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Austin Leo Theriault (born January 23, 1994) is an American former professional stock car racing driver and politician who recently served in the Maine House of Representatives for the 1st district from 2022 to 2024. As a driver he currently competes part-time in Late model competition, driving the No. 57 Chevrolet Camaro for Mark Henderson Racing. He won the ARCA Racing Series championship in 2017, driving for Ken Schrader Racing.
He was the Republican nominee to be U.S. Representative for Maine's 2nd congressional district in 2024, and was narrowly defeated by incumbent Democrat Jared Golden.
Theriault joined the ACT Late Model Tour full-time in 2010, finishing seventh in points driving the family-owned #57ME with a best finish of second. He started the 2011 season in a second car for RPM Motorsports, but returned to the family team mid-season, scoring eight top-ten finishes en route to third place in points. In 2012, Theriault finished no worse than ninth all year, scoring eight top-five runs and earning his first career ACT win at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway en route to another third-place points finish.
Theriault started his first Pro All-Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model Touring Series event in 2010. He became a development driver for Brad Keselowski Racing during the 2012 season, and switched focus to Super Late Models following the ACT season, making selected starts throughout the Southeast for BKR while running part-time in the PASS North Tour in 2013 and 2014. Theriault won four PASS races between 2012 and 2014.
Theriault occasionally competed in other racing events and divisions from 2011 to 2014, including the ARCA Midwest Tour, World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, CARS X-1R Pro Cup Series, Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour, Sunoco Gulf Coast Championship Series, CRA JEGS All-Star Tour, CRA Super Series Southern Division, CRA Super Series, ACT and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.
On July 20, 2013, Theriault competed in the IWK 250, along with car owner Brad Keselowski, in the No. 29X for BKR. After starting the race in fourth, Theriault had a clean race and brought the car home in an impressive 5th place, just two spots behind Keselowski who finished third.
Theriault has competed five times in the Oxford 250, finishing in the top five in his first four starts with a best finish of second in 2014.
Theriault returned in the Xfinity Series, by practicing in the No. 22 Ford Mustang for Brad Keselowski at Iowa. Theriault later was picked up by Obaika Racing to drive the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro, starting at Richmond.
On October 3, 2015, Theriault was involved in a huge crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when his BKR teammate Tyler Reddick got loose in turn 4 and clipped him, causing the race truck he was driving to hit nearly head on into the front stretch wall where there were no installed. Theriault's steering wheel collided with and destroyed his helmet, and he eventually suffered a compression fracture in his lower back as a result of the crash. After missing the next four races, Theriault returned to racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway, finishing 12th. In 2016, he returned to BKR at Daytona, driving the No. 2.
On September 10, 2018, it was announced that Theriault returned to the Truck Series, driving the No. 30 Toyota Tundra for On Point Motorsports at Las Vegas. He finished in eighth place after avoiding multiple crashes.
On February 4, 2019, it was announced that Theriault would drive at least five races for RBR Enterprises, starting at Daytona. Other tracks included Martinsville Speedway (two races), Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Bristol Motor Speedway. The team failed to qualify at Daytona in their first attempt.
Season still in progress
Ineligible for series points
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