State Pro Championship and finishing fourth in the National Pro Series. Ellis won dozens of Legends features on the Bullrings of Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Still today, Ellis returns to the ovals with his Legends Car several times each year.

NASCAR to road racing

Ellis had a short-lived entry into the world of NASCAR in 2006. Quickly, Ellis was the NASCAR Late Model Stock Car (LMSC) Rookie pacesetter at his home track, Manassas’ fabled Old Dominion Speedway. Ellis competed sparingly that spring in both Virginia and North Carolina in NASCAR’s highest Weekly Racing Series division.

In 2006, when he wasn’t running Late Models, Ellis raced his Legends Car, going Road Racing with the National Auto Sport Association (NASA), where he won the majority of the events he entered. Ellis won the 2006 NASA Hyperfest/Summit Point event, captured the 2006 NASA Mid-Atlantic Legends Road Racing Championship, and lost the inaugural 2006 NASA National Championships at Mid-Ohio by a mere two feet. At the end of the 2006 season, Ellis was invited (for the second year in a row) to the second annual Performance Racing Industry National Invitational race at the Orlando Speedworld bullring. In only his second Oval track race of the season with the Legends Car, Ellis qualified in the top ten and was running fifth in the prestigious nationally televised event.

In 2007, Ryan Ellis Racing re-established its own internally managed race programs featuring a Pro Legends Car oval racing entry, and in mid-year, they also began contesting a Mazda Spec Miata race car in a partial season of both NASA and SCCA Road Racing. That program led to a full-on 2008 NASA National and Regional Championship chase in the Spec Miata class. In 2008, Ellis finished as runner-up by two points in the NASA Mid Atlantic Spec Miata championship. He was also the highest-finishing driver from his region at the 2008 NASA Spec Miata Nationals, finished second in the inaugural Mazda Teen Challenge program, and was voted “Driver of the Year” by NASA Mid Atlantic.

Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup career (2008–2010)

In February 2009, Ellis was selected in a nationwide search by Volkswagen of America as one of only fifteen new drivers from North America invited to enter their 2009 Jetta TDI Cup series. When he wasn’t racing somewhere in the TDI Cup, Ellis spent the 2009 season racing his beloved Mazda Spec Miata with NASA out on the West Coast – where he dominated the 2009 Teen Mazda Challenge and won the season Championship. Ellis also raced at Old Dominion Speedway’s 3/8 oval in 2009, winning another Legends race and driving a NASCAR Late Model once again. At the end of the 2009 season, Ellis entered the Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup twin finale(s) at Virginia International Raceway. There, he surprised the series regulars by running in the lead pack both days and posting solid top-ten finishes in his first time in an MX-5 Cup car. The 2009 season closed with a coveted invite to the Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development MX-5 Cup Shootout, where Ellis (the youngest of the five finalists) finished as the runner-up in the closest competition ever.

TDI Cup career and CTSCC ST Rookie of the Year (2010–2013)

In 2010, Ellis won the first two races of the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup season before finishing the season sixth in points. Two wins and two poles, both at Virginia International Raceway, fastest lap at two races (Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and VIR), three podiums (VIRx2 and Puebla), led three races at Virginia International Raceway twice, and Road America), and set a new track record at VIR. At the end of the season, he tested with many Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge teams before signing with APR Motorsport for the 2011 season.

At the 2011 season opener for the Continental series at Daytona International Speedway, Ellis broke the track record in qualifying by nearly two seconds, qualified first, and won the first race of his rookie season with teammate Ian Baas. He then won at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Round 2 and finished third at the Continental Tire event at Road America, resulting in a third-place finish in the overall points standings and winning the ST Rookie of the Year.

Ellis signed with Insight Racing in 2012 and won the 2012 Kia 200 with co-driver Martin Jensen before the team folded due to a lack of funding. Ellis was quickly signed to i-MOTO Racing and completed much of the 2012 season with them.

In 2013, Ellis was signed to drive with co-driver Mathew Pombo with i-MOTO Racing again. He qualified on pole at Daytona and led much of the race before retiring due to mechanical failure. Ellis qualified in the top three for many races with i-MOTO before being hired by Team SkullCandy Nissan for the balance of the 2013 season.

NASCAR (2014–present)

For 2014, Ellis moved to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving a partial schedule in the No. 28 fielded by FDNY Racing. In 2014 and 2015, Ellis drove for various of teams in the Xfinity Series and the Truck Series. During the season, Ellis made his Sprint Cup Series debut in the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500, driving the No. 33 for Circle Sport. After qualifying 42nd, he finished 40th in the rain-shortened event, eight laps behind race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. In 2016, Ellis began running multiple races for BK Racing, driving the No. 93 car in the Cup Series with sponsorship from ScienceLogic, starting at Richmond in April.

With a lack of sponsorship available, Ellis became the public relations representative for Go Fas Racing and Matt DiBenedetto. When DiBenedetto left BK Racing after the 2016 season, Ellis was one of the leading candidates to replace him in the seat before drivers with personal funding took over the ride. In addition to his PR roles with GFR, Ellis continued competing part-time in the Xfinity Series with B. J. McLeod Motorsports.

After spending 2020 completely away from the driver's seat, Ellis returned to BJMM in 2021 on a seven-race Xfinity schedule in the No. 99. At Mid-Ohio, Ellis was involved in a late wreck with friend Cody Ware. To make amends, Ware's family team Rick Ware Racing offered Ellis a ride for the Kansas Cup race.

In 2022, he joined Alpha Prime Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series on a partial schedule. In his first race with Alpha Prime, Ellis scored a career-best thirteenth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. On September 15, it was announced that Ellis would return to Alpha Prime Racing for the 2023 season on an expanded, but still part-time schedule. He would later go on to compete in almost every race of the season, also moving up to full-time in the No. 43 in 2024. On October 18, 2024, it was announced that Ellis would leave APR at the end of the 2024 season and join DGM Racing for a full-time season in 2025.

On December 6, 2024, DGM Racing announced that Ellis would drive the No. 71 for the 2025 season. On May 24, 2025, Ellis scored his first career top-ten finish across all three national series at Charlotte, where he finished in eighth place.

Personal life Ellis currently resides in Huntersville, North Carolina with his wife, Allison Ellis, who is locally known for her philanthropic endeavors and her love for dogs.

Ellis' parents are Jane Ellis and Jim Ellis of Ashburn, Virginia. He has a younger sister named Kara. Ellis graduated from Stone Bridge High School in 2008 and attended George Mason University (GMU) before finishing his degree through Appalachian State University. Ellis is a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He used to serve as a resident Pro Racing Instructor at Allsports Grand Prix in Sterling, Virginia, and hosts his own podcast, Not Another Racing Podcast. Fellow NASCAR driver Matt DiBenedetto is also a host on CBS/WJFK's weekly “In the Pits” radio talk show. Outside of racing, Ellis is an avid hockey player and has played professionally with the Potomac Mavericks of the PIHA and for the GMU college hockey team. Ellis also plays hockey recreationally, with several adults playing ice hockey and inline leagues. A dedicated fan of the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals, Ellis added an anti-Pittsburgh Penguins logo to the back of some of his helmets, before designing a Capitals-themed helmet in 2018 that eventually commemorated the team's first Stanley Cup victory. Ellis still plays hockey for a team based in Charlotte.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Cup Series NASCAR Cup Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Pts Ref 2015 Circle Sport 33 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL MAR TEX BRI RCH TAL KAN CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY KEN NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH CHI NHA DOV CLT KAN TAL MAR TEX PHO40 HOM 75th 01 2016 BK Racing 93 Toyota DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL MAR TEX BRI RCH37 TAL KAN DOV CLT POC MCH SON DAY KEN IND32 POC GLN BRI MCH DAR RCH CHI NHA DOV CLT KAN TAL MAR TEX38 PHO HOM 58th 01 Premium Motorsports 98 Chevy NHA37 2021 Rick Ware Racing 15 Chevy DAY DRC HOM LVS PHO ATL BRD MAR RCH TAL KAN DAR DOV COA CLT SON NSH POC POC ROA ATL NHA GLN IRC MCH DAY DAR RCH BRI LVS TAL ROV TEX KAN36 MAR PHO 66th 01

O'Reilly Auto Parts Series NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Pts Ref 2012 Hamilton Means Racing 52 Chevy DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX RCH TAL DAR IOW CLT DOV MCH ROA39 KEN DAY NHA CHI IND IOW GLNDNQ CGVDNQ BRI ATL RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 99th 5 2013 DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX RCH TAL DAR CLT DOV IOW MCH ROA KEN DAY NHA CHI IND IOW GLN MOH38 BRI ATL 55th 57 SR² Motorsports 24 Toyota RCH31 CHI KEN35 DOV32 KAN CLT TEX35 PHO HOM36 2014 DAY PHO LVS28 BRI CAL TEX DAR RCH TAL 37th 104 The Motorsports Group 46 Chevy IOW40 CLT ROA34 KEN DAY CHI37 IND IOW GLN CHI39 KEN39 DOV40 KANDNQ CLTDNQ TEX40 PHODNQ HOMDNQ Rick Ware Racing 15 Chevy DOV38 23 MCH29 JGL Racing 93 Dodge NHA36 RCH24 JD Motorsports 01 Chevy MOHQL Vision Racing 37 Dodge BRIDNQ ATL 2015 JGL Racing 26 Toyota DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL IOW35 CLT DOV MCH CHI DAY 102nd 01 Jimmy Means Racing 79 Chevy KEN39 NHA IND IOW Rick Ware Racing 15 Chevy GLN22 BRI28 ROA RCH35 CHI KEN37 JD Motorsports 01 Chevy MOHQL Rick Ware Racing 17 Ford DAR40 Obaika Racing 97 Chevy DOV26 CLT23 Rick Ware Racing 17 Chevy KAN34 TEX PHO HOM 2016 15 Ford DAY ATL LVSQL PHOQL± CAL 30th 191 Obaika Racing 97 Chevy TEX30 BRI35 RCH29 TAL35 IND30 IOW GLN30 KEN22 TEX33 Rick Ware Racing 25 Chevy DOV31 CLT POC25 MCH IOW MOH18 BRI ROA DAR33 RCH CHI27 DOV36 15 DAY15 KEN NHA Obaika Racing 77 Chevy CLTDNQ KAN36 PHODNQ HOMDNQ 2017 SS-Green Light Racing 07 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL CLT DOV POC MCH IOW DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA21 DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 63rd 16 2018 B. J. McLeod Motorsports 78 Toyota DAY30 ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW CHI DAY KEN NHA IOW GLN MOH BRI 57th 27 Chevy ROA17 DAR IND LVS RCH ROV DOV KAN TEX PHO HOM 2019 99 Toyota DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW23 CHI DAY KEN NHA IOW GLN MOH BRI 59th 30 78 ROA21 DAR IND LVS RCH ROV DOV KAN TEX PHO HOM 2021 B. J. McLeod Motorsports 99 Toyota DAY DRC HOM LVS PHO ATL MAR TAL DAR16 DOV COA24 CLT MOH28 TEX NSH POC DAR35 RCH BRI LVS TAL ROV TEX KAN 44th 67 78 ROA30 ATL NHA GLN IRC MCH DAY 99 Chevy MAR23 Mike Harmon Racing 74 Chevy PHODNQ 2022 Alpha Prime Racing 44 Chevy DAY CAL LVS13 PHO16 ATL COA RCH TAL32 TEX30 CLT13 PIR NSH24 ROA ATL NHA POC IRC36 MCH27 GLN DAY DAR22 KAN BRI19 TEX TAL ROV LVS HOM MAR PHO 36th 155 45 MARDNQ DOV20 DAR 2023 43 DAY35 CAL34 LVS27 PHO19 ATL23 COA20 RCH15 MAR28 DOV25 DAR33 CLT27 PIR SON NSH28 CSC31 ATL25 NHA19 POC18 ROA35 MCH23 IRC29 GLN30 DAY32 DAR29 KAN17 BRI18 TEX13 ROV36 HOM24 MAR24 PHO26 25th 366 45 TAL11 43 Ford LVS27 2024 Chevy DAY11 ATL25 LVS22 PHO21 COA33 RCH27 MAR26 TEX26 TAL26 DOV13 DAR38 CLT27 PIR17 SON26 IOW14 NHA35 NSH23 CSC21 POC36 IND23 MCH14 DAY37 DAR21 ATL21 GLN15 BRI24 KAN19 TAL15 ROV31 LVS28 HOM25 MAR18 PHO25 23rd 441 2025 DGM Racing 71 Chevy DAY23 ATL18 COA16 PHO33 LVS34 HOM20 MAR18 DAR22 BRI27 CAR33 TAL16 TEX23 CLT8 NSH36 MXC32 POC32 ATL21 CSC25 SON27 DOV30 IND21 IOW25 GLN29 DAY11 PIR21 GTW18 BRI38 KAN26 ROV24 LVS29 TAL27 MAR22 PHO21 28th 419 2026 Young's Motorsports 02 Chevy DAY6 ATL22 COA34 PHO38 LVS30 DAR32 MAR36 CAR22 BRI30 KAN22 TAL36 TEX24 GLN34 DOV25 CLT21 NSH29 POC24 COR30 SON23 CHI22 ATL23 IND32 IOW23 DAY17 DAR GTW BRI LVS CLT PHO TAL MAR HOM -* -* † – Qualified for Landon Cassill · ‡ – Qualified for Stanton Barrett · ± – Qualified but replaced by Todd Peck

Camping World Truck Series NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Pts Ref 2014 Rosenblum Racing 28 Chevy DAY18 MAR CLT27 POC19 MCH BRI MSP CHI NHA LVS TAL23 MAR 100th 01 JJC Racing 0 Chevy KAN28 DOV34 TEX27 GTW KEN32 IOW ELD Win-Tron Racing 35 Toyota TEX31 PHO HOM 2015 FDNY Racing 28 Chevy DAY16 ATL MAR CLTDNQ POC20 MCH 29th 192 MAKE Motorsports 1 Chevy KAN20 DOV24 TEX20 GTW17 IOW29 BRI28 50 KEN30 ELD MSP31 CHI29 NHA LVS TALDNQ MAR TEX PHO HOM 2016 FDNY Racing 28 Chevy DAYDNQ POC20 BRI 100th 01 MAKE Motorsports 50 Chevy ATLDNQ MAR 1 KAN30 DOV CLT TEX30 IOW GTW KEN ELD Norm Benning Racing 6 Chevy MCH31 MSP CHI NHA LVS MB Motorsports 63 Chevy TALDNQ MAR JJC Racing 10 Chevy TEXDNQ PHO HOM 2021 Reaume Brothers Racing 34 Chevy DAY DRC LVS ATL34 BRD RCH KAN DAR COA CLT TEX NSH POC KNX GLN GTW 114th 01 33 Toyota DAR37 BRI LVS TAL MAR PHO

Season still in progress Ineligible for series points