Ryan Ellis

Ryan James Ellis (born November 29, 1989) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 43/45 Chevrolet Camaro for Alpha Prime Racing. He has also competed in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the past. Racing career Early career (1994–2005) A third-generation racecar driver, Ellis began driving Quarter Midgets at age 4 and nearly won the first QMA Dirt National Championship race he ever entered. He then went on to a stellar 7-year career in Quarter Midgets, becoming Virginia's all-time QMA leader and one of the most successful open-wheel racers in the state. A threat in QMA National competition since his debut, Ellis was soon on the lookout for his next conquest. Entering the Legends scene at the age of 12, Ellis achieved national success campaigning the open-wheel INEX Legends Cars. Winning Young Lion and Semi-Pro titles in 2002, 2003, and 2004, Ellis toured the nation in 2005 as a member of INEX’s elite Legends Pro division, capturing the 2005 Virginia State Pro Championship and finishing 4th in the National Pro Series. Ellis won dozens of Legends features on the Bullrings of Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Still today, Ellis returns to the ovals with his Legends Car several times each year. NASCAR to road racing Ellis had a short-lived entry into the full-bodied world of NASCAR during 2006. Quickly, Ellis was the NASCAR Late Model Stock Car (LMSC) Rookie pacesetter at his home track, Manassas’ fabled Old Dominion Speedway. Ellis competed sparingly that spring in both Virginia and North Carolina in NASCAR’s highest Weekly Racing Series division.