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A lot of racers retire and finally take it easy. Kenny Head went the other direction and built a youth racing pipeline that’s helping keep short track racing alive in Michigan. Melinda Russell sits down with Kenny to talk about the Kalamazoo Speedway Mini Wedges program, why it matters, and what it takes to turn kids as young as five into confident, safe, competitive racers.
We get into how the program has grown from a small, inconsistent group into a steady weekly field, plus how racing at Berlin Raceway creates big moments for young drivers, including racing in front of thousands and getting real visibility. Kenny also shares how they’re bridging the common age gap with a new Charger series aimed at teens, so kids don’t get “stuck” between youth karts and full-size cars.
Safety and access run through everything. Kenny explains the push for strong rules that other tracks can align with, the move to a nonprofit 501(c)(3) model so every dollar goes back into the program, and how a volunteer crew makes it all possible. We also talk women in motorsports, with more girls joining the roster and proving that once the helmet goes on, it’s simply racer versus racer.
If you care about grassroots motorsports, youth racing, and the future of local tracks, hit play, then subscribe, share the show with a racing friend, and leave a review so more fans can find these stories.
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