Let's Go!

Jaxon Porter, 11, is happiest behind the wheel. He’s too young to have a driver’s license. He races go-karts.

Racers wait at the starting line. The green flag signals for them to go.

“I just love going fast,” Jaxon told TIME for Kids. He races at speeds up to 70 m.p.h.

Jaxon started racing at 5 years old. He has been driving for more than five years. He has dreams of going pro. “I’ll be up there soon,” he says. “An IndyCar driver.”

Jaxon Porter prepares for a race at the Orlando Karting Center, in Florida, in 2023.

Racing Families

Jaxon began competing in local go-kart races. They were in Phoenix, Arizona. Soon, he was taking part in national races. Drivers compete against kids their age. Some events have a thousand karts competing.

Members of a racing team chat at an event held by Youth Racers of America in 2023.

For many go-karters, racing runs in the family. Families spend a lot of time at events. They travel long distances. Many drivers are homeschooled. That gives them time for racing.

A young driver gets help with a helmet. Safety is important.

“It’s a sacrifice for the whole family,” Elysia Porter says. She’s Jaxon’s mom. “But it’s worth it,” she adds.

A Growing Sport

Audrey Littrell first drove a go-kart at age 4. She has been racing for several years now.

Audrey Littrell attends a practice race in Indiana in 2023.

“There aren’t many girls in racing,” says Audrey, now 8. But she could be part of a trend. There are few females in professional racing. But younger racers are more used to seeing girls on the track.

McKenna Haase heads Youth Racers of America. “Racing is growing a ton,” she says. She’s interested to see how many female racers make it to the pros in the coming years.