The Charlotte summer racing series launching NASCAR's next generation
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Left: Bandoleros race during the Summer Shootout series on July 7 at the Speedway. Right: A close up of racer Jack Smith's Legend car. Photos: McKenzie Rankin/Axios
Some of the toughest race cars around are being driven by kids as young as 13 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Why it matters: The Speedway's Summer Shootout series is where many future NASCAR drivers sharpen their skills. It's also one of Charlotte's more affordable family outings, with $13 tickets for adults and free admission for kids 12 and under.
What's happening: Dozens of drivers compete on the Speedway's frontstretch quarter-mile oval in Legend Cars and Bandoleros, racing in divisions ranging from beginners to seasoned competitors.
Context: Legend Cars debuted at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1992 as an affordable way to get more people into racing, according to U.S. Legends Cars International.
- The tiny cars resemble scaled down American automobiles from the 1930s and '40s, but don't let their size fool you.
What they're saying: Their short wheelbase, high power-to-weight ratio and other design quirks make them "one of the hardest cars to drive," said Brandin Wrisley, who recently retired after years of racing Legend Cars and now watches his sons, Sterling, 22, and Preston, 21, compete in the Summer Shootout.
- "They're a ton of fun and an absolute challenge to get used to," Wrisley said.
The intrigue: More than one driver and parent told Axios the same thing: If you can drive a Legend Car, you can drive just about anything.
- For younger racers, Bandoleros, a stepping stone between Go-Karts and Legend Cars, provide an entry point, with drivers able to compete beginning around age 7.
Zoom in: For some, Summer Shootout is a stepping stone toward a professional racing career. Monon Rahman, 27, already works for NASCAR as an engineer.
- This summer, he's competing in the Summer Shootout for the first time, hoping the experience behind the wheel will help him achieve his ultimate goal: becoming a race-winning crew chief.
- Rahman said years of watching races and working in the sport didn't prepare him for just how demanding Legend cars are. "Watching from the couch and doing it yourself are two completely different things," he said.
For others, the series has become a family tradition. "I grew up watching my dad race," said Preston Wrisley. "After I saw my brother (Sterling) race, I thought, 'I want to do that too. I think I can do it — but better,'" he joked.
The Smith family shares a similar story. Brothers Joel, 16, and Jack, 13, have both been racing since they were about 7 years old.
- "Being able to race against my friends and family is the coolest part of it," Jack said.
- His older brother, Joel, says he first fell in love with NASCAR when he was 4 or 5 years old. "Now my brother and I race against each other. It's something we can share and have a lot of fun with," he said.
Outside of school, Jack spends much of his time maintaining both race cars.
- "It's my full-time job, in a way," he said.
If you go: Summer Shootout runs Tuesday nights through July 28. Gates open at 5pm; racing begins at 6pm.
- Each night has a theme. July 14 features a mascot go-kart race and makeup races from the July 7 rainout; July 21 is Christmas in July; July 28 is Champions Night with bus racing and driver autographs.
Stop by: Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Pkwy. S, Concord.