Josh Wise

2006 was a banner year for Josh Wise. The 24-year-old signed with Michael Waltrip Racing and was also crowned the 2006 USAC National Sprint Car Series champion ending his season with a win in the Western World Championships feature at Manzanita Speedway with Tony Stewart Racing.

Wise was also the 2006 USAC National Midget and Sprint fast qualifier champion and the USAC Super License winner. One year prior, the California native was the USAC Silver Crown fast qualifier champion and the 2005 USAC Super License winner.

Wise is a part of a developmental program that Michael Waltrip Racing has implemented. He is scheduled to compete in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series events with Darrell Waltrip Motorsports and Eddie Sharp Racing respectively. Michael Waltrip is relying on both organizations to develop drivers, like Wise, for the future growth of his organization.
Tony Stewart was instrumental in Wise's move to Michael Waltrip Racing and has been influential in the success of his racing career. The Huntersville, N.C., resident began racing for Tony Stewart in 2004. While living in California, Wise received a phone call out of the blue from Stewart asking him to relocate to the Midwest and drive for his company. Wise accepted and within two seasons, he owned championships in two of USAC's three National divisions.

In 2006, Wise clenched the National Sprint title, where he recorded four feature victories. In addition, Wise swept the Belleville Midget Nationals and finished sixth in the Silver Crown Series points standings despite missing four events. He also won the Hoosier Hundred.

In 2005, Wise claimed the National Midget championship, which enabled him to become the first driver since 1997 to win a National Midget championship driving for an owner other than Steve Lewis. Wise also finished second in the Silver Crown points standings and received Rookie of the Year honors. He finished fifth in the race for the National Sprint Car title. One year earlier, Wise ran a limited Sprint car schedule and won four races placing 10th in the points standings. Wise also finished second in the Midget points standings that same year.

In 2003, Wise was victorious at the Belleville Midget Nationals and he won a pair of Western Midget victories at Bakersfield and added another at Tucson (Ariz.) Raceway Park en route to finishing second in the Western points. During 2002, he won Western Midget Car features at places like Santa Maria and Irwindale, Calif. and finished sixth in the points standings.

In 2001, he ranked second in the Western Midget Series. A year prior was when he first moved to full Midget and claimed Rookie of the Year honors with series wins at Madera and Stockton, Calif.

In 1999, Wise debuted with the organization and won the TQ Midget Car Series championship and was recognized as the Rookie of the Year with four feature victories. Wise has accomplished a lot at a young age. He's proud of his 2006 National Spring Car Series championship, 2005 USAC National Midget Car Series championship, 1999 USAC TQ Midget Car Series championship and being a two-time Belleville Midget Nationals champion (2006, 2003).

Delving further into his past, Wise was already a champion at age 11 winning the Light 'B Quarter Midget National championship in Sacramento, Calif. From there, he won the California Monza State championship in 1996 and scored a runner-up finish in Micro-Midget standings the next year.

In 1998, he became a Micro-Midget champion.

From the time he was a young adult, Wise was a racer and a proven winner. He's progressed each year and now he is ready for his next move to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series aiming to add to his mounting accolades.