Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) has tapped former NASCAR National Series driver Jesse Little to serve as the Vice President of Business Development for the NASCAR Xfinity Series operation.
Little brings with him a lifetime of experience in the NASCAR space and career experience in leadership, logistics, and business development.
Fresh talent just dropped — Stepping into a new era, welcome @jesselittle97 to SHR!
Jesse Little joins Sam Hunt Racing today as the team’s Vice President of Business Development. #LetsHunt | #TeamToyota pic.twitter.com/JWqoI6KTvQ
— Sam Hunt Racing (@Team_SHR26) April 21, 2025
“It goes without saying that this is an exciting and important hire for SHR, as we continue working to grow the business and properly manage our efficiency along the way,” said team owner Sam Hunt. “Jesse has been completely embedded in the NASCAR garage his entire life, is business educated, and properly reflects my values and moral compass as a leader. He cares about people, whilst being a high-energy, high-level operator that brings even more youthful energy and passion to our team.”
Little has been a leading force in the garage since beginning his career in the competition department at NASCAR in 2022, where he served as Manager of Competition Operations, a role he took on after graduating from the Belk School of Business at UNC-Charlotte in 2021, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration, Management Information Systems.
At NASCAR, Little led logistics efforts for race weekends and handled competition manners across all three of NASCAR’s National Series.
“Sam has done an exceptional job growing his program into a competitive and respected force within the NASCAR garages. He’s created an environment for people passionate about this sport, where they can show their value and help grow the organization as a whole. I’m thrilled to be joining SHR and look forward to working with the great group of people there. We’re excited to show everyone the potential of this race team,” said Little.
Little spent his entire life walking through the garages of NASCAR National Series competition, as he watched his father, Chad Little, in the waning years of his career. He then followed in his fathers footsteps, by competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series (where he competed against Hunt).
Eventually, the Sherrills Ford, North Carolina-native moved into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he recorded some solid efforts throughout both series. In 2018, Little even made a pair of NASCAR Cup Series starts.
Currently in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Sam Hunt Racing fields a pair of entries, one full-time, with Dean Thompson in the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra, and one part-time with Jeffrey Earnhardt, Patrick Staropoli, Ryan Truex, and Corey Heim sharing the driving duties of the team’s No. 24.