Luke Fenhaus, a Wisconsin native who honed his racing skills on short tracks, will craft his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut at Daytona International Speedway on February 14th, driving the No. 5 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Hettinger Racing.
The announcement comes as NASCAR prepares for the 2026 season, which will once again bypass Wisconsin for its national series races. Despite the absence of races in the state, several Wisconsin drivers are slated to compete across NASCAR’s top three series.
Hettinger Racing, also making its series debut at Daytona, cited Fenhaus’s rapid development and racing acumen as key factors in their decision. “My background is in Late Model racing, and I’ve seen Luke’s development in real time. He’s smart, he takes care of his equipment, he learns quickly, and, he wins,” said Chris Hettinger, owner of Hettinger Racing, in a statement released Tuesday.
Fenhaus’s path to NASCAR began with snowmobile racing, following in the footsteps of his family. He transitioned to go-karts and Bandoleros, driven by a desire to forge his own path and build upon his family’s connections in motorsports. A pivotal moment came with his victory in the 2021 Slinger Nationals, making him the youngest winner in the event’s history. This win led to a start in the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) at Slinger Superspeedway, where he led 92 laps.
The 21-year-classic Fenhaus has already logged 15 starts in the Craftsman Truck Series over the past two seasons with ThorSport, earning a pole and a career-best finish of third at Michigan. His debut with Hettinger Racing marks a significant step in his career, with the possibility of a full-season ride contingent on securing sponsorship.
Meanwhile, other Wisconsin drivers are preparing for the season. Josh Bilicki will compete full-time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with SS-GreenLight Racing, while Ty Majeski returns to the Craftsman Truck Series with ThorSport, sporting a new number. Sam Mayer will also be a full-time competitor in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving for Haas Factory Team Chevrolet. Parker Retzlaff will race full-time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for Viking Motorsports.
While NASCAR’s national divisions will not race in Wisconsin in 2026, the state will be represented by these drivers as the season begins at Daytona.
