Chasing Championships and Family Fun: 10-Year-Old Mini Wedge Racer Kate Maurer is Making Her Mark

At just 10 years old, Kate Maurer is already proving that passion, determination, and family support can take you a long way in motorsports. From winning championships to racing alongside her sister, Kate is quickly becoming one of Michigan’s young racers to watch.

During her appearance on the Women’s Motorsports Network Podcast, Kate shared how her love for racing began by watching her older sister compete. Inspired by the excitement and atmosphere at the racetrack, Kate climbed into a Mini Wedge for the first time around the age of seven — and she hasn’t slowed down since.

Today, Kate races at tracks all across Michigan, including Owosso Speedway, Kalamazoo Speedway, Berlin Raceway, Crystal Motor Speedway, and several others. Traveling from track to track has become one of her favorite parts of racing.

“I really enjoy seeing all the different tracks,” Kate shared. “It’s just really fun.”

Racing with Family Roots

Kate races the No. 311 Mini Wedge, a number that carries special meaning in her family. The number originally belonged to her grandfather when he first began racing Modifieds, later passed down through the family after the loss of Kate’s great-uncle Wayne. Carrying the 311 on her car allows Kate to honor her family’s racing legacy every time she hits the track.

Family plays a huge role in Kate’s racing journey. Her dad serves as the crew chief and mechanic, while her mom handles race-day support, photography, social media, meals, and organization. Racing weekends are truly a family effort.

“My dad always tells me, ‘As long as you have fun, that’s all that matters,’” Kate said.

Winning Championships at a Young Age

Kate’s hard work is already paying off. In 2025, she captured championships at both Owosso Speedway and Owosso Motorsports Park. Along with her championships, she has already won more than 10 feature races in her young career.

One of her standout moments came at Crystal Motor Speedway, where she earned fast qualifier honors during her first-ever visit to the track. Kate went on to win both her heat race and feature event, taking home prize money, team shirts, and even a brand-new engine.

Learning the Art of Racing

Like many young racers, Kate admits the hardest part of learning to drive a Mini Wedge was figuring out how to slow down in the corners instead of keeping the throttle wide open.

“You’re probably going to spin out or go in the grass,” she laughed while describing what happens if you don’t lift in the turns.

Through practice and experience, she has developed confidence behind the wheel and says one of her strengths is staying in her lane and maintaining control during races.

Even when setbacks happen, Kate handles them with maturity beyond her years. After crashes or disappointing races, she takes a little time for herself, drinks some water, and refocuses for the next opportunity.

“There’s always another race,” she explained in her own way.

More Than Just Racing

When she’s not at the racetrack, Kate is balancing life as a fourth-grade student who also plays basketball, volleyball, and participates in band at school.

She also enjoys watching racing on TV, especially Super Late Models, and counts Chase Elliott among her favorite drivers. In fact, Kate already dreams of one day moving from Mini Wedges into a Super Late Model herself.

Inspiring the Next Generation

One of the most encouraging parts of Kate’s story is her willingness to inspire other young girls to get involved in motorsports. While there are still more boys competing in Mini Wedges, Kate says the number of girls racing continues to grow — and she’s proud to be part of that movement.

With championships already under her belt, a supportive family behind her, and big dreams ahead, Kate Maurer represents exactly what grassroots racing is all about: family, determination, fun, and the love of competition.

The future looks incredibly bright for this young Michigan racer. And if her early success is any indication, don’t be surprised if someday you see Kate Maurer climbing into a Super Late Model and chasing checkered flags on some of the biggest stages in motorsports.