STARTUP TO STANDOUT; JAN QUALKENBUSCH BUILT GREATNESS FROM THE GROUND

PHOENIX – Jan’s Racing, the dream of owner Jan Qualkenbush, became a reality. In 2025, this team emerged as a contender in the ARCA Menards Series West, finishing second and third in points.

But by all accounts, this team shouldn’t be a reality. Qualkenbush didn’t grow up racing, nor did he have years' worth of experience with the business. Regardless, Qualkenbush spent 45 years working to make his vision a reality in 2024, with Nick Joanides and Rip Michels at the wheel.

“It's an honor to work with such good kids, such good families, and such a good crew. I couldn't do it without a lot of people to volunteer a lot of countless hours and help,” Qualkenbush said.

“To do this, at some point, you got to have a plan, and you got a business plan sometimes, and this was kind of mine, and I'm just honored to be in good enough health to do it.”

Qualkenbush suffered a traumatic brain injury and concussion in 2018, which nearly took his life. The TBI survivor now finds peace in the sport and said that racing is a form of his recovery.

“I'm doing something that I want to do, it's therapy for me,” Qualkenbush said. “I believe, when you're doing something you love, it's rehab. It's just automatic. It happens. I'd rather do this and be in a hospital.”

Once the 2025 season started, Qualkenbush hired Late Model standout and Madera Speedway track champion Kyle Keller to wheel the No. 71 Ford. They quickly found success together.

“I was super excited to be able to drive for him this year,” Keller said. The team fired off quickly, notching three runner-up results before breaking through for their first win at Tri-City Raceway.

“This team is really, really good,” Keller said. “I was able to get a win and a lot of second-place finishes. Robbie was able to get a win.

“So the team's there.”

The foundation has been set, but Quackenbush foresees a long road still ahead.

“We work in basically an old barn,” Quackenbush said. “I don't have a lot of the modern equipment that these other teams have. If I had it, we'd be right up front with them, I guarantee you.”

Regardless of those setbacks, Quackenbush continued to press forward, signing a still unproven Robbie Kennealy. At 19, Kennealy built a strong Late Model resume but lacked an ARCA seat. Kennealy flew under the radar for the first half of the season before finding victory in Roseville.

“We beat some really big, high-caliber teams,” Kennealy said. “It's my first full-time year, and it was our first year as the entire group together. 

“And we're all one family, and we never gave up, that's for sure. We just worked really hard all year long. And every single person who had a hand in that needs to be thanked, for sure.”

Keller and Kennealy completed the ARCA West podium, finishing behind Trevor Huddleston and High Point Racing. As for the 2026 ambitions, Quackenbush has high expectations for growth.

“There's a way of doing it, the right way and the wrong way,” Quackenbush said. “I've learned how to do it the right way, because I've had nothing but great people around me.”