Austin Theriault
Austin Leo Theriault | |||||||
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Member of the Maine House of Representatives from the 1st district | |||||||
Assumed office December 7, 2022 | |||||||
Preceded by | Kristi Mathieson | ||||||
Personal details | |||||||
Born | Fort Kent, Maine, U.S. | January 23, 1994||||||
Political party | Republican | ||||||
Education | University of Maine, Presque Isle | ||||||
NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
5 races run over 1 year | |||||||
2019 position | 35th | ||||||
First race | 2019 Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 (Loudon) | ||||||
Last race | 2019 1000Bulbs.com 500 (Talladega) | ||||||
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NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
6 races run over 2 years | |||||||
2016 position | 120th | ||||||
Best finish | 40th (2014) | ||||||
First race | 2014 Get To Know Newton 250 (Iowa) | ||||||
Last race | 2016 Ticket Galaxy 200 (Phoenix) | ||||||
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NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career | |||||||
13 races run over 4 years | |||||||
2019 position | 107th | ||||||
Best finish | 24th (2015) | ||||||
First race | 2015 NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Daytona) | ||||||
Last race | 2019 TruNorth Global 250 (Martinsville) | ||||||
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Statistics current as of November 17, 2019. | |||||||
Austin Leo Theriault (born January 23, 1994) is an American professional stock car racing driver and politician who currently works in driver development. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 52 for Rick Ware Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, driving the No. 92 Ford F-150 for RBR Enterprises. He won the ARCA Racing Series championship in 2017, driving for Ken Schrader Racing.
Theriault is the representative of the 1st district of the Maine House of Representatives, serving since 2022.[1] He is the Republican nominee for Maine's 2nd congressional district in 2024.
Racing career
[edit]Early career
[edit]A native of Fort Kent, Maine,[2][3][4] he made his racing debut at the age of 13 in 2007 at Spud Speedway in Caribou, Maine Driving in the local racing divisions before moving up part-time to the touring late model division in 2009 where he qualified for his first American Canadian Tour race at Oxford Plains Speedway.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/57_austin_theriault.jpg/220px-57_austin_theriault.jpg)
Theriault joined the ACT Late Model Tour full-time in 2010, finishing seventh in points driving the family-owned #57ME with a best finish of second. He started the 2011 season in a second car for RPM Motorsports, but returned to the family team mid-season, scoring eight top-ten finishes en route to third place in points. In 2012, Theriault finished no worse than ninth all year, scoring eight top-five runs and earning his first career ACT win at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway en route to another third-place points finish.
Theriault started his first Pro All-Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model Touring Series event in 2010. He became a development driver for Brad Keselowski Racing during the 2012 season, and switched focus to Super Late Models following the ACT season, making selected starts throughout the Southeast for BKR while running part-time in the PASS North Tour in 2013 and 2014. Theriault won four PASS races between 2012 and 2014.
Theriault occasionally competed in other racing events and divisions from 2011 to 2014, including the ARCA Midwest Tour, World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, CARS X-1R Pro Cup Series, Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour, Sunoco Gulf Coast Championship Series, CRA JEGS All-Star Tour, CRA Super Series Southern Division, CRA Super Series, ACT and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.
On July 20, 2013, Theriault competed in the prestigious IWK 250, along with car owner Brad Keselowski, in the No. 29X for BKR. After starting the race in 4th, Theriault had a clean race and brought the car home in an impressive 5th place, just two spots behind Keselowski who finished 3rd.[5][6]
Theriault has competed five times in the Oxford 250, finishing in the top five in his first four starts with a best finish of second in 2014.
Xfinity Series
[edit]On May 18, 2014, Theriault made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Iowa Speedway, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports where he finished 15th.[7][8] On June 13 of that year, he won his first ARCA race, in Theriault's first start at Michigan International Speedway.
Theriault returned in the Xfinity Series, by practicing in the No. 22 Ford Mustang for Brad Keselowski at Iowa. Theriault later was picked up by Obaika Racing to drive the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro, starting at Richmond.
Gander Outdoors Truck Series
[edit]In 2015, Theriault began racing part-time with Brad Keselowski Racing, driving the No. 29 Ford F-150. He is sharing the ride with Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney. He got his career-best finish at Daytona International Speedway in February where he finished 4th.[9] He almost won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Theriault's home track where he led late in the race before fading to 8th.[10]
On October 3, 2015, Theriault was involved in a huge crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when his BKR teammate Tyler Reddick got loose in turn 4 and clipped him, causing the race truck he was driving to hit nearly head on into the front stretch wall where there were no SAFER barriers installed. Theriault's steering wheel collided with and destroyed his helmet,[11] and he eventually suffered a compression fracture in his lower back as a result of the crash.[12][13] After missing the next four races, Theriault returned to racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway,[14] finishing 12th. In 2016, he returned to BKR at Daytona, driving the No. 2.[15]
On September 10, 2018, it was announced that Theriault returned to the Truck Series, driving the No. 30 Toyota Tundra for On Point Motorsports at Las Vegas. He finished in 8th place after avoiding multiple crashes.
On February 4, 2019, it was announced that Theriault would drive at least five races for RBR Enterprises, starting at Daytona. Other tracks will include Martinsville Speedway (two races), Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Bristol Motor Speedway. The team failed to qualify at Daytona in their first attempt.
ARCA Racing Series
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/52_Austin_Theriault_2017_Road_America_100_ARCA.jpg/220px-52_Austin_Theriault_2017_Road_America_100_ARCA.jpg)
On February 18, 2017, Theriault won his second ARCA race in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. The race was shortened by five laps after a red-flag was brought out for Justin Fontaine's flip, while rain forced ARCA officials to call the race. In late August, he won at Road America after sorting through two last-lap incidents.[16] He also won the following race at DuQuoin after taking advantage of a late restart,[17] and won the three-peat at Salem driving a Jack Bowsher throwback car.[18] On September 22, 2017, Theriault won at Kentucky Speedway and mathematically clinched the ARCA Racing Series championship for 2017.[19] He won the championship on the strength of seven wins.[20]
NASCAR Cup Series
[edit]On June 29, 2019, it was announced that Theriault would make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July, driving the No. 52 for Rick Ware Racing.[21] After qualifying 36th, he finished 35th in the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 upon retiring with a rear end issue on lap 185.[22] The following week, he stayed with RWR for the Gander RV 400 at Pocono Raceway.[23]
Driver development
[edit]Theriault has not raced in any major series since 2019. He now owns a driver development business where he teaches aspiring drivers to become better racers.
Political career
[edit]Maine legislature
[edit]In March 2022, Theriault ran for the state legislature in Maine as a Republican in the 1st state house district.[24][25] He won an uncontested Republican primary and was later elected with 71% of the vote.[26][27] He assumed office on December 7, 2022.
2024 U.S. House election
[edit]Theriault won the 2024 Republican primary in Maine's 2nd congressional district. He will face Democratic incumbent Jared Golden in the November 2024 general election.[28]
Motorsports career results
[edit]NASCAR
[edit](key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Monster Energy Cup Series
[edit]Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | MENCC | Pts | Ref |
2019 | Rick Ware Racing | 52 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | LVS | PHO | CAL | MAR | TEX | BRI | RCH | TAL | DOV | KAN | CLT | POC | MCH | SON | CHI | DAY | KEN | NHA 35 |
35th | 17 | [29] | ||||||||||||||||
Ford | POC 34 |
GLN | MCH 32 |
BRI | DAR | IND | LVS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
51 | Chevy | RCH 32 |
CLT | DOV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ford | TAL 35 |
KAN | MAR | TEX | PHO | HOM |
Xfinity Series
[edit]NASCAR Xfinity Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | NXSC | Pts | Ref | ||
2014 | JR Motorsports | 5 | Chevy | DAY | PHO | LVS | BRI | CAL | TEX | DAR | RCH | TAL | IOW 15 |
CLT | DOV | MCH | ROA | KEN | DAY | NHA 21 |
CHI | IND | IOW | GLN | MOH | BRI | ATL | RCH | CHI | KEN 18 |
DOV | KAN | CLT | TEX | PHO | HOM | 40th | 78 | [30] | ||
2016 | Obaika Racing | 77 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | LVS | PHO | CAL | TEX | BRI | RCH | TAL | DOV | CLT | POC | MCH | IOW | DAY | KEN | NHA | IND | IOW | GLN | MOH | BRI | ROA | DAR | RCH DNQ |
120th | 01 | [31] | ||||||||||
25 | RCH 37 |
CHI | KEN | DOV | CLT | KAN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rick Ware Racing | Chevy | TEX 29 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team Kapusta Racing | PHO 27 |
HOM |
Gander Outdoors Truck Series
[edit]NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | NGOTC | Pts | Ref | ||||||||||||
2015 | Brad Keselowski Racing | 29 | Ford | DAY 4 |
ATL | MAR | KAN 14 |
CLT | DOV | TEX 5 |
GTW 10 |
IOW 12 |
KEN | ELD | POC | MCH | BRI | MSP | CHI 13 |
NHA 8 |
LVS 31 |
TAL | MAR | TEX | PHO | HOM 12 |
24th | 279 | [32] | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2 | DAY 27* |
ATL | MAR | KAN | DOV | CLT DNQ |
TEX | IOW | GTW | KEN | ELD | POC | BRI | MCH | MSP | CHI | NHA | LVS | TAL | 53rd | 21 | [33] | ||||||||||||||||||
Young's Motorsports | 02 | Chevy | MAR 20 |
TEX | PHO | HOM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | On Point Motorsports | 30 | Toyota | DAY | ATL | LVS | MAR | DOV | KAN | CLT | TEX | IOW | GTW | CHI | KEN | ELD | POC | MCH | BRI | MSP | LVS 8 |
TAL | MAR | TEX | PHO | HOM | 63rd | 29 | [34] | ||||||||||||
2019 | RBR Enterprises | 92 | Ford | DAY DNQ |
ATL | LVS | MAR 22 |
TEX | DOV | KAN | CLT | TEX | IOW | GTW | CHI | KEN | POC | ELD | MCH | BRI | MSP | LVS | TAL | MAR | PHO | HOM | 107th | 01 | [35] |
K&N Pro Series East
[edit]NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | NKNPSEC | Pts | Ref | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | Go Green Racing | 38 | Ford | BRI | GRE | RCH | IOW | BGS | JFC | LGY | CNB | COL | IOW | NHA 19 |
DOV | GRE | CAR | 69th | 25 | [36] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | Hattori Racing Enterprises | 1 | Toyota | NSM 24 |
MOB 4 |
GRE 14 |
BRI 15 |
VIR 3 |
DOM 5 |
STA 7 |
COL 2 |
NHA 5 |
IOW 2 |
GLN 20 |
GRE | NJM | DOV | 13th | 383 | [37] |
ARCA Racing Series
[edit](key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
ARCA Racing Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | ARSC | Pts | Ref | ||||||||||||||||||
2014 | Venturini Motorsports | 66 | Toyota | DAY | MOB | SLM | TAL | TOL | NJE | POC | MCH 1 |
ELK | WIN | CHI | IRP | POC | BLN | ISF | MAD | DSF | SLM | KEN | KAN | 69th | 240 | [38] | ||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 55 | DAY | MOB | NSH | SLM | TAL | TOL | NJE | POC | MCH | CHI | WIN | IOW | IRP | POC 4 |
BLN | ISF | DSF | SLM | KEN | KAN | 88th | 210 | [39] | ||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | Ken Schrader Racing | 52 | Chevy | DAY 1 |
TAL 4* |
1st | 4735 | [40] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ford | NSH 4 |
SLM 5 |
TOL 6 |
POC 9 |
MCH 2 |
IOW 2 |
IRP 4 |
POC 8 |
WIN 3 |
ROA 1 |
SLM 1* |
CHI 2 |
KEN 1* |
KAN 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Toyota | ELK 1 |
MAD 1* |
ISF 2 |
DSF 1 |
* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points
References
[edit]- ^ "Election Results". WABI-TV. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ "Fort Kent driver Austin Theriault lands part-time NASCAR Truck Series ride". The Bangor Daily News. January 9, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ^ Johnny Mehler (August 1, 2015). "Fort Kent's Theriault finishes 4th in ModSpace 125". WLBZ2. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ^ "Maine driver Austin Theriault signs NASCAR deal". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. January 13, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ^ "TUCKER HOISTS PRESTIGIOUS TROPHY AS VICTOR OF IWK 250 PRESENTED BY STEVE LEWIS AUTO BODY". Maritime Pro Stock Tour. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ^ "2013 IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body". Racing reference. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ^ "Dale Earnhardt Jr. hires Austin Theriault for three Nationwide races". FOX Sports. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ^ "Hornish capitalizes on opportunity for win at Iowa; Fort Kent's Theriault finishes 15th". The Bangor Daily News. May 19, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ^ "Tyler Reddick wins Daytona trucks race for first career victory". USA Today. February 20, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ^ "Fort Kent's Theriault finishes 8th in NASCAR truck race". The Bangor Daily News. September 27, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ^ "Our Newest Driver". Brad Keselowski. October 15, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
- ^ "Brad Keselowski Racing teammates collide, driver takes vicious hit at Las Vegas Motor Speedway". FOX Sports. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ^ Joe Rodgers (October 3, 2015). "NASCAR driver Austin Theriault airlifted to hospital after head-on hit at Las Vegas". Sporting News. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ^ "AUSTIN THERIAULT CLEARED TO RACE AT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI". NASCAR. November 19, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
- ^ "AUSTIN THERIAULT TO RUN THIRD BKR TRUCK AT DAYTONA". NASCAR. February 8, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
- ^ "Austin Theriault survives to win wild ARCA race at Road America". Autoweek. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
- ^ Winkeler, Les. "Austin Theriault wins Du Quoin ARCA race in overtime". The Southern. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
- ^ "Austin Theriault wins third consecutive ARCA race at Salem". Autoweek. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
- ^ Reiman, Samuel (February 18, 2017). "Austin Theriault wins wreck-marred ARCA race at Daytona". Foxsports.com. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
- ^ "Driver Austin Theriault 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
- ^ Courchesne, Shawn (June 29, 2019). "Austin Theriault To Make Monster Cup Debut At NHMS With Rick Ware Racing". Race Day CT. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
- ^ Hale, Tom (July 22, 2019). "Maine driver Austin Theriault finishes 35th in NASCAR Cup debut". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ Barrett, Travis (July 25, 2019). "Auto racing notes: Wiscasset Speedway gears up for golden anniversary". Kennebec Journal. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ Stockley, Leela (March 5, 2022). "Maine native and former NASCAR driver to run for Legislature". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ "NASCAR driver Austin Theriault running for state legislature in Maine". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ "Election Results". www.wabi.tv. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ "NASCAR driver wins House election in Maine". Beyond the Flag. November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ Miller, Kevin (June 12, 2024). "Former NASCAR driver Austin Theriault to face Jared Golden in Maine's 2nd District". Maine Public. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Austin Theriault – 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
- ^ "Austin Theriault – 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ "Austin Theriault – 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ "Austin Theriault – 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ "Austin Theriault – 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ "Austin Theriault – 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ "Austin Theriault – 2019 NASCAR Gander outdoors Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- ^ "Austin Theriault – 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ "Austin Theriault – 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ "Austin Theriault – 2014 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ "Austin Theriault – 2015 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ "Austin Theriault – 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Campaign website
- Austin Theriault at Ballotpedia
- Austin Theriault driver statistics at Racing-Reference
- 1994 births
- 21st-century American legislators
- ARCA Menards Series drivers
- ARCA Midwest Tour drivers
- JR Motorsports drivers
- Living people
- Maine Republicans
- NASCAR drivers
- People from Fort Kent, Maine
- Racing drivers from Maine
- Republican Party members of the Maine House of Representatives
- 21st-century American sportsmen