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What got you into racing to begin with, and what form of racing did you begin in and how old were you?
My dad races shifter go-karts, and used to race trucks, skip barber, and other vehicles, so I have grown up around racing since I can remember. I began racing the slower go-karts at the track, and I had a lot of fun racing a road course type of track, but I was looking more for speed. I wanted to get a go-kart for my 17th birthday (last March), but my dad suggested a jr. dragster as an alternative. I fell in love with the idea of drag racing, because I've been to every type of track but a drag strip. When I started out in the jr. dragster, we gained new friends, and even paired up with the Mendola Motorsports racing team. They have helped us through jrs, and have been with Lay Racing all the way through the Super Comp class today.
What’s your biggest accomplishment in racing so far?
My biggest accomplishment in racing so far would have to be my first bracket race in my Super Comp Dragster. I finished 14th place out of 80 cars that came out and raced in the same class as me. In my jr dragster, I have finished runner up (2nd place) and lost by .001 of a second to my opponent. These are my best accomplishments so far, and we are looking for a few wins this season as well.
What’s your most memorable racing moment, good or bad?
My most memorable racing moment is always recreated every time we go to the races. The best one, so far, was when I caught a .009 light at the tree during a practice/qualifying session and I came back, and all of my sponsors, fans, teammates, and family were standing there, all clapping when I came back to our trailer and RV.
What do you hope to accomplish in your racing career, what direction are you headed?
In my racing career, I hope to make a difference in someone else's life and inspire people to do great things in life and follow your passion, whatever it might be. My primary focus is to stay in the Super Comp category until my last years of college and then get a top alcohol dragster. I would eventually love to work up to the top fuel category and travel around with the Full Throttle series.
Who’s been the most helpful person in your career a this point?
This is really hard to say because it takes so much effort from everyone on the team to do their job and work on the dragster in between rounds. My main support is from my family, so the most helpful person in my career, at this point, has been my father. He is there for me emotionally, mentally, and financially and is full of support. He understands what I am going through because we both share the same passion for racing. He has guided me in the right direction, not only in who to act in front of t.v. cameras, but also how to represent my sponsors with great pride and make a difference, on and off the track.
What do you with your time outside of racing? Hobbies, job, etc..
Outside of racing, I love to golf (which is totally opposite from racing), work out, go to the movies, shop, hang out with my family and friends, be involved with the community, play the flute and piccolo, and I am a second year drum major for the Bloomingdale High School band.
Favorite food?
My favorite food is Moe's Billy Barou Nachos. I absolutely love nachos.
Favorite movie?
My favorite movie is "Fired Up".
Favorite driver?
My favorite driver is Ashley Force Hood. I would love to meet her one day. She has inspired me that girls can compete to the level of grown men and to accept that the learning curve is going to be steep in the beginning of, and throughout my whole racing career.
Favorite celebrity?
My favorite celebrity would have to be Lady Gaga. She has an odd style, but knows how to create music that people will purchase online and make songs that never get old, no matter how many times you listen to them.
Who would you like to sit down with and pick their brain, dead or alive?
Honestly, I would love to meet and talk to Tony Schumacher or Larry Dixon and talk to them about their journey towards how they became champions in the top fuel series. I would ask either one of them every question possible that comes to my mind, even life lessons that do not have anything to do with racing. Just being able to sit down and talk to a top fuel driver, any of them, would be an opportunity of a lifetime.

What got you into racing to begin with, and what form of racing did you begin in and how old were you?
I started racing at 5 yrs old in a mini dwarf dirt race car. I started racing because I have always loved fast cars!
What’s your biggest accomplishment in racing so far?
Winning 11 straight features at Concord Speedway this year in my Rookie season in the Bandoleros.
What’s your most memorable racing moment, good or bad?
My most memorable moment so far was winning the feature main event at Concord on my birthday (9-12-10).
What do you hope to accomplish in your racing career, what direction are you headed?
I want to race Bandoleros until I am old enough to race a Legends car, then a Late Model and then drive in Nascar!
Who’s been the most helpful person in your career a this point?
My Dad and Mom
What do you with your time outside of racing? Hobbies, job, etc..
I go to school. I am in the 3rd grade. I also like to work on old cars with my Dad and Uncles.
Favorite food?
Pizza!!!!!! I would eat pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday if I could!
Favorite movie?
Days of Thunder
Favorite driver?
Denny Hamlin
Favorite celebrity?
"Big E" (Dale Earnhardt, Sr.)
Who would you like to sit down with and pick their brain, dead or alive?
Dale Earnhardt, Sr.

Let's not forget about this. Bill Simpson proving his products work.


What got you into racing to begin with, and what form of racing did you begin in and how old were you?
A neighbor of ours down in Forest Acres, SC, where I’m from, first introduced my family and I to racing go-karts when I was around 7 years old. I had been driving a ‘yard kart’ around our neighborhood for years and was racing BMX at the time when we found out about the World Karting Association and the track they ran at about 30 minutes from where we lived. My passion from racing didn’t come from anyone in particular, since no one in my family had any involvement in it whatsoever. I just have always had that passion to want to race.
What’s your biggest accomplishment in racing so far?
Back in 2007 and 2008 when I consecutively won the Summer Shootout Pro division Championship in a Legends car at the Charlotte Motor Speedway would have to be one of my biggest accomplishments in racing so far. A lot of drivers racing in NASCAR today cut their teeth on the quarter mile bullring at the speedway, and to become the only driver in the 20 or so years that the series has been running to win back to back championships is quite an honor. It also opened the door to the opportunity I got back in 2009 to run Dirt Late Models, which allowed me to have the great season I had this past year with 11 wins.
What’s your most memorable racing moment, good or bad?
I’d have to say one of the most memorable racing moments to date in my career was when I first won the Summer Shootout Series Championship in 2007 out at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Pro division. I raced at the Shootout in 2004 as a 12 year old in the Bandolero division and always dreamed of winning a championship there. After working my way through the Semi-Pro division and finally winning that championship in the Pro division it was very humbling. The final race of the series was one of the best races I have ever been in, and I was fortunate enough to win both the race that night and the championship. I know that doesn’t happen very often and it will always be pretty special.
What do you hope to accomplish in your racing career, what direction are you headed?
Since Day 1 of my racing career my goal has been to race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. I’ve got a passion to drive race cars and am willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. After running Dirt Late Models and Legends cars through the years with over 200 trophy wins, I’m in the process of putting together a few different things for 2011. Right now the goal is to move back onto asphalt and get a few ARCA races under my belt.
Who’s been the most helpful person in your career a this point?
I’ve been blessed to have had multiple people invest their time and efforts into my racing program to help me pursue my goals. The person that has helped me the most would certainly have to be my dad. Both my dad and mom have sacrificed large amounts of their time over the years in me through my racing career. The things my dad has taught me about the business side of things and being able to market myself has been a huge asset. The advice he has given me over the years has kept me moving forward and focused on achieving the things I’ve set my mind to.
What do you with your time outside of racing? Hobbies, job, etc..
I currently am a Sophomore in the Motorsports Program at Belmont Abbey College just outside of Charlotte. It’s been a great opportunity to continue learning about a sport I’m involved in so much. For me, my focus is my racing program, so I do my best to devote all my time to furthering my racing career. Whether it be updating my website, networking at events, developing sponsorship proposals, or working on the race cars – I’ve learned to enjoy and work at whatever it takes.
Favorite food?
I love a good dinner at any Italian restaurant. I’ve eaten my fare share of race track food over the years, and although some places do put together some good meals, I’ll never pass up a chance to sit down and enjoy a bowl of chicken fettuccini.
Favorite movie?
It’s hard not to put down Days of Thunder for this one. I grew up watching the movie and I think I’ve memorized quite a few lines when it comes to talking about watching races on ESPN, matched perfect – staggered tires, and engines that are low to the ground with extra thick oil pans that cut the wind from underneath.
Favorite driver?
I was a big Jeff Gordon fan growing up. I had the t-shirts, die-cast, you name it. Being older and with the racing the way it is today, I’d have to say that Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards are a few favorites of mine just because of their versatility and roots that go back to what I have been doing that past couple of years – racing on dirt.
Favorite celebrity?
Tom Hanks would have to be one of my favorites after his roles in Forrest Gump, Castaway, Big, and The Green Mile.
Who would you like to sit down with and pick their brain, dead or alive?
I’m a huge history buff so I’d have to include more than just one person on this one. Sitting in a room with the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau would be pretty incredible. On the racing side of things, I’d like to sit down with some of the drivers that ran in NASCAR back when it was in its early stages. Drivers like Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly, and Fireball Roberts. I had a neat opportunity earlier this year to hang out with Marvin Panch for a day and hear his stories of what racing used to be like and his advice for my career. Wisdom is hard to come by and I’m all for taking in as much as possible.
Impact Gear of Choice:
Custom Impact Suit, Air Draft Helmet, Mid-Top Shoes, G5 Gloves