The race is on
11/6/2024When driving through Iowa’s wide-open spaces, who hasn’t wondered what it would be like to put the pedal to the metal and see just how fast you can go? Who hasn’t, in the congested traffic of the metro rush hour, thought about stepping on it, weaving through the traffic, and roaring over an imagined finish line? For most of us, such thoughts remain a daydream. Others, however, make pursuit of the winner’s circle part of their lives. They commit the time and money it takes to hit the racing circuit. And many will say that the thrill of the race has them hooked.
Kelby Watt
From go-kart to sprint car
Kelby Watt seems to have been born with his foot on the accelerator — and the accelerator pushed to the floor.
The 23-year-old Adel native began his racing career at the tender age of 4 at English Creek Speedway in Melcher. His family hadn’t been involved much in racing up to that point, but, little did they know, they soon would be.
Watt has been driving a 360 sprint car in recent years but graduated into the big boys 410 class this season. Halfway through this season, an opportunity arose for Watt to run 13 races in the pinnacle of sprint car racing — the World of Outlaws tour.
Now he is racing against his idols — and holding his own. His highest finish was 12th during that span.
“I wouldn’t have imagined that I would have gotten the opportunities that I did this year,” he says. “A lot has happened. I don’t think it would be wild to assume that I could race full-time and travel with the World of Outlaws in the next two years or so, but a lot of stuff has to happen in the meantime. I’m just going to continue to work every angle I can get to hopefully make that happen. We’ll see.”
Source: Adel Living, October 2024; by Darren Tromblay
Robbie Palmer
Motocross – A family way of life
Robbie Palmer and his family have participated in motocross bike racing as long as they can remember.
“My dad used to race motocross, and I have raced in it since I was very young,” Robbie shares. “My three sons have all grown up racing, as well.”
“I like how you go on the turns with so much traction, jump high, and go as fast as you want to,” Griffin Palmer, his youngest son, says. “I like the competition with other kids, even my brothers.”
“The sport alone is a lot of fun, as well as the community around it,” Robbie’s middle son, Grayson Phillips, shares. “My best friends and I all ride together.”
Robbie says that motocross is as big a deal for him as it is for his boys.
“I’ve been doing it since I was 5 years old,” he states. “The community is like family. You make lots of friends, and it’s pretty fantastic.”
The family’s favorite local tracks include their own track, Oakridge Farm MX. Grayson also likes the former Riverside track, Griffin the small track at the county fair, and Robbie the Lamoni Motocross Park and the track in New Hartford.
Source: Norwalk Living, October 2024; by Rachel Harrington
Jackson Gray
Micro sprinter
Jackson Gray, 17, started racing when he was just 4 years old and his dad put him in a go kart in Newton.
“We had some early success that got me hooked,” he says. “I’ve always had a love for driving and going fast. The go kart I was racing didn’t have a roll cage on it, and my dad ended up pulling me from racing because of safety concerns and how young I was. Ever since then, I have had aspirations of getting back behind the wheel, but it took many years for them to all come into action.”
Gray started working at a local sprint car engine builder’s shop. Through those connections, he met Marty Howard, who was just starting a sprint car team. Gray started attending races then met Brian Krumm, owner of Academy Roofing in Des Moines, who offered his support.
“My biggest advice for people trying to start racing is just start. Don’t take no for an answer, and start at any level you can. If you surround yourself with the right people and put in the work, it will all fall into place.”
Source: Ankeny Living, October 2024; by Ashley Rullestad
Austin McCarl
A family tradition
Following in the footsteps of his Grandpa Lenard and dad, Terry, Austin McCarl has been involved with racing since childhood.
“It’s all I really know,” he says. “My grandpa built racecars, built engines, raced himself, and owned racecars until he retired. He raced basically until he died. Then my dad started racing when he was pretty young. He followed in my grandpa’s footsteps and has raced for a living my entire life. Honestly, it’s kind of the cliché thing. It’s in my blood a little bit. It was what my grandpa did. It was what my dad did, and I just grew up loving it and being obsessed with it.”
McCarl has a few favorite memories including making the A Main, the main feature race, at the Knoxville Nationals at age 18 in 2011.
“I was tied with three other guys to be the second youngest, so basically fourth or fifth youngest person to ever make it,” he says.
He suggests those interested in racing spend time at the race track and with the racing community.
“Talk to people and learn,” he says. “Try to learn the ins and outs as much as you can, what you need, what you don’t need.” n
Source: Altoona Living, October 2024; by Sean Dengler
