Spire Motorsports’ 15-year Development Manager wins Arca Race by Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen, NY -five days after he turned 15 and eligible to chase in the Arca Menards series, won his series debut Friday at Watkins Glen International.

Mckee, born in 2010 – the same year Instagram debuted and introduced the iPad – took the lead with three laps when Brent Crews’ car came to a standstill due to an alternator problem. Crews led the first 38 rounds in the 41-Round race on the 2.45 mile roadway. Crews finished ninth. Tyler Reif finishes second.

“I learned a lot,” McKee said of his first Arca race. “I got better and better as we went through the race. … I feel like I learned a lot, what the most important thing we are here to do. ‘

Chris Buescher is looking for his second consecutive victory at Watkins Glen, while Shane van Gisbergen goes for his fourth win in a row on a street or roadway.

The victory made McKee the second youngest winner in the series history. Cup manager Todd Gilliland was 15 years and 2 days when he won in his Arca debut. McKee is scheduled to run in an Arca car at Phoenix later this season.

Shane van Gisbergen goes for his fourth consecutive away game, while Chase Elliott tries to tie Tony Stewart for second place in the win of all time in the cup.

“I would say winning in my debut is one thing, but just winning in general is another one,” McKee said.

McKee, who does not have a driver’s permit, leaves a driver’s license, is homeschooling and has a race schedule packed by November. He chases in the Cars tour and also in a Trans Am series.

McKee won a pair of borrowed race shoes on Friday, which he said was a few sizes too small. McKee said he left his race shoes at home and borrowed some from Connor Mosack.

This is the second time McKee has won at Watkins Glen this summer. He won a Trans AM-2 race on this track. He also won in that series on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and won a Cars touring race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, including in that series.

McKee received attention when he won a 100-Round Cars Tour Pro Late Model Race in Dillon (South Carolina) car Speedway in 2023 at the age of 12 to become the youngest winner in the series history.