From Trails to Tracks 

At just 12 years old, Zoey is already making a name for herself on the race track. The sixth grader is beginning her third season racing in the Texas Outlaw Series, a competitive side-by-side racing circuit that travels around Texas and occasionally Oklahoma. 

This year marks another big milestone. Zoey recently moved into a new race car capable of nearly double the speed of her previous one—a fact Zoey expresses with significantly more enthusiasm than her mom, Ashley. 

Zoey’s love for racing started early. She first tried racing when the family lived in Idaho. “She raced one time when she was about six,” Ashley said. “Then we moved to Oklahoma, and she just kind of grew up around side-by-sides.” The small off-road vehicles have two seats side-by-side and are built for rough terrain. 

Family camping trips often included riding trails together. In 2020, the family bought Zoey her own side-by-side just for fun. Racing was not initially part of the plan. “We would go to events where they were racing and watch,” Ashley said. “Years went by, and she didn’t race. Then one day she told her stepdad she thought it would be fun if she tried it.” 

That simple comment sparked an idea. Zoey’s stepdad began transforming her recreational ride into a race car, working overtime and reaching out to racing companies for sponsorships. Her first season was all about learning. Zoey had to adjust to driving the vehicle as a race car rather than a recreational trail machine. Last season, things began to click. Zoey finished on the podium in five of eight races, earning four third-place trophies and one second-place finish. 

“It was a learning experience for all of us,” Ashley said. “But Zoey just keeps improving.” This year brings a faster car and new challenges. The upgraded vehicle can reach around 80 miles per hour. “I’ve gone about 75,” Zoey said. “I try to push to get up there.” 

The short-course races are intense. Each race includes five laps on a roughly two-mile track filled with tight turns and five jumps. Even with her growing confidence, Zoey says she still feels the nerves before lining up. “I feel a little anxious before,” she said. “I’m just a little scared, until we get going.” 

Still, racing has helped her grow in ways her family never expected. “It’s boosted my confidence a lot,” Zoey said. “When you get on the podium you have to talk in front of people, which is something I haven’t always been good at.” Her mother notes the difference, too. “She’s been very shy her whole life, and I’ve really seen her come out of her shell,” she said. 

Racing has also introduced the family to a supportive community. “We’ve created a race family out there,” Ashley said. “Everyone helps each other. When we broke an axle, people jumped in to help us fix it.” 

Zoey’s team also relies on support from home. Several local businesses sponsor her racing efforts, and the family often hosts bake sales to help cover the high costs of the sport. The season runs through October with a break during the summer heat. For now, Zoey is focused on learning her new car and continuing to improve. 

And when she is out on the track, Ashley said two things are certain: “She always has the biggest smile on her face, and she’s completely in her element.”