4-year-old continues family racing tradition

While Pocatello Raceway’s 2015 season has been well underway, Presley Hackworth’s racing career has just started its first lap.

Over the weekend, the beginner box stock class had their first race on the racetrack. Although most kids at Presley’s age are playing soccer or little league baseball, he just never could like anything else more than cars.

When asked why he likes going to the raceway, he said, “Many more cars are going to be here, they make lots of cool noises. I like ‘honk,’ ‘beep beep!'”

He isn’t the first Hackworth to fulfill their need for speed. His grandfather, Randy Hackworth, has come back for his second season. Randy Hackworth said the raceway provides a welcome environment for the whole family to be a part of.

“They give us an awesome place to come and race and bring our kids to come and race,” Randy Hackworth said. “It’s a family thing, we can bring our kids to something we can all enjoy.”

Presley’s dad, Jerold Hackworth, said Presley’s journey as a racer started two years ago when a Circle Track magazine writer spotted then 2-year-old Presley in a driver’s suit.

The caption read, “Is this a future race car driver? I think so. This tyke is all dressed up in his driver’s suit and hat and sports that serious game face we know will someday come in handy. Do ya think Dad is a proud papa? Heck yeah.”

Seeing his son race, Jerold Hackworth said Presley is “living the dream.”

“He’s fulfilling that future that he started in a magazine. Now he’s out here living it in real life,” Jerold Hackworth said. “It’s kind of a neat experience to kind of see the progression of what two years will do.”

While Presley didn’t walk away with a trophy, he did get fourth place in his first race. He, along with all Pocatello Raceway racers, will race 10 races this season.

For a complete schedule, you can go to gopocatelloraceway.com.