Future Racing Stars

Most racing stars of 2020 are competing right now. Most of the rest will start racing as soon as they're potty trained.

Never Too Young
The perfect example is 12-year-old Matt Martin, who began racing when he was seven years old. Even that's a ripe old age to enter competition: Formula One driver Fernando Alonso was racing karts at age three.


After several successful seasons in quarter-midgets and Bandoleros, Martin has signed a contract with Ford Motorsports and is moving up to a 400-horsepower Fastruck series pickup and a Sportsman stock car. By starting in quarter midgets—roll-cage-equipped open-wheelers reminiscent of sprint cars—while still in elementary school, Martin followed in the footsteps of Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Terry and Bobby Labonte.

Race Genes
Did we mention that Matt Martin is the son of Nextel Cup star Mark? That brings us to another prediction: Many of tomorrow's top race drivers will be the sons and daughters of today's stars. They might even be the grandchildren of yesterday's stars. Consider 17-year-old Marco Andretti, son of Michael and grandson of Mario, and an extremely successful kart racer.


The crystal ball also says that many of those who are not the offspring of star drivers will be the children of journeyman semi-pro race drivers. Examples of this trend are Matt Kenseth, Helio Castroneves, Kurt Busch, and Robbie Gordon. Their fathers didn't make the big time, but their dads' experience helped the sons climb the ladder to the top.