J. R. Fitzpatrick

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John Ryan “J. R.” Fitzpatrick is a Canadian professional stock car racer from Cambridge, Ontario, born May 9, 1988. He started racing in go-karts at age six and quickly moved up the ranks, racing in CASCAR (Canada’s stock car series) as a teenager. In 2006, at age 18, he became the youngest driver to win the CASCAR Super Series championship.

After CASCAR was absorbed into NASCAR, Fitzpatrick competed in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (now Pinty’s/Door-to-Door) and earned Rookie of the Year in 2007. He also won several races in Canada during the late 2000s, including wins in 2007, 2008, and 2010. In 2010 he raced full-time with Schick as a sponsor, won two races (including one on a road course) and finished second in the championship. He finished third in 2011 and had strong showings in 2012, including opening the season with a win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and another big win in Montreal.

Fitzpatrick also tried NASCAR’s national series in the United States. He made starts in the Nationwide/Xfinity Series and the Truck Series, earning a few top-10s in road-course races and at Montreal, and he drove for several teams over the years. He had a notable run in the Truck Series in 2009 and later took part with different teams in 2010–2012, but did not become a full-time NASCAR national series driver.

Beyond NASCAR, Fitzpatrick found success in other Canadian and regional racing series. He won the OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Model championship in 2016 and the APC United Late Model Series championship in 2018. In the NASCAR Canada Series, he competed in many races (114), earning 11 wins, about 73 top-ten finishes, and 16 pole positions. His first NASCAR Canada Series win came in 2006, and his latest was in 2014.

Over his career Fitzpatrick has driven cars for several teams and owners, including a long-running association with his family’s No. 84 Chevrolet in the CASCAR/NASCAR era. He has been sponsored by brands such as Milwaukee Tools and Schick, and his career includes strong performances on road courses and in Canadian national events alongside his attempts to break into NASCAR’s national series.