Driver Profile

Ricky got his start in racing after watching both of his parents compete in multiple divisions in Arizona. He began racing in 2005 at the age of 14 in the Factory Stock division, which he competed in for 2 years. The first race he won was in a factory stock. Ricky then transition to modifieds and won Rookie of the Year & his first modified track championship in 2007 at Manzanita Speedway. While continuing to race modifieds, he also drove a back up late model for the Manka family. Together they were able to capture the SWDRA Late Models Championship in 2009. His priority remained on modified racing at the time. In 2015 Ricky captured the Dakota Modified Tour Championship, and begin traveling more frequently to the Midwest to compete. He won the 2016 IMCA Super Nationals Modified Championship, the 2018 IMCA Super Nationals Late Model Championship, and in 2020 became the first driver in history to win Super Nationals titles in multiple divisions in the same year while claiming the late model and modified championships. Ricky relocated to the Midwest permanently in 2017. He met his wife Shae soon after, and went on to have sons Asher in 2018 and Blayne in 2019. Ricky got his start in Lucas Oil late models when substituting for Hudson O’Neal in August & September of 2018. The team captured a preliminary night win at Eldora’s World 100. In 2020 Ricky teamed up with SSI Motorsports for select races while continuing to race his modified as well. The team had a very successful pairing, winning a World of Outlaws event at Jackson Motorplex, and the Pittsburgher 100 at Pittsburgh Motor Speedway, while accumulating several other podium finishes. Following that success, Todd and Vickie Burns named Ricky their full time driver in 2021. Ricky captured both the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year title, and the biggest win of Ricky’s career- The Dirt Track World Championship on the same night.