Paul Peter "Paulie" Harraka (born September 15, 1989 in Wayne, New Jersey) is an American racing driver and entrepreneur. A graduate of Duke University and a former representative of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program.

Harraka was born in Wayne, New Jersey, the first and only son of parents Paul Harraka and Donna Dikdan. His parents separated during his infancy, and later divorced, but held joint custody of Harraka throughout his childhood and adolescence. Harraka’s mother remarried, and Harraka has two sisters from his mother and stepfather. Harraka attended Wayne Valley High School from his freshman through junior years, but spent his senior year at Lake Norman High School to be closer to NASCAR team Joe Gibbs Racing, where he worked as an engineering and research and development intern. During this time, Harraka lived with Kenny Francis, crew chief for Kasey Kahne.

After graduating from high school with a 4.38 GPA. Harraka opted to attend Duke University, stating “I think that in the modern age of racing, knowing all aspects of the business is crucial to being successful." After beginning his studies in Mechanical Engineering, Harraka transferred to Duke’s Trinity School of Arts and Sciences, where he studied Markets and Management, Sociology, and History. Harraka is one of only two NASCAR drivers with University degrees, the other being Ryan Newman.

Harraka first sat behind the wheel when he received a backyard fun kart from his family and started driving it around abandoned buildings. Harraka entered his first race on June 1, 1997 at Flemington Speedway, and despite being underage (Harraka was 7 and New Jersey law required that drivers be at least 8 years old), Harraka won. In a karting career that spanned from 1997 to 2005, Harraka amassed a World Karting Association Triple Crown, the Holley Future Star Award, 13 National Championships, and 6 World Championships, and 158 total wins in go-karts. In 2005 he moved from kart to legends car racing, where he won multiple races.

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