Kids from 5 to 13 put the pedal to the metal at Eagle Raceway

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The 2023 race season has hit its midpoint, and once the skies cleared up Friday, the Mini Driver Appreciation race kicked off at Eagle Raceway.

The event features kids from as young as 5 to as old as 13, all competing to improve their point totals and for a chance at a trophy later this season.

Track member Racine Thompson said these kids have been waiting a while to hit the track due to recent storms.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had a lot of rainouts this year for go-karts.”

She said watching the racers grow throughout the season has been fun to watch.

“We have a rookie class, which is like 5-year-olds, and none of them know what they’re doing,” Thompson said. “But throughout the year, and they learn and grow, and they don’t have bad habits yet.”

Competitors race in go-karts that — with help from their family and sponsors — they get to paint, number and even help build.

For 12-year-old Knox Bivens, racing is a family tradition.

He and his younger sister race, and both get to use their dad’s racing number.

“My grandpa raced when he was in his age racing,” Knox said. “He was No. 56, then my dad drove the 56 when he got into racing. So then I got 56. And then my sister join. So she’s No. 56, too.”

Knox said driving has taught him a lot, like patience and consistency. He enjoys bonding with his dad and building his cart.

“We have a lot of fun doing it because we get to put the wraps on, we get to put the tires on,” he said. “I have to clean everything, put everything on. It’s really fun to do it.”

Knox’s dad, Scott, shared his excitement of seeing his kids out on the track.

“It’s an amazing deal,” he said. “I’ve done it almost 30 years, and my dad did it. 20 years. So he’s the third generation. We get to hang out and they like to hang out with all your friends. And that’s the biggest reason we all race. I mean, it’s a big family.”

Of course, racing is not just a boy’s club.

There were many female drivers competing, as well, like 10-year-old Karly Stiefvater.

She started racing when she was just 5 years old, improving more and more each race.

“I haven’t been, like, last all the time,” she said. “I improved by not being at the back all the time. I’ve been getting better, but about learning how to pass people.”

For the older kids, like 14-year-old Camden Diedrich, it’s been great to see the younger kids race.

“I think all these kids, they need the experience,” he said. “And you know, it’s good to start them at a young age. They’re, again, experienced when they’re young. So if they want to become something really big in the future, they can.”

Once the carts were ready, it was time to “boogity, boogity, boogity” and start racing.

Karly and Knox shared their thoughts after the first round of racing.

“It was more bumpy than usual because usually I’m not the first ones out there,” Karly said. “But I thought I could do better, but I thought overall, I did pretty good.”

Knox said: “It wasn’t as good as it has always been this year. But I mean, I didn’t finish in last at least, so.”

More information on Eagle Raceway can be found here.