Austin Nemire

In past years, competitive auto racing had a mandate for aspiring drivers. “Are you 16?” a speedway administrator would ask. If a driver said no, there was only one answer: “Come back when you have your driver’s license.” With the growth of auto racing — and the interest in it — that mandate has changed. Austin Nemire can attest to that. The 12-year-old from Sylvania is part of a new ARCA youth driving initiative that develops drivers through different styles of cars and racing.

Instead of taking the traditional path that most drivers have taken — waiting until after earning a driver’s license to begin training and competing — Nemire has raced for more than six years and plans to compete in races in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana this season. “I’m nervous about it, but I’m excited at the same time,” Nemire said.

Read more at the blade.