AROUND THE TRACK
By Paul Anthony Arco
Growing up, Ryan Ellis imagined one day donning the jersey of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. He had that kind of talent coming up through the junior hockey ranks. But as good as he was handling a stick, Ellis was even better behind the wheel of a race car.
The Ashburn native started racing at age 4 and took off from there, winning several regional and national championships in quarter midgets racing. By the time he was 11, Ellis had moved into Legends Car racing, where he won the Virginia state championship and finished fourth in the national points championship.
After graduating from Stone Bridge High School in 2008, Ellis went on to attend college at George Mason University, but his sights were set on reaching the pinnacle of professional auto racing. In 2012, he joined the NASCAR circuit and now competes in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series – the second level of NASCAR racing and often seen as a proving ground for drivers. It’s just below the top series, known as the Cup Series.
Ellis, 36, and his wife, Allison, a nurse, and their two children now call Huntersville, N.C., home.
In a recent interview with Ashburn Magazine, Ellis opens up about his love of racing, the challenge of being a professional racer and how he juggles the demands of competing on weekends while being dad to Hayden and Zoey.
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How did you get involved in racing?
“It’s in my blood. Both of my grandfathers raced. Fredd Hayashi was an off-road racer, and Vic Ellis raced dirt bikes until he was killed in a race in 1958, the same year my dad, Jim, was born. My dad – Jim Ellis – raced his whole life until he passed the reins to me in 1993, when I started racing quarter midgets when I was 4.”
What has your dad meant to your career?
“He has provided a ton of support. When I was 16 and driving for race teams, he was everything – crew chief, driving our go-karts legend carts to the track and setting them up. I wouldn’t be anywhere without my dad.”
What was it like to be a young driver growing up in Ashburn?
“It was cool. There weren’t too many kids racing cars in Northern Virginia so being a race car driver as a kid became my identity. And I was good at racing. It’s the only job I have loved doing.”
Your mom, Jane, now lives near you in North Carolina, and your dad is in Florida. Do you ever get up to Northern Virginia these days?
“I do occasionally get back to NoVa. I come to visit friends sometimes and since I’m a huge Washington Capitals fan, I have driven up to watch them play – most recently with my family. Plus, I miss Moby Dick’s a lot. Ha ha.” (Editor’s Note: He’s referring to the local kabob restaurant chain.)
What do you love about hockey?
“I dreamed of playing in the NHL, but I didn’t have the body for it. I played professionally with the Potomac Mavericks of the PIHA [Professional Inline Hockey Association] and for the George Mason team in college. I still play recreationally in adult leagues on Sundays here in Charlotte. You can get your anger out in hockey, but I try not to get hurt.”
How tough is it to be competitive in professional racing?
“As a young kid, I felt like I was winning everything or finished second. It was cool and I got used to winning. But once I hit NASCAR, everyone is so competitive and has a good variance in talent and budget. Most of these kids are 18 and their parents sponsor or own the racing company. A lot of us are competing with millionaires. I’ve never felt slightly comfortable to the point where I can relax. There are hundreds of drivers trying to take your job every day.”
Earlier this year, you finished sixth at Daytona, which was your career-best in 165 O’Reilly Series starts. How did it feel to crack the Top 10?
“It felt great, but my first thought was ‘Dang, I missed the top five.’ But in this competitive sport, finishing near the top feels like a win. Drivers live lap by lap and race by race. We find wins along the way. People in this sport know how hard it is to be successful.”
What other jobs have you held?
“To make ends meet, I’ve had a few jobs including retail, fast food and I even worked as a director for a marketing firm. I became a full-time driver three years ago.”
How do you describe the demands of sitting behind the wheel during a race?
“It’s like playing chess in a sauna that is 130 degrees and riding a roller coaster at the same time. It’s a hellish environment. You’re dragged around the track from the G-force. There’s not a lot of room for mistakes. It’s so hot and so many things can go wrong. And it takes so long to physically recover from each race.”
Are you a driver who can repair his own car?
“I’m mechanically useless. There are two kinds of drivers – those who know their car inside and out, and those who don’t. It’s a mixed bag. A lot of young drivers have never turned a wrench. I think it pays to understand how the car is affected by changes, but I don’t need to know how to build the car. Some guys try to crew chief their own car. But you can have too much going on in your head.”
What does the NASCAR season entail?
“It’s a very long season and it’s tough with young children. My season starts in February and runs through Thanksgiving. There are only three or four off weeks, so I try to get home one or two days between most races to spend with my daughters Hayden [4] and Zoey [1]. Going into dad mode on Sundays keeps my sanity after a bad race. Instead of getting uptight about the next race, I’d rather play ‘Pretty Pretty Princess’ with my kids.”
What does the future hold for you and your racing career?
“I’d like to race another 10 years, but my answer changes by the day. I’m just thankful to be racing this long. I’m trying to enjoy every second of being here.”
RYAN ELLIS STATS
Ellis has over 160 career starts in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts series since 2012, with two top-10 finishes, at Charlotte Motor Speedway last year and at Daytona International Speedway this year. He has also run six races in NASCAR’s Cup Series.
Here are Ellis’ year-by-year rankings in the O’Reilly Auto Parts series:
YEAR RANK
2026 28*
2025 28
2024 23
2023 25
2022 36
2021 44
2019 59
2018 57
2017 63
2016 30
2015 101
2014 37
2013 55
2012 99
* – Through August 6