In the world of late Model auto racing, it appears you don’t have to be old to drive like a veteran. Twelve year old Tristan McKee of Williamsburg, Virginia is making that crystal clear this season as he chases a $10,000 grand prize in the Solid Rock Carriers Big Money Late Model Series at the Carteret County Speedway in Swansboro.
McKee is currently third in the overall Late Model season points race trailing leader Dylan Newsome by a mere 8-points. Daniel Vuncannon is second followed by the not yet even a teenage Late Model sensation, McKee. The division is a dog fight right now with the top six drivers separated by 10-points.
McKee, who will race a Legend car for the first time ever on Saturday at Carteret, is still looking for his first Late Model victory following a pair of second place finishes this season. Newsome meantime has stayed on top by winning each of the last two races. The Legends will do battle in Twin features this Saturday with $750 on the line in each main event.
However Newsome will have to fend off McKee and the rest of the talented Late Model field this Sunday when they race a pair of Twin 40-Lap Main Events at Carteret County Speedway, all part of a Labor Day weekend festival of racing featuring NASCAR Legend Bobby Labonte and the SMART Modified Series Saturday and the Late Models Sunday.
Just how serious a driver is the 12 year old McKee who has been racing for six years now? Well, he has spent this week at the North Wilkesboro Speedway practicing Monday, qualifying Tuesday, and racing Wednesday before making the haul to Carteret County Speedway to race Legends Saturday and Late Models Sunday.
“I just like going fast,” McKee said Tuesday when we caught up with him at North Wilkesboro. “Racing is super fun” he added and say’s his goal this weekend at Carteret County Speedway is to “Get the best finish we can!”
Tristan isn’t thinking about the big payday of 10K if he can win the Late Model point’s race in 2022, instead, his focus is on getting better each race and building for the future.
McKee displays maturity far beyond his 12 years and will certainly be a driver to watch this weekend at Carteret County Speedway.
The entertainment begins at 6 pm with racing at 7 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. The huge Labor Day weekend racing event only at Bobby Watsons’ Carteret County Speedway.