Tristan McKee is eager to find another comfort zone at Madison after his historic ARCA win at Watkins Glen

Entering his ARCA Menards Series debut at Watkins Glen International a couple weeks ago, Tristan McKee had high expectations for himself but also wanted to gain valuable experience.

The 15-year-old Williamsburg, Virginia native enjoyed a clean, productive day around the historic facility by keeping his car out of trouble to work his way into second. Race leader Brent Crews suffering a mechanical failure under caution turned McKee’s solid outing into a victory celebration. He successfully held the lead during a one-lap shootout and became the second youngest winner in the history of the ARCA Menards Series.

Now, with the Watkins Glen triumph still fresh in his mind, McKee is turning his attention toward his first ARCA Menards Series short-track start Friday night at Madison International Speedway.

McKee is no stranger to success on short tracks, but he anticipates a learning curve this weekend as he adapts to all the intricacies with his car.

ARCA at Madison: Entry list and how to watch

“I’m feeling good,” McKee said. “I’m going to do something that’s kind of [closer] to what I’ve done for a while as far as oval stuff. I’ve never been to Madison, so I’m looking forward to learning the track Friday in the No. 82 Pinnacle Racing Group [Chevrolet].”

Although he’s technically with a different organization this weekend, many of the same people who guided McKee to his win at Watkins Glen will be back with him at Madison.

Spire Motorsports fielded the No. 77 Chevrolet for McKee in a collaborative effort with PRG. Shane Huffman, PRG’s team manager who also serves as a crew chief, sat atop the box for McKee at Watkins Glen, providing the young prospect advice on how to optimize the setup around the track’s challenging layout.

McKee already had a Watkins Glen victory to his name in Trans Am Championship TA2 competition a month earlier, but he quickly realized replicating that result in an ARCA Menards Series car required a different mindset. Huffman’s advice enabled McKee to stay efficient and composed until he took the checkered flag.

With Huffman’s short-track background including 28 victories in the USAR Pro Cup Series, McKee knows he is in good hands with him and the entire PRG organization at Madison.

“[Huffman] has taught me so much across Watkins Glen and some of the short-track stuff we’re doing,” McKee said. “I hang out at the [PRG] shop quite a bit, and I have a really good relationship with all those guys. I’m definitely still working at it with the guys [when it comes] to getting the car tuned in at short tracks, so I’m looking forward to a new challenge.”

Since PRG was formed in 2023, the organization has fielded cars for several young prospects, including Connor Zilisch, Carson Kvapil and current ARCA Menards Series points leader Brenden Queen. Developing the next generation has been a great source of pride for Huffman, who looks forward to doing the same with McKee.

With McKee used to short races in Bandoleros and Legends, Huffman has encouraged him to refine his mindset for longer ARCA Menards Series events. He said there is no need for any driver to go hard too early in a race more than 100 laps in length, a concept Huffman believes McKee has grown to comprehend throughout the year.

“Any young driver goes through a learning curve when it comes to putting the entire race together,” Huffman said. “[That involves] learning how to get to the finish in one piece without any damage. In the last six months, I’ve seen [Tristan] be able to focus on getting the best result possible and learn that you have to finish before you’ll ever have a chance to win the race.

“Watching him mature on that side of it has been fun for me, and hopefully we can help him move up the ladder. That’s what our job is.”

Maturity is something Huffman knows will be imperative for McKee when he tackles race conditions at Madison on Friday evening. Although he never raced at Madison during his own driving career, Huffman does have plenty of experience there as a crew chief with Brandon Jones and 2020 ARCA Menards Series champion Bret Holmes.

Huffman said the lack of grip at Madison, combined with tight corners that emphasize heavy braking, are going to make tire and equipment conservation pertinent. Those qualities are why Huffman considers Madison a perfect place for prospects like McKee, as it will require him to be methodical to have a shot at the victory.

McKee’s Watkins Glen triumph was the first impression Huffman wanted him to make on the ARCA Menards Series platform, but he said Madison will be different in many regards. If McKee absorbs necessary information and finds a comfort zone around Madison, Huffman believes he will be primed for another stellar performance.

“The way we’ve performed at Pinnacle, and the effort these guys have made day in and day out, we expect to have a shot at a victory,” Huffman said. “It’s not like it’s going to be a cakewalk or anything, so we’ve got our work cut out for us. If we’re competitive and have a top five finish with Tristan, that’ll be a solid day.

“Our name says it all; we’re the Pinnacle Racing Group. We’re a group of people who are going to go racing together and give it our best effort.”

Along with Huffman’s experience, McKee also has a seasoned Late Model Stock Car competitor in Queen to rely upon as a teammate. McKee had the privilege of occasionally racing against Queen while progressing up the developmental ladder, allowing him to observe up close what he was doing to turn consistent lap times.

There is still plenty of information McKee is trying to absorb about short-track racing at his age, yet he enters Madison optimistic about carrying over his knowledge from the Southeast to the Midwest. Winning will not be easy, but McKee is eager to showcase the same talent and poise that helped get him to Victory Lane two weeks ago.

“Madison is not too big of a track, but I’m not sure how some of the aero stuff will work,” McKee said. “The cars are a bit a heavier and have a little bit more body roll, but they’re not too much different from a Late Model Stock on a short track. [This weekend] is going to be more about learning the track with the car combo.

“Short tracks are close and dear to my heart, so it’d feel really good [to win].”

McKee generated plenty of positive notoriety by besting the ARCA Menards Series regulars at Watkins Glen in his debut. Friday presents a perfect chance for him to build on the momentum at one of Wisconsin’s most cherished short tracks.