By Neha Dwivedi, Staff Writer
Alpha Prime Racing has extended Brennan Poole’s tenure for a third consecutive season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity Series). Over the past two years, the 34-year-old has proven to be the backbone of the organization, finishing 16th and 19th in the driver standings while delivering the best performances in team history.
In 2025, Poole finished five races in the top 10, including two races in the top 5 at Rockingham and Martinsville, helping Alpha Prime Racing break the 600-point barrier for the first time. His consistency also secured the team back-to-back top-20 finishes in Owner’s Points. With those numbers, Poole has cemented his place as the most successful driver in Alpha Prime Racing’s history.
Team co-owner Tommy Joe Martins made no secret of Poole’s value to the organization, saying, “He’s the best driver we’ve ever had. Getting this done was priority one for us.” That endorsement speaks volumes in itself, especially considering the brutal climb Alpha Prime has faced since its formation.
However, Poole’s most successful Xfinity seasons came when he was associated with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2016 and 2017, finishing P8 and P9, respectively. Meanwhile, his best Xfinity Series race finish came at Kentucky Speedway in 2017, where he crossed the finish line in P2 in the first race of the Round of 12.
Besides his Xfinity Racing career, Poole has also been a part of the NASCAR Cup Series, back in 2020 when he got a chance to drive the No. 15 car for the Premium Motorsports team, on a full-time basis. His effort was backed primarily by Spartan Mosquito Eradicators through their Spartan GO! brand, with R.E.D. serving as an associate sponsor for 17 races, including events like the Daytona 500, Bluegreen Vacations Duel, and the NASCAR All-Star Race.
But then, midseason sponsorship challenges forced the team to make adjustments, with J.J. Yeley stepping into the car for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, though Poole remained part of the organization. Despite limited resources, he showed flashes of brilliance, especially at Talladega Superspeedway, where he secured his career-best Cup finish. Crossing the line 11th in the YellaWood 500, he was later promoted to ninth after post-race penalties to Matt DiBenedetto and Chris Buescher.
As he heads into 2026, Poole finds himself at the heart of Alpha Prime’s continued evolution, a steady hand guiding a newer team aimed to punch above its weight.