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Jerry Pitts Racing (JPR), also called JP Racing, is an American professional stock car racing team that currently competes in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series West. In the ARCA Menards Series, they field the No. 7 Toyota Camry part-time for Takuma Koga. In the ARCA Menards Series West, they field the No. 5 Toyota part-time for Kole Raz and Sean Hingorani, the No. 6 Ford Fusion part-time for Caleb Shrader, and the No. 7 Toyota full-time for Takuma Koga. The team is owned by former Gene Price Motorsports crew chief, Jerry Pitts, along with his brother Brian.

History

Before the team was founded, Pitts formerly co-owned Jefferson Pitts Racing, alongside fellow and former Gene Price Motorsports crew chief, Jeff Jefferson. In August 2019, it was announced that Jefferson and Pitts would form their own separate teams following the end of the season. Jefferson would remain at his base in Naches, Washington, while Pitts would relocate to Pahrump, Nevada, his hometown.

ARCA Menards Series

Car No. 7 history

Takuma Koga (2021–present)

Since 2021, the team has competed in the ARCA Menards Series/ARCA Menards Series West combination race at Phoenix Raceway, with Takuma Koga driving the No. 7 entry, as part of a full-time West Series schedule. Koga's best finish in the race was an 18th-place finish in 2022.

Car No. 7 results

ARCA Menards Series West

Car No. 5 history

Multiple drivers (2021–present)

In 2021, the team would run a second entry part-time, fielding the No. 5 car for Kyle Keller at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring. Keller started 8th and finished 5th in the race. They returned in 2022, fielding the car for Jacob Smith at the same track, where he started 11th and finished 9th. Smith was originally scheduled to run four races for the team in 2023, but did not end up happening. The entry was increased to seven races that year, with Xfinity Series driver Riley Herbst running the road course races at Portland and Sonoma, late model driver Kole Raz at Shasta and Evergreen, Buddy Shepherd at Roseville, and Dustin Ash at The Bullring and Madera. They scored a third-place effort with Herbst at Sonoma, along with Raz in his two starts. The team returned part-time for 2024, where Raz would give the them their first career West Series win at Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway, holding off Trevor Huddleston in a close finish. 2023 ARCA West champion Sean Hingorani was announced as the driver for Portland.

Car No. 5 results

Car No. 6 history

Caleb Shrader (2024)

In 2024, the team will run a third entry for Caleb Shrader at Portland, fielding the No. 6 car.

Car No. 6 results

Car No. 7 history

Multiple drivers (2020)

JP Racing ran their first race as an independent team in the season-opener at The Bullring, with Austin Reed driving their No. 7 entry. Kris Wright would pilot the car for the road course doubleheader races at the Utah Motorsports Campus, finishing 2nd and 3rd in both races. Devin Dodson drove the entry at Irwindale and Phoenix, with Kyle Keller driving at The Bullring and Kern County.

Takuma Koga (2021–present)

On January 20, 2021, it was announced that Japanese driver Takuma Koga would pilot the No. 7 car full-time for the upcoming season, as the team switched from running Fords to Toyotas. Koga started out the season with a 23rd-place finish at Phoenix. Throughout the season, he scored four top ten finishes, with a 5th-place effort at Portland. He ended the season 8th in points. 2022 was an improvement for Koga, scoring five top ten finishes with two top fives, ironically both coming from Portland. During the October race at The Bullring, Koga made his 100th career West Series start. He ended with a career-best 6th in points. 2023 was an up-and-down year for Koga, scoring four top tens and a 9th-place points finish.

Car No. 7 results

Car No. 70 history

Kyle Keller (2023)

In 2023, Kyle Keller returned to JPR and ran a full season with the team in the No. 70 car. In the previous year, he ran for his own team in a partnership with JPR. Keller started out the season with a 5th-place finish at Phoenix. He earned six top tens throughout the season and finished 8th in points. Keller left the team at the end of the season to join the newly formed Kennealy Keller Motorsports, a team which he co-owns with Robbie Kennealy.

References

1. "Jefferson Pitts Racing Taking Separate Paths". Newswire. August 14, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
2. "ARCA Menards Series Owner Standings For 2021 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
3. "ARCA Menards Series Owner Standings For 2022 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
4. "ARCA Menards Series Owner Standings For 2023 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
5. "ARCA Menards Series Owner Standings For 2024 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
6. "Jacob Smith Ascends to ARCA Menards Series West For Las Vegas Debut". Kickin' The Tires. October 7, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
7. Srigley, Joseph (January 11, 2023). "Jacob Smith Competing in At Least Four ARCA West Races with Jerry Pitts Racing". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
8. Fenwick, Adam (June 1, 2023). "NOTEBOOK: Five NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers are returning to their ARCA roots at Portland". ARCA. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
9. Branscum, Benjamine (April 21, 2024). "Kole Raz Out Duels Trevor Huddleston, Takes The Checkered At Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
10. ^ "ARCA Menards Series West Owner Standings For 2021 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
11. ^ "ARCA Menards Series West Owner Standings For 2022 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
12. ^ "ARCA Menards Series West Owner Standings For 2023 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
13. ^ "ARCA Menards Series West Owner Standings For 2024 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
14. Srigley, Joseph (January 20, 2021). "Takuma Koga Joins Jerry Pitts Racing for 2021 ARCA West Campaign". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
15. Fenwick, Adam (October 13, 2022). "NOTEBOOK: Takuma Koga set for 100th West Series start Friday in Las Vegas". ARCA. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
16. "ARCA Menards Series West Owner Standings For 2020 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
17. Fenwick, Adam (April 26, 2023). "Development-focused: Kyle Keller juggling racing and managing a driver development program on the West Coast". ARCA. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
18. Branscum, Benjamine (September 1, 2023). "Kennealy Keller Motorsports Announces Launch of ARCA West Development Team for 2024". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved May 29, 2024.

External links

Jerry Pitts Racing owner statistics at Racing-Reference

• ARCA Menards Series teams
• NASCAR teams