If it has got four wheels, Parker Perry will race it. From just missing the Chili Bowl to finishing third in his first late model race, the 15-year-old turns heads wherever he races. He hopes to turn more heads this weekend during the Mayhem in the Mountains doubleheader for the Save A Lot American All-Star Series Presented by PPM Racing Products.
Despite his age, Perry’s raced 10 years, and has competed in a variety of race cars. Quarter Midgets. Karts. Micro and Mini Sprints. Midgets. Legend Cars. EV karts (on road courses). And late models, of course. Why all these different types of cars?
“Being so diverse helps you as a driver so much more than racing one track, one car, every single week,” Perry, of North Vernon, Indiana, said. “It’s why you see Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell jump into sprint cars, late models, NASCAR.”
Perry drove a D2 midget at the Chili Bowl, which compared to many others, was underpowered. He almost made the main. Perry’s first late model race came last year at Florence Speedway. He finished third.
Earlier this year, Perry took home a third and a fifth at Ponderosa and Lake Cumberland speedways in American All-Stars competition.
Now he heads to Virginia for an American All-Stars Series doubleheader, Mayhem in the Mountains. It begins Saturday, May 23, at Natural Bridge Speedway and concludes Sunday, May 24, at Wythe Raceway.
“Virginia, we’ve been there, but not for racing,” Perry said. “We went there for a vacation, but it’ll be a first for racing. It’s going to be exciting.”
Don’t count out Parker Perry, though, because his lack of experience at those dirt ovals. He does his homework.
“I’ll be in school, on the way to the races, or sitting at home, and I’ll be watching YouTube videos of tracks coming up I’ve never been to,” Perry said. “That’s a big thing for me — watching film.”
Perry will be prepared — and perhaps that preparation will result in his first late model win.
Outside Groove Note of Transparency: Outside Groove is a sponsor of the American All-Star Series. The American All-Star Series paid for the production of this article. The content is not subject to the approval of the American All-Star Series.
The Outside Groove Executive Editor has covered motorsports since 2000. His many awards include the 2019 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Jim Hunter Writer of the Year and the 2013 Russ Catlin Award for Excellence in Motorsports Journalism.
