From Ohio to National Off-Road Racing: Ariel Buyarski Is Racing Toward Her Future

From Ohio to National Off-Road Racing: Ariel Buyarski Is Racing Toward Her Future

The road to becoming a national-level off-road racer doesn’t happen overnight. For Ariel Buyarski, it started with family, horsepower, and one unexpected trip to the racetrack.

Now just 20 years old, Ariel is already competing at the national level in the Pro Side-by-Side class with Champ Off-Road while balancing college, work, travel, and life on the road.

Raised in Ohio, Ariel grew up around motorsports thanks to her dad’s passion for racing and building fast machines. Although she spent part of her childhood focused on volleyball and gymnastics, everything changed after attending one of her father’s races.

“I got sucked in,” Ariel shared. “I fell in love with it.”

Soon after, she received her first four-wheeler and never looked back.

Today, Ariel races a Can-Am X3 and travels across the country competing in states including Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Missouri, Minnesota, and California. She recently kicked off her season with a first-place finish and a second-place finish at Lucas Oil Speedway competing with Outlaw Series Central.

While the racing itself brings adrenaline and excitement, Ariel says the friendships built through motorsports are what make the sport truly special.

“The people you meet at the racetrack are some of the truest people ever,” she explained.

Like many racers, Ariel understands the highs and lows that come with competition. She openly discussed the challenges of perfectionism, learning from mistakes, and not being too hard on herself after setbacks.

One of the biggest themes throughout the conversation was the importance of relationships in racing — especially when it comes to sponsors. Ariel repeatedly emphasized how thankful she is for the people and companies supporting her journey.

From Rival Motorsports and Freedom Race Lifts to Summit Racing Equipment and Rugged Radios, Ariel understands that sponsorship is about more than funding. It’s about trust, appreciation, communication, and building long-term partnerships.

Host Melinda Russell praised Ariel’s maturity and understanding of relationship-building at such a young age, noting that those skills will help her far beyond the racetrack.

Off the track, Ariel is attending Oklahoma State University, studying professional sales and marketing management with plans to pursue a master’s degree in material science and engineering. Her ultimate goal is to work in technical sales within the metallurgical industry.

Even with her busy schedule, Ariel continues building her personal brand, connecting with fans on social media, and inspiring younger girls who dream of racing someday.

Her advice?

“You’ve got to be brave. If it’s something you want to do, go do it.”

And that’s exactly what Ariel Buyarski is doing.