With the 2026 midterm elections drawing closer, campaign season is ramping up across the country as candidates compete for federal, state and local offices.
Among those seeking office is former NASCAR driver Austin Theriault, who is running for the Maine House of Representatives. However, Theriault is not the first person from the NASCAR world to put his name on the ballot.
Over the years, several NASCAR drivers, ARCA competitors and racing personalities have pursued elected office, with some going on to win and serve their communities.
These are some of the most notable names.
Austin Theriault
Austin Theriault’s racing career included starts in all three of NASCAR’s national touring series, highlighted by winning the 2017 ARCA Menards Series championship.
After stepping away from full-time racing, the Fort Kent, Maine, native turned his attention toward politics. Theriault was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2022, serving until 2024; in the same year, he ran a campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.
Theriault challenged Democratic incumbent Jared Golden in the 2024 general election but was unsuccessful. He later returned his focus to state politics, filing to run for his former Maine House seat in the upcoming 2026 election.
Richard Petty
One of NASCAR’s all-time greats and one of the sport’s most recognizable figures, Richard Petty entered politics while he was still actively racing. America may have broken away from a king in 1776, but voters in Randolph County had no issue putting The King in office.
Petty was first elected to the Randolph County Board of Commissioners in 1978, serving in the position until stepping down in 1994. Nearly two decades after entering local politics, Petty made a run for statewide office as the Republican nominee for North Carolina Secretary of State in 1996.
Running largely on his name recognition and popularity from NASCAR, Petty ultimately lost to Democratic state senator Elaine Marshall. Marshall holds the office of North Carolina Secretary of State to this day.
Hermie Sadler
Hermie Sadler‘s NASCAR career spanned nearly three decades, beginning in the early 1990s and continuing through 2019. He made starts in all three national touring series, earned two NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victories and later built a successful career in broadcasting.
In 2022, Sadler announced he would run in the Republican primary for Virginia State Senate in 2023, seeking to represent District 17, which included his hometown of Emporia, Va.
Despite endorsements from several high-profile Virginia officials and a strong fundraising effort, Sadler lost the Republican primary to Emily Brewer.
Alex Clubb
Alex Clubb has taken on plenty of responsibilities both at the track and away from it. The ARCA competitor is a driver and team owner while also serving in local government in his hometown of Morris, Ill.
In 2019, Clubb was elected alderman for the Third Ward of the Morris City Council. He later ran for mayor of Morris in 2025, where he was defeated in the Republican primary.
D.L. Wilson
D.L. Wilson is another ARCA driver who ventured into politics. In 2018, Wilson launched a campaign for McLennan County Commissioner in Texas as a Republican.
Campaigning on improving the local mental health system and infrastructure, including roads, Wilson won the Republican primary before ultimately losing in the general election.
Tina Gordon
Tina Gordon was one of the few women competing in NASCAR’s national series during the 2000s. Gordon made starts in the O’Reilly Series, the Truck Series and ARCA.
After stepping away from racing, Gordon entered politics in her home state of Alabama. In 2008, she ran for Cherokee County Commissioner as a Democrat but lost in the primary election.
Mike Joy
A legendary voice in NASCAR broadcasting, Mike Joy has spent decades behind the microphone and has become a recognizable figure for generations of fans. Outside of the broadcast booth, Joy also served in local government after winning election to the Windsor, Conn., Town Council in 1989.
Joy served four consecutive two-year terms on the council while being an active broadcaster. He served on a committee that was responsible for public health and safety.
Marty Reid
Marty Reid built one of the most diverse broadcasting careers in motorsports, covering events across NASCAR’s three national series, IndyCar, drag racing and numerous other forms of racing throughout his career.
In 2020, Reid ran as a Democrat for Hendricks County Council in Indiana. Reid and his running mates ultimately lost the general election to the Republican slate.
Logan Kendall joined the Frontstretch team in 2025 as the Tuesday news writer and eventually branched out into assisting with Frontstretch's social media and video team operations as well. Outside of motorsports, he has an interest in history, meteorology, and government.
Cale Yarborough served on the Florence South Carolina County Council for many years.