“I never thought I'd be lucky enough to race it in NASCAR”: Ryan Ellis shares the reason for choosing #71 Xfinity race car 

Ryan Ellis has expressed excitement over his new racing number for the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Driving the No. 71 Chevrolet, Ellis said it was only a dream growing up and never thought it would become a reality.

Ellis is a 35-year-old professional stock car racing driver who has been competing in the Xfinity Series for over a decade now. He will drive the No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro full-time for his new team, DGM Racing, next year.

In an X (formerly Twitter) post, Ryan Ellis shared how he dreamt of running the No. 71 as a kid.

"Growing up, I was always number 71. Go-karts, quarter midgets, legends cars, and every level of hockey I competed in," Ellis wrote.

He added:

In every NASCAR video game I played, I created a 71 car, dreaming it would be real one day. I never thought I'd be lucky enough to race it in NASCAR. Thank you, @dgm_racing_!

Ellis posted an old picture of him in a quarter midget running the No. 71. The car also had the crew's names, including mom and dad. For the 2025 season, the Californian will work with the No. 71 crew at DGM Racing after spending years at Alpha Prime Racing.

DGM Racing owner Mario Gosselin also holds sentimental value to the number. Gosselin made his first Xfinity start in the No. 71 car in 1998. Moreover, he and his wife Michelle were born in 1971.

Sweetwater Construction, Ryan Ellis' sponsor, made the number change possible to fulfill the driver's dream of running it in NASCAR.

“Working with Ryan is awesome, and I continue to be proud of the relationship we’ve forged on and off the track," Sweetwater Construction's Ronald Witt said.

The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season will commence at the Daytona International Speedway for the United Rentals 300 on February 15.

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Ryan Ellis expresses excitement driving for DGM Racing in 2025

Following the announcement that Ryan Ellis is driving for DGM Racing next year, the driver couldn't contain his excitement. Ellis, who brings 15 sponsors, said he couldn't wait to be part of Gosselin's program for the 2025 season.

In a statement, Ellis said:

“Chatting with Mario about his plans for the program in 2025 convinced me that joining DGM was something I couldn’t pass up. He’s a racer, and his enthusiasm was immediately contagious."

He added:

"I have so much respect for what the Gosselin family has built, and I hope that we can turn some heads together next year. I’ve seen just how high the potential is at DGM, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Ryan Ellis drove the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro in the Xfinity Series - Source: Imagn

According to Gosselin, the signing of Ellis allowed the team to upgrade some of their equipment. He added that the team started to prepare in a way they hadn't done in prior seasons.

Ellis joins DGM Racing after an underwhelming season with Alpha Prime Racing. He didn't score a single top-10 finish this season, putting him 23rd on the drivers' ranking.