Despite his age and experience, Kendall Boatwright has turned heads. So much so that Sumter Speedway in South Carolina required him to start in the back of the econo 4 feature for the second time this year on Saturday.
“I think it’s fun!” said Boatwright of starting in the rear. “You can’t win on the first lap, so starting in the back is just going to be a lot of fun, running up against the competition.”
This season the Batesburg, South Carolina, driver has won seven times. While only 16 years old, he has good mentors on his team helping him. That includes his parents and uncle.
“My mom and dad both raced and it is also how they met,” Boatwright said, adding both stepped away from the driver’s seat after having kids. “We still went to watch the races and after two years of convincing my mom that I wanted one, she said yes.
“My dad and I spend time with the car every single day, putting in a lot of work. We don’t just race and let our car sit there all week.”
One of the big improvements they made was installing safety hubs on their cars. Before that they kept breaking hubs, and it resulted in a wreck that caused Boatwright to flip several times.
This past Saturday, Kendall Boatwright put on a show. Starting last, in ninth place, he moved his way through the field, eventually challenging for the lead, but wound up finishing in the runner-up spot.
After his success in the econo 4 class this season, Kendall Boatwright will change classes.
“We have a thunder bomber and will be racing after the 2023 points season is over in August,” said Boatwright. “I want to keep growing as a driver. I believe my skills are getting better each year.”
His father and uncle, who help Boatwright, know even more about V-8, rear-wheel-drive classes. With that knowledge behind them, Kendall Boatwright looks to continue his winning ways when he tackles his new challenge.
The Outside Groove contributor from North Carolina grew up in the shop of her racer dad. She started racing V8 stock cars at age 13, competing in the renegades and then moving into the pure stocks.
