Finalists Chosen for Inaugural FAT Racing Shootout

Contest created by Rob Smedley to offer a funded season in British Formula 4 to a driver from a humble background

 

The finalists have been selected for the inaugural shootout for a scheme created by former Formula 1 engineer Rob Smedley to offer a British F4 campaign to an underfunded driver.

 

Smedley first revealed the plans in 2023 which initially featured a series of karting competitions around the world where all of the participants race in arrive-and-drive electric karts in a bid to try to democratise motorsport and enable talented drivers from less privileged backgrounds the chance to shine.

 

These events formed part of the FAT Karting League, from which world finals were held to help select the drivers for the FAT Racing shootout.

 

Two finalists were automatically chosen from the world finals: American Shea Aldrich, who won the Junior Heavy class, and Briton Ellis McKenzie, who topped the Junior Light division.

 

They will be joined in the shootout by two wildcard drivers who also impressed during the world finals. Scotland-based South African Monde-Jnr Konini was a runner-up while American Jackson Wolny was third in the Junior Heavy final.

 

They will now all take part in a two-stage shootout to determine who receives the fully-funded seat on this year’s British F4 grid.

 

The first phase will take place at FAT Racing’s UK headquarters and will involve simulator, fitness and media skills assessments, before the finalists will then head to the Guadix circuit in Spain, where they will get behind the wheel of F4 machinery.

 

“This is a historic moment for us, but more importantly, it’s a statement of intent,” explained Smedley.

 

“This has taken years of relentless work, belief and refusal to accept the status quo.

 

“Today, we are crystallising a real pathway from the FAT Karting League into single-seater racing that is based on talent, performance and capability — not on who can afford to pay their way forward.

 

“For too long, motorsport has filtered out exceptional ability simply because of budget. That has to change.

 

“Talent deserves opportunity, not exclusion, and we’re proud to be building a system that finally puts ability first.”

 

Smedley’s FAT Karting League co-founder Ferdi Porsche added: “The shootout is the next step in our mission to create a truly meritocratic pipeline all the way to the top of the sport.

 

“By removing financial roadblocks and pairing that with the technical expertise of our engineers, we’re ensuring that anyone gets a shot at becoming the next world champion, regardless of their background.”

 

 

 

 

source: Autosport Media

Kevin Harvick hits Son Keelan with Wake-Up Call

Epic Battle in CARS Tour West Season Opener

 

Keelan Harvick will one day have his day in the sun; Saturday at Tucson Speedway was not the time nor the place. His father, 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, reminded him that his “maiden voyage is over.”

 

The Harvicks headlined the field for the CARS Tour West Pro Late Model class season opener at Tucson Speedway. Keelan and Kevin banged doors and traded paint late in the race, the 13-year-old initiating it and the 50-year-old ending it. The elder Harvick took the checkered flag with Keelan coming in second, making it a father/son 1-2 finish.

 

“It got a little physical, but I was like, ‘You know what, buddy, you’ve moved me out of the way today, your maiden voyage is over, you’re gonna get the bumper back.’ I’m glad he didn’t wreck, but I would have been fine with that, too, today,” Kevin Harvick told Short Track Scene. “It was fun. Hopefully the crowd enjoyed it, it’s fun to be in Victory Lane.”

 

It was an entertaining duel between father and son, one of many we could see as Keelan Harvick continues to rise through the ranks of motorsports. Keelan Harvick put up a fight but came up just short going up against an experienced wheelman in his dad, a 60-time Cup Series winner.

 

“I had him the first time and we kind of got hung together there off of [Turn] 4 door-to-door and it kind of shot me down the racetrack just a little bit, and I didn’t get a great entry into [Turn] 1,” Kevin Harvick said. “I lost that battle there and the second time, I think he thought I was gonna roll the top or he thought I was at the top and tried to cross me over, I don’t remember exactly what happened right there. He didn’t get there, and then he moved me in the next corner. From there, it was game on.”

 

Pole sitter @KeelanHarvick breaks down his early battle with Colton Hale and finishing second to his dad, @KevinHarvick, in @CARSTourWest Pro Late Models at Tucson Speedway.@ST_Scene | #SoundGear125 pic.twitter.com/cd102y5Ctq

— Rence Brown (@rencethefence) January 18, 2026

Keelan Harvick really wanted to beat his dad. That being said, he enjoyed the battle.

 

“It was really fun,” Keelan Harvick said. “Hate that I couldn’t win but still really fun racing him.”

 

 

 

source: ON3 Media

Former Quarter Midget Drivers secure championships in NASCAR Truck Series & NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025

Corey Heim, driver of the #11 Safelite Toyota and
Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet.

 

In a historic culmination of grassroots racing talent rising to the national stage, two former quarter-midget competitors have captured the championships in the 2025 seasons of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, marking a major milestone for the short-track developmental ranks.

 

 

In the Truck Series, rising star Corey Heim (formerly a standout in quarter-midget competition) clinched the 2025 title after a season of dominant performance, including multiple wins, poles and consistent top-ten finishes. Heim out of GA raced quarter midgets growing up, moving quickly into NASCAR higher ranks all leading to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion in 2025.

 

Corey began racing quarter midgets at a young age, competing in local and regional events. Like many professional NASCAR drivers, these early experiences taught him car control, racecraft, and discipline behind the wheel. After success in quarter midgets, he moved up through Legends cars, Super Late Models, and ARCA Menards Series competition. Heim has since become a standout in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving for TRICON Garage (Toyota) and earning multiple wins, poles, and championship contention.

 

 

Simultaneously, in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly called the Xfinity Series), Jesse Love, whose early career also began in quarter-midgets, secured the 2025 driver’s championship. Love, who is NASCAR's youngest champion, raced quarter midgets early on in his career, followed by USAC Midgets, legend cars, and others.

 

Jesse Love started racing quarter midgets at around age five, competing in the Baylands Quarter Midget Association in Northern California. He quickly stood out for his speed and consistency, winning numerous races and championships at a young age. His success in quarter midgets set the stage for rapid advancement through the ranks of youth motorsports — including USAC Midgets, Micro Sprints, and Late Models. Love went on to become one of the youngest winners and champions in the ARCA Menards Series, and by 2024–2025, he was racing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Richard Childress Racing.

 

Finally back in a midget here in Tulsa! Race of champions on tap for tomorrow night. pic.twitter.com/zmCYxuqK3N

— jesse love jr (@jesselovejr1) January 12, 2026

Both drivers trace their roots back to the quarter-midget arena — the small, high-performance cars young racers pilot on short oval tracks. That foundation of wheel-control, car-placement and race-craft has proven invaluable at the national levels of stock-car competition.

 

Their ascents underscore the effectiveness of grassroots racing as a pipeline to NASCAR’s national series: the discipline required, early exposure to competitive environments, and the mental toughness developed in quarter-midget competition have served them well through late models, regional series, and ultimately to full-time rides in NASCAR’s upper tiers.

 

About Quarter Midget Racing

Quarter-midget racing — involving small, open-wheel cars for youth drivers ages roughly five to sixteen — has long served as a training ground for mechanics of racing: throttle control, car handling, overtaking skills, and race strategy. Many NASCAR drivers cite their quarter-midget experience as critical in shaping their careers.

 

About NASCAR Youth Racing

NASCAR Youth Series is the sanctioning body for the quarter midget racing division of the United States Auto Club (USAC). Quarter midget racing has been around since before World War II. It is a family-oriented motorsport that involves children ages 5-16 racing in specially-prepared cars. The cars, rules and safety procedures are designed specifically for kids. Quarter midget racing is divided into 14 classes/divisions. Kids typically race on oval tracks approximately 1/20th of a mile long. The surface of these tracks are dirt, concrete or asphalt.

 

 

source: NASCAR Youth Media

Keelan Harvick Embodied Father Kevin’s Composure

The Closer, Part II becomes the Youngest Snowflake 125 Winner in History

 

For a brief moment, Keelan Harvick thought he let a victory slip away in his debut Snowflake 125 appearance at Five Flags Speedway early Sunday morning.

 

A bad restart with 45 laps remaining stymied a valiant charge the young Harvick had made from the 15th starting position, which forced him to play catch up against Tristan McKee and reigning Snowball Derby winner Kaden Honeycutt. Possessing the same poise as his father Kevin, Harvick did not waste the limited time at his disposal.

 

“I thought I was in third gear, but I was in second gear,” Harvick said. “I just made a mistake, but I knew I had to fight back. [It would have been] a pretty embarrassing way to lose the Snowflake [125] after I had just got the lead.

 

However, not even 20 laps passed before Harvick found himself on McKee’s rear bumper to re-take the top spot. Harvick easily dispatched McKee and held him off in the closing laps to become the youngest Snowflake 125 winner at 13, surpassing the record previously established by a 14-year-old Hunter Robbins in 2005.

 

𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒌𝒆 - At 13 years old @KeelanHarvick became the youngest winner of the #Snowflake125 at the end of a very late night at @5FlagsSpeedway.

He caught up with our @RobBlount to explain how scored the biggest win of his life 👇 pic.twitter.com/qcequVXJsP

— FloRacing (@FloRacing) December 7, 2025

Battling his way to a Snowflake 125 victory was a mentally taxing experience for Harvick, who climbed out of his No. 62 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford shortly before 4 a.m. CT. Yet he still made time to appreciate and reflect upon the journey that led him to prevailing on the Pro Late Model discipline’s premier stage.

 

“It’s just really cool,” he said. “[I’m thankful for] everything that everybody has sacrificed for me to get to this point. My dad took me to Italy when I was 10 to get the experience with all the other kids who are so much better. That helped me understand the value of racing and helped me get to this point.”

 

 

“We typically try to find the hardest races because you learn the most,” Kevin said. “This race is no different. Not going to find the best competition you can is detrimental to the kids. [Keelan] has done a great job, but Rackley [W.A.R.] has done a great job of preparing the cars all year and getting him used to driving the [Pro Late Models].”

 

Getting the sneaking suspicion this golf thing is going to be put on the back burner… 🙃🥰 #itried pic.twitter.com/kOMnvAnyPH

— DeLana Harvick (@DeLanaHarvick) December 7, 2025

 

source: NASCAR Media

Welcome Charley Blaney

Future Racer like his Dad and Granddad?

 

Ryan Blaney and his wife Gianna Tulio have welcomed home the sweet baby boy, Charley. Charley was born on November 17th.

 

Ryan Blaney and his father, Dave Blaney are both well-know NASCAR Drivers. Dave Blaney raced in the NASCAR Cup Series for 17 years, competing in 473 races with four wins.

 

Son Ryan Blaney has had a successful career with 377 Cup Series starts as of November 2025 including seventeen wins and a 2023 Championship! He can also boast of seven Xfinity wins plus four Truck Series Wins.

 

We’ve moved on from the tar 💩 phase to the mustard 💩 phase. I gotta tell ya, I prefer mustard.

— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) November 23, 2025

Welcome to this successful racing family Charley.

 

source: NASCAR Media

Fans Vote Keelan Harvick CARS Tour PLM Most Popular Driver

“Being voted Most Popular Driver means a lot and is a huge honor for me,”

 

Keelan Harvick was named the CARS Tour Pro Late Model Most Popular Driver during the season-ending awards banquet at the Speedway Club at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

 

Voting for the MPDA, which was presented by CARS Tour broadcast partner FloRacing, ran from Oct. 17 – Nov. 5 and allowed fans to vote for their favorite driver daily. Any driver who competed in more than half of the season’s events was eligible.

 

“Being voted Most Popular Driver means a lot and is a huge honor for me,” Harvick said. “The fans are everything in racing, and this is their award to give, so it’s special that they took the time to vote for me. There are so many great CARS Tour drivers who have won this in the past, and I’m really humbled to win it this year.”

 

This marks Harvick’s first Most Popular Driver Award in any series and complements the 13-year-old’s strong CARS Tour PLM season that included four wins (Hickory Motor Speedway, Florence Motor Speedway, South Boston Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway), four top-five and five top-10 finishes, along with two poles in seven starts.

 

Thank you to all the fans that voted! https://t.co/0TDklZ11cD

— Keelan Harvick (@KeelanHarvick) November 17, 2025

 

source: Kevin Harvick Inc Media

Keelan Harvick Likes Racing Where His Father Raced

Keelan and Kevin Were At Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on November 8th 2025

 

Keelan Harvick, who turned 13 this past summer, was at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on Nov. 8, where he made his debut on the 0.58-mile track. He finished eighth in a 34-car field in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour All American 100. Corey Deuser won the race.

 

"When COVID hit, I had nothing to do, so I asked my dad if I could go to the go-kart track and I've loved it ever since," Keelan said. "I got hooked on racing and my dad has supported me since then. I didn't know I'd be this far along in just a few years, but I'm really happy to be here."

 

Keelan was on the same track his father Kevin raced early in his career, which eventually included 60 NASCAR Cup wins, the 2007 Daytona 500 championship and three Brickyard 400 victories.

 

Keelan said the tracks he likes to run the most are those like Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, for a couple of reasons.

 

"One, I just think it's neat to be on the same track he was on, and also because he knows the track and can tell me what to look out for," Keelan said.

 

What Kevin Harvick told his son about the unique Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway paved oval with an 18-degree banking was that it can be tricky.

 

"It's a very difficult track," Keelan said. "But I like that. I like being uncomfortable. It pushes you to the edge. And I like a track where you have to save tires, and you definitely have to save tires on this track. I'm pretty good at saving tires, sometimes."

 

Even tho we didn’t get the finish we wanted, my first time in a Late Model at Nashville Fairgrounds was pretty cool! I also got to check off another track Pops and I have both raced too!

I qualified 5th, but had to start 8th with the redraw. I worked my way into the top five… pic.twitter.com/L2a9yxby1k

— Keelan Harvick (@KeelanHarvick) November 11, 2025

 

 

source: The Tennessean Media