Talented teen Tristan McKee making ARCA debut with Spire Motorsports at Watkins Glen

Another talented, young prospect is getting his first shot at ARCA Menards Series action. Tristan McKee is ready to make his debut. McKee has been cutting his teeth in the CARS Tour and Trans-Am Series. He is seen as one of the best prospects in NASCAR.

While we will have to wait a few more years to see Tristan McKee race full-time in NASCAR, he is going to be around here and there. The development process of McKee is already getting to the point where you could argue he’s starting to outgrow the series he races in right now.

McKee is going to make his ARCA debut in the Spire 77 car at Watkins Glen. He will then race at Phoenix in the same car. Born in 2010 in Kannapolis, racing is all that McKee has known in his life.

Putting this young gun on the track.@Racing7Tristan will pilot our No. 77 Chevrolet SS in the ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen and Phoenix later this season.

📰: https://t.co/afMQ0101pI pic.twitter.com/56G63qgO5O

— Spire Motorsports (@SpireMotorsport) July 24, 2025

“Tristan McKee is one of those rare young drivers who makes you lean in and pay attention,” said Spire Motorsports President Bill Anthony in a press release. “He’s shown talent, maturity, and the kind of work ethic that earns respect across our organization. We’re excited to get him some seat time in the ARCA Menards Series and let him grow at the right pace. Watkins Glen and Phoenix will be great tests, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do in Spire colors.”

Depending on who is in the field at Watkins Glen, Tristan McKee is going to be in contention for the win. He is currently leading the standings in the Trans-AM TA 2 Series. So, we know his road course racing skills are going to be top-notch.

Tristan McKee has already won at Watkins Glen in 2025

The Trans-Am Series has already raced at Watkins Glen in 2025. So, Tristan McKee knows the track, and he knows it pretty well. McKee won his TA 2 Series race at the track earlier this season and surely has his eyes on the checkered flag for his ARCA debut.

I think you can put Tristan McKee in that same group as Brent Crews, Corey Day, and Connor Zilisch. These are young and talented drivers who possess skills that could potentially make them Cup Series stars one day. They are multifaceted, can race on road courses, ovals, and anything else you put them on.

Spire Motorsports has been developing Corey Day and Tristan McKee in the ARCA program. With the close ties to Hendrick Motorsports, it isn’t surprising to see these young drivers get the resources they need to succeed. While we won’t see Tristan McKee on the big tracks for a few years, he’s one to watch.