Luke Fenhaus’ 2026 outlook paints the perfect picture of the business of NASCAR from the up-and-coming driver’s standpoint.
Less than two weeks before the season openers for three national series, the 21-year-old prospect from Wausau was talking about his plans for the season. His O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut at Daytona International Speedway with Hettinger Racing, a new team, had been announced the week prior.
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But after that?
“It’s hard for me to really say how many races, just because it floats around and money is here and there,” Fenhaus said. “I mean, it really could turn into one race, but if things work out, it could be a full-time deal.”
How’s that for a range? One, 33 or somewhere in between.
The importance of funding isn’t a revelation, but this reminder of the extreme nature is stark.
“I have some money behind me on my end of things, and then Chris [Hettinger] has some money behind him and through a couple different people we are getting a few different other sponsors,” said the Wausau East High School graduate. “Obviously Daytona is going to be the first one, but I wouldn’t think it would be the last one.
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“If you don’t have at least a million dollars behind you, it’s pretty stressful. But it’s all working out.”
However the year plays out, Fenhaus is excited to take the next step in his career and hopeful that with Ford’s help, Hettinger’s support, desire and dedication, whatever they do together will be a positive experience for a team and a driver making the move from late models.
Wisconsin short track standout Luke Fenhaus has raced 15 times in the Craftsman Truck Series the past two seasons but has turned his attention to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with Hettinger Racing.
Fenhaus burst onto the scene in 2021, when he won the Slinger Nationals at age 17, received a golden ticket to the Slinger Speedway Superstar Racing Experience event and validated it by racing to second between Marco Andretti and Tony Stewart on live national television.
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Fenhaus raced in ARCA in 2023, made his NASCAR debut in 2024 in the Craftsman Truck Series and had half a truck season in ‘25. In 15 races, all with ThorSport, he has three top-10 finishes, a best of third and a pole.
Now Fenhaus’ focus is on the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the recently renamed second of NASCAR’s three national divisions.
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Numerous industry connections, including one with a potential sponsor, facilitated his link to Hettinger, Fenhaus said. The deal to drive the No. 5 Mustang came together over a couple of weeks in December.
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Ford helped get Fenhaus approved for Daytona and is aiding Hettinger and Fenhaus with time in its simulator. The team has the 2025 owners points from Cope Family Racing’s No. 70 car, so Fenhaus will make the race at Daytona.
But the startup team, led by crew chief Joe Williams Jr., is relatively small and inexperienced, and the manufacturer doesn’t have a top-tier team in the series since Haas Factory Team switched back to Chevrolet.
Whatever comes will be a challenging climb.
“I have a good feeling about it. I really do,” Fenhaus said. “I feel that Chris has put a lot of money into this, has put a lot of work into it for it to be right. And Doug Yates’ engines every race that we’re going to be going to is a big thing.
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“I don’t expect anything else other than to go out there and try to win races. Obviously, we may struggle some places, but we just got to work through those issues. … My main thing right now is just to put in the work and everyone else surrounding will do the same.”
That may be the only certainty the sport provides.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wausau native Luke Fenhaus in NASCAR O’Reilly Series with new team
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