Chris Hacker

In 2008, Hacker started his racing career when he was 8 years old, racing in Quarter Midgets, where he ranked 2nd in his home state. From 2009 to 2011, he competed in the Bandolero bandits, where he won the Indiana state championship in 2010 and 2011. After two championship seasons in Bandoleros, he moved up to the INEX Legend Cars in 2012, where he won the Indianapolis Speedrome Championship in the Young Lions category. In 2013, he moved up from Legend Cars to the Champion Racing Association Sportsman category, where he became the youngest driver to ever to win a CRA event at age 13.^[1] He returned to the CRA for 2014, competing in the JEGS All-Star category, where he won the Sportsman of the Year Award.

In 2020, Hacker signed with Fast Track Racing with a collaboration with Cram Racing Enterprises for one race in the ARCA Menards Series West, the Arizona Lottery 100 at ISM Raceway. He started 24th and finished 15th.^[2]

On August 28, 2020, Hacker announced on Twitter that he would be competing part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2021 for an unknown amount of races, and two ARCA Menards Series races for Cram Racing Enterprises starting at Daytona.^[3] On January 11, 2021, Hacker tested positive for COVID-19, and was forced to quarantine, missing the ARCA test session at Daytona. Due to missing the crucial test session, this eliminated Hacker from competing at Daytona.^[4] Hacker made his official ARCA Menards Series debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the 2021 General Tire 150, starting 12th and finishing 10th as the final lead lap driver.

On June 1, 2021, Hacker announced on Twitter that he would run his first truck race with Cram Racing Enterprises at Nashville Superspeedway on June 18. However, two days later, he would announce that he and Cram Racing Enterprises had parted ways due to "unforeseen circumstances."^[5] Hacker made his debut in the Camping World Truck Series on August 20, 2021, at World Wide Technology at Gateway in the Toyota 200. He drove the number 34 truck for Reaume Brothers Racing. Hacker started 31st before ultimately finishing 27th, 23 laps down. On September 7, 2021, it was announced that Hacker would drive two races for Niece Motorsports, Las Vegas, and Martinsville.^[6]

Hacker remained with Reaume for the 2022 season.^[7] On July 21, 2022, it was announced that Hacker would drive for On Point Motorsports in the TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, with sponsorship coming from TJ's Team Foundation.^[8]

Hacker returned to On Point Motorsports in 2023, and will run four races with sponsorship from Morgan & Morgan.^[9] On August 17, NASCAR suspended Hacker indefinitely for violating Section 4.4. D. of the NASCAR Rule Book, stating actions detrimental to stock car racing - particularly on being charged with or convicted of significant criminal violations. Hacker was arrested on August 15 and charged with DWI.^[10]

On March 27, 2023, Hacker announced that he will make his Xfinity Series debut at Richmond Raceway, driving the 38 car for RSS Racing.^[11] Hacker proceeded to run inside the top 20 for a majority of the race, before finishing in 14th. He would return to the No. 38 car for the race at New Hampshire. He filled in for the car's normal driver, Joe Graf Jr., in both of these races, who was driving the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 car instead. Hacker was on the initial race entry list at Watkins Glen in the No. 07 car for SS-Green Light Racing. Katherine Legge was originally scheduled to drive that car in that race, but after her sponsor (Blast Equality Collab) did not want to be on the car due to their members' connection with the writers' strike going on at the time, Hacker brought a different sponsor (Burdick's All Season Roofing).^[12] Hacker was replaced by Josh Bilicki in the aftermath of his second arrest. On October 25, Hacker was reinstated by NASCAR after completing their Road to Recovery program. On the same day, he announced that he would be driving the Emerling-Gase Motorsports No. 35 car in the race at Martinsville the next weekend.^[13]

Hacker is known as the first NASCAR driver born with a Brachial Plexus injury (nerve damage) and has weak and limited movement in his left arm. He's had three surgeries, and years of occupational and physical therapies, and still struggles with arm movement.^[14] Hacker has raised money that has helped pay for nearly 50 kids to attend a Brachial Plexus Injury camp. This allows kids to meet others with the same disability and to receive support from each other and hear inspirational stories from others that have suffered from this. Hacker was one of those speakers in 2014.^[15]

On February 15, 2024, on his way to Daytona, Hacker was involved in an accident when a semi-truck hit his car head-on in South Carolina. He suffered thoracic fractures in his spine, a ruptured spleen, a collapsed lung, a lacerated kidney, a lacerated adrenal gland, and internal bleeding.^[16][17]

On June 27, 2017, Hacker was charged with DWI in Hamilton County, Indiana, as well as four related misdemeanors including possession of marijuana. He accepted a plea bargain, which dismissed four charges but sentenced him to a year of probation. Later on April 3, 2018, Hacker admitted to violating his probation in a judicial hearing and was placed under house arrest for 180 days.^[18]

On August 15, 2023, Hacker was arrested again for DWI in Huntersville, North Carolina, in addition to being charged with speeding and reckless driving.^[19] He was reinstated on October 25 after completing NASCAR's Road to Recovery program.^[13]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

^* Season still in progress
¹ Ineligible for series points

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

• Official website
• Chris Hacker driver statistics at Racing-Reference