Fast Track to NASCAR 

Twelve-year-old Simon Kline isn’t your typical middle schooler. He’s a pro-level go-kart racer, traveling the country to compete in high-speed, high-stakes events, and he’s currently the only Oklahoman doing it. 

Simon races in the Mini Swift class, a competitive circuit for young drivers using 2-stroke go-karts that hit speeds up to 70 miles per hour. He’s already placed second in national races, earned pole position, and this fall, he’ll transition to Legend Cars, which top 100 miles per hour. His long-term goal is to become a NASCAR driver, and his family is all in. 

The Klines know what it means to turn a passion into a profession. His father, Derik, is a storm chaser and CEO of Hailtrace. The same drive that pushed him to follow the weather is now fueling Simon’s racing journey. His dad says the family’s theme is simple: “Figure out what lights you up, and find a way to do it for a living.” 

Simon showed early interest in the fast life. “Car” was one of his first words. By the time he was seven, his parents started searching for a way to get him on a track. “We visited a go-kart club at JRP Speedway in Tulsa and bought a used kid kart,” his dad explained, “Simon was lapped multiple times in his first race, but he loved it.” They raced locally for more than a year before realizing there was a whole world of racing beyond their backyard. 

Today, Simon trains and competes across the country, from Wisconsin to North Carolina. He works with a professional team that provides coaching and mechanical support, and he practices between races using a racing simulator in his bedroom. His helmet, custom-painted by an artist in Ukraine, reflects his two biggest interests. One side features storm-chasing imagery, while the other features racing. The muscle car on the helmet was painted by Simon’s late grandfather, tying together generations of family and passion. 

Racing at this level takes intense skill. “The hardest lesson to learn, especially at this stage, is that slow is fast,” Derik said. “Hitting a corner too quickly causes the kart to slide, which costs time. It’s better to slow slightly and accelerate out smoothly. On the national stage, where fractions of a second separate first from fifth, those details matter.” 

Despite the high speeds and national competitions, the focus remains on growth. “If we aren’t winning, we’re learning” is a regularly repeated phrase in the Kline household. That mindset has helped Simon build confidence and resilience, and it’s a lesson his family hopes he’ll carry throughout his life, all the way to his NASCAR seat. 

To learn more follow @simonjackracing132 on Instagram.