Hettinger Racing has selected Luke Fenhaus, a superstar in the midwestern short-track racing landscape, to serve as the debut driver of the organization’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program. Fenhaus, a native of Wausau, Wisconsin, will pilot the No. 5 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway.
“My background is in Late Model racing, and I’ve seen Luke’s development in real time. He’s smart, he takes care of his equipment, he learns quickly, and, ultimately, he wins,” said Chris Hettinger, owner of Hettinger Racing. “Luke belongs in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and we’re proud to have him in our Ford Mustang at Daytona.”
Since winning the Slinger Nationals in 2021, and earning himself a berth into the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) event at the iconic quarter-mile racetrack, Fenhaus has been on the rise throughout the ranks, which has included a full-time championship bid in the ARCA Menards Series East (2023) and a part-time ride in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2024 and 2025).
“Winning the Slinger Nationals and getting that SRX invite was a game-changer. It put me on people’s radar and helped open some doors. I worked hard to make the most of it,” said Luke Fenhaus. “To be at Daytona five years late to make my NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut is a testament to the work we’ve put into this – my family, my partners, my friends – they’ve all been so supportive. Chris Hettinger has provided a really great opportunity for me to make the next step in my career, and I want to reward his faith with a good, strong run at Daytona.”
The 21-year-old driver competed in 12 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events in 2025 for ThorSport Racing, driving the No. 66 Ford F-150. In those starts, Fenhaus captured a pole at Michigan International Speedway, which resulted in his only top-10 result of the year — a third at the two-mile racetrack. The year before, in 2024, Fenhaus finished top-10 in two of his three starts.
“It’s been a steady climb, one step at a time,” Fenhaus said. “Late Models are my foundation, ARCA helped me take the next step, and the Truck Series taught me what it takes to compete at a national level. To be making my NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut at Daytona is something I’ve worked toward for a long time, and I’m ready for it.”
In his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut, and the debut of Hettinger Racing in NASCAR’s second-tier division, Fenhaus will have the support of veteran crew chief Joe Williams, Jr., as well as the support of Ford Racing.
The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season-opener at Daytona International Speedway will take place on Saturday, February 14 at 5:30 PM ET on The CW, Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
