Michael Maples (racing driver)

Michael James Maples Sr. is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 99 Chevrolet for Maples Motorsports, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series West driving for the same team.

Racing career

Maples first began racing in 1993, driving asphalt late model races at Madera Speedway.
Maples returned to racing in 2019, driving in an IMCA Southern Sport modified after taking a sabbatical that began in 1998 due to familial reasons. Maples also competed in series such as the Sooner Limited Modified Series, and the Touring Outlaw Modified Series from 2019 to 2023.
file:Michael Maples 99 at Nashville Fairgrounds.jpg|thumb|left|Maples' No. 99 car at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2024
In 2024, Maples participated in the pre-season test for the ARCA Menards Series at Daytona International Speedway, driving the No. 99 Chevrolet for Fast Track Racing, and placed 53rd in the overall results between the two testing days. Several days after the test, it was announced that Maples would run the full main ARCA and ARCA Menards Series East schedule for Fast Track, driving the No. 99.
In his debut in the main ARCA series at Daytona, Maples qualified in 35th and finished one lap down in 21st despite being involved in a crash between Scott Melton and Willie Mullins with twenty-three laps to go. He would finish eighth in the final points standings, with a best finish of eleventh at Berlin Raceway and Salem Speedway. In the East Series, he would finish seventh in the points after getting a best finish of twelfth in three of the first four races of the season.
In 2025, it was announced that Maples would form his own team, Maples Motorsports, whilst still running full-time. Maples had one top-ten at DuQuoin and finished seventh in the point standings.