Tinkle would first start racing go karts and mini cup cars in the mid 2010s. In 2014, he would win the Rookie of the Year award in the Central States Region Super Cups. He would then win the series championship in 2017.[1]
Tinkle won the Rockford Speedway MiniCup division championship in 2016.
In 2018, Tinkle moved to the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman championship, and placed 5th in the championship.
In 2019, he would return to the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman championship, and would score 2 wins en route to the series championship, he would also win the 2019 CRA Late Model Sportsman Triple Crown and the 2019 Anderson Speedway McGunegill Engines Late Model Series championship. He is the first driver to have won all three in the same year.[2]
In 2020, Tinkle would run part-time in the JEG'S / CRA All-Stars Tour and would place 7th in the championship. He would again compete part-time in 2021. He would also partake in Speedweeks at New Smyrna Speedway in the Pro Late Model division, where he would score 1 fastest qualifier and place 7th in points.
In 2021, his racing career would come to a halt when his father, Brad Tinkle, had a stroke.[3] Tinkle would start a GoFundMe in order to restart his racing career.
ARCA Menards Series
Tinkle would announce that he had signed for one race with Wayne Peterson Racing on July 15, 2021, after Peterson needed a driver for the race.[4] Peterson was impressed with Tinkle's performance, and would him sign him for three more races that year.[2]
On December 6, 2022, Tinkle announced that he will run full-time in the East Series in 2023, driving the No. 11 car for Fast Track Racing.[7]
In their first race together in a full-time capacity, Tinkle drove to a career best seventh place finish at the season opening race at Five Flags Speedway. He would then finish sixth at the next race at Dover Motor Speedway.
On February 1, 2024, it was announced that Tinkle will return to FTR for a second full-time season in the East Series, driving the No. 11 car.[8]
Motorsports career results
ARCA Menards Series
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)