Jolynn Wilkinson

Jolynn “JoJo” Wilkinson is a professional stock car racing driver from Hueytown, Alabama, who became the youngest female to compete in the U.S. Pro Late Model Division and has steadily climbed the ranks from local short tracks to the ARCA Menards Series West.

EARLY YEARS

Born February 25, 2004, in Hueytown, Alabama, JoJo Wilkinson grew up surrounded by racing royalty. Her father is John “Boy” Wilkinson, a legendary Super Late Model driver and 2022 Alabama Racing Hall of Fame inductee who dominated southern short tracks. Hueytown itself is sacred ground in racing history—home base of the famed Alabama Gang, the rough-and-tumble crew of NASCAR drivers who put the small Alabama town on the motorsports map. JoJo has two sisters, Clarissa and Alyssa, and the entire Wilkinson family operates out of their Alabama-based racing operation. While attending Hueytown High School, she balanced her racing career with cheerleading duties and graduated in the class of 2022—proving you can rock a uniform on Friday night and a firesuit on Saturday.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the track, JoJo’s high school years included cheerleading at Hueytown High School, where she managed to juggle pom-poms, homework, and a full racing schedule. It’s the kind of multitasking that would make most people’s heads spin, but for someone carrying the weight of a Hueytown racing legacy, it was just another weekend.

EARLY SUCCESS

JoJo’s racing career kicked off in earnest when she started competing in late model competition as a teenager. On May 13, 2018, at just 14 years old, she captured her first career late model win at Huntsville Speedway—a moment that announced she wasn’t just riding on her father’s name. A month later, she won again, proving the first victory wasn’t a fluke. By 2020, at age 16, she was runner-up in the Pro Late Model championship at Sayre Speedway in Alabama, racking up one win and eight top-five finishes. That same year, she made her fourth start in the Alabama 200, one of the most prestigious races in southern short-track racing. But her path wasn’t without setbacks. On April 26, 2019, she suffered a serious crash at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, that left her with a concussion and a broken ankle—a harsh reminder that racing doesn’t care how old you are or what your last name is.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2018: Captured first career late model win at Huntsville Speedway at age 14.
• 2018: Won second late model race one month after first victory.
• 2020: Runner-up in Pro Late Model championship at Sayre Speedway with one win and eight top-five finishes.
• 2021: Participated in the BMR Drivers Academy, accumulating more than ten starts and earning fast-time honors on March 27, 2021, at All American Speedway.
• 2021: Made ARCA Menards Series West debut in July at Colorado National Speedway, completing 150 laps and finishing eighth.
• 2021: Competed in multiple ARCA Menards Series West races driving the No. 19 and No. 1 Toyota Camry for Bill McAnally Racing.
• 2022: Made multiple appearances in Allen Turner Pro Late Models at Five Flags Speedway and Montgomery Motor Speedway.
• 2023: Competed in the prestigious Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway, carrying the Hueytown legacy into one of short-track racing’s biggest events.

INSPIRATIONS

Her father, John “Boy” Wilkinson, is the obvious and undeniable influence. A Super Late Model legend who won the 2009 Southern Superstars Short Track Series Championship and the 2011 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, he didn’t just teach JoJo how to drive—he handed her the keys to a family racing legacy rooted in Hueytown’s storied motorsports history. Growing up in a town synonymous with the Alabama Gang meant racing wasn’t just a hobby; it was the family business. Her father’s reputation opened doors, but JoJo’s talent kept them open.

REPUTATION

Within the tight-knit southern short-track racing community, JoJo Wilkinson is known as a driver who earned her stripes the hard way. She’s not a novelty act or a feel-good story—she’s a legitimate competitor who’s proven she can wheel a late model and hold her own against veteran drivers. Her connection to Bill McAnally Racing, one of the premier teams in ARCA West competition, speaks to her credibility. In 2021, she was part of a historic ARCA West race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring where five women competed—JoJo alongside Amber Balcaen, Mariah Boudrieau, Bridget Burgess, and Amber Slagle—a moment that underscored how far women’s participation in stock car racing has come. She’s also built strong industry relationships, including with sponsor Instacoat Premium Products, which has backed the Wilkinson Racing Team and followed her career through multiple series. Her ability to balance fierce competitiveness with professionalism has made her a respected figure among teams, sponsors, and competitors alike.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Based on available information, specific future goals beyond 2024 are not documented. However, her trajectory suggests continued competition in regional late model series and potential additional ARCA starts as opportunities and sponsorship allow. The Wilkinson Racing Team remains active, and given JoJo’s track record, it’s safe to assume she’ll keep carrying the Hueytown name forward wherever speed and competition collide.

REFERENCES

Jolynn Wilkinson – Wikipedia
Wilkinson Racing Team and IPP – Instacoat Premium Products
Who is Jolynn “JoJo” Wilkinson? – Instacoat Premium Products
JoJo Wilkinson – Blakesley Sports Media
Alabama 200: Hueytown Legacy in the Hands of 16 Year Old JoJo Wilkinson
Jolynn “JoJo” Wilkinson 2021 Season – Instacoat Premium Products
John Wilkinson to Race Pro Late Model at Whittemore Speedway – Racing America
ENEOS Reunites With Bill McAnally Racing for 2021 ARCA Menards Series West
A ‘Rodeo’ in the Bullring! ARCA Menards Series West at Las Vegas – Kickin’ the Tires
2023 Snowball Derby and Snowflake 100 Roster – Racing America
Jolynn Wilkinson Racing Career Profile – Driver Database