When you look at the title of this, you would think I am about to go on an absolute rant about the state of motorsports today as it relates to the times we live in today, and to what is in store for motorsports worldwide, but i’m not sharing my thoughts about that with this piece. I am talking about the individuals that will be The Future of Motorsports: the young racers.
I started my career in 2008 driving. I’m not retired yet, so I consider myself a driver still. Just waiting on the right opportunity to present itself. Over 10 years of driving, before I went to the sidelines when my wife and I were expecting our first child, I had many high points and high moments. Overall, nothing came into comparison when the opportunity presented itself to be a mentor in some form to a young racer. Whether it was physical help, or just giving advice, I relished the chance because any situation that presented itself with a young racer, no matter the age, told me that they looked up to me in some way. It should make anyone feel good when a young man or young lady looks up to you on the racetrack.
From 2015-2017, I had the absolute joy of being a part of Ponder Racing. Davy and Nicole are two of my best friends i have ever had. Davy is like a brother, and Nicole is like my big sister I never had. Their kids, Libby, Gracie, and Jonathan are my adopted nieces and nephews that I will treat like they are biological until I am called home. Jonathan drove mini late models at the kart track at Talladega. I think it was 2017 he had a mammoth breakout year. He clinched the division championship with many wins that year. He did it with sheer aggression and attentiveness, and a refuse to lose mentality. He didn’t want a handout, he wanted to earn it, which was a result of his upbringing. And that he did, several times.He hasn’t been on track for a bit now, but hopefully the opportunity will arise again where we all can go back to the red clay oval, because I miss seeing his aggressive driving style that garnered many wins. Fast forward to present day, 2020……
Ever since 2017, I haven’t been to a dirt track but one time. Although a new form of “dirt racing” has garnered my attention, and has done so quickly: MOTOCROSS. A few weeks back, on the show, we had a young fella on, Patrick Adam Kirk. He’s an up and coming motocross rider. Me, my wife, and his parents, Patrick and Michelle are developing a closer friendship daily through being members of Munford Baptist Church. People as good as them are a dime a dozen these days. They are selfless people. For a 7 year old like Patrick Adam, with the small stature he has, average Joe or Jane would think he doesn’t stand a chance…… THINK AGAIN.
For the past several weeks, yet months, even though with several invites from his dad to come watch a race, timing just hasn’t allowed for me. Following Patrick Adam’s events on social media, along with talking to his dad many times through the week, the racer instinct in me has told me that this kid has the ability in the future to be a force in the motocross ranks. Solid results, with video to back it up just further solidified my theory. Well, after the morning services, the words “practice at the house” were thrown to me. I couldn’t resist and went down to finally see lil man “saddle his horse up and ride”. Lets just say my “impressed” meter pegged out. He and his dad had their own little “race”. The best way to picture it is that Patrick ran “rabbit”, and Patrick Adam was the “rabbit dog” in pursuit. I think it for about 5 laps, it looked like Buford T. Justice in hot pursuit of The Bandit. It left me speechless, because I was watching a 7 year old run a motorcycle id say in excess of 40 mph with ZERO FEAR, and a “I will catch you” look in his eye. Before that, he was perfecting his craft on gate starts with his dad as “gate man”. With laser focus, he executed flawless, and listened to every letter of every word of every piece of coaching advice he was given to get better. During the “chase”, a small “mishap” occured, that brought it to a stop. We got back to him, and he had banged his leg pretty good. Now the natural reaction of a 7 year old kid came first, emotional, because he was sore, but the racer instinct in me didn’t see that solely. I honestly saw a racer, that was upset because he didn’t catch the rabbit, and the rabbit got away. While his bike was being checked out, I walked with him for a short distance, asked him 2-3 times “you good”? After every time asked, I got the same reply, with a tear in his eye.. “Yeah i’m good, just hurts”. All while walking it off.
Y’all, the kid impressed me to no end, because hes a 7 year old with the don’t quit mentality and determination of a 40 year old. I will say this in full confidence…..and you can time stamp this: this kid’s current success is a result of his parents’ upbringing of him. When you combine that, plus his “don’t quit” mentality, and determined focus level, he will be DANGEROUS in future seasons to come, and i’m beyond looking forward to watching him climb up the ladder. Just like Jonathan, Patrick Adam wants to earn his place in the motorsports world. Kids like these two gentleman define what is good in motorsports. You go earn your place, not buy your way into or onto a ride, and be coached to perfect your talent, no matter if its on two wheels or four. There are many “flaws” in the level of talent in motorsports, and how they obtain their rides, but these two imparticular are NOT flawed.
They are the “Future of Motorsports.”