A look at the drivers 18 and younger making a name in California.

Feature story by Steven Blakesley/ Selections by: MUD-Racing.net Media Panel


The West Coast motorsports scene suffers from a bit of veteran dominance. A look at yesterday’s top-25 driver rankings shows Noel McCormick, Jr., Tanner Swanson, Brad Pounds, and Robby Saywer as the only drivers under 25 years old to be ranked.

With this in mind, we decided to compile an additional list of some of the top young-guns to keep an eye on. These are all drivers who are just shy are breaking into the overall rankings. Many of these drivers compete in developmental series, but some do compete head-to-head with the veterans…and win. Here is a list of 14 young drivers to watch.


1. Shane Golobic – Fremont, Ca
20 starts – 2 wins – 5 top-fives

16 year-old Shane Golobic looked like a star in training when he made his 410 debut in 2006 after success in the 600s. A huge win at Altamont in the USAC Midgets, driving for Bryan Clauson Inc., made it known that he was a force to reckoned with. A win in the Golden State Challenge Series opened eyes as well. If he keeps running well and stays in California, he should crack the overall list by the end of the year.

2. Kyle Larson - Elk Grove, Ca
17 starts - 2 wins - 6 top-fives

Kyle Larson has the fire and grit of a driver nearly twice his age, and has taken to the winged 360 and 410 ranks quickly. Larson dominated from coast-to-coast in the open Outlaw Karts, and has built on that experience to be second in the prestigious Sprint Car Civil War Series. Larson still suffers from inconsistency, including several b-main appearances, but he has the first ingredient any major team would want: speed.

3. Mason Moore - Princeton, Ca
21 starts - 1 win - 3 top-fives

Mason Moore is a threat to win the Silver Dollar Speedway 410 championship this year, possibly the toughest weekly program in the country. That alone makes him a shoe-in to be considered one of the top young talents in California. Moore raced against Larson in the Outlaw Kart days, but their schedules have rarely matched up in 2008. Moore has stumbled in his starts outside of Chico and will have to improve his touring abilities.

4. Bobby Hodges - Carson City, Nv
4 starts - 0 wins - 4 top-fives

Bobby Hodges doesn’t live in California, but has made all of his starts at California’s Altamont Raceway and will be attending Cal Poly in the fall. He has driven remarkably well in 2008 against large fields, racking up three runner-up finishes. Hodges is still lacking in a win, but came within two laps of doing so at the Tri-Holiday classic in July.

5. Michael Faccinto - Hanford, Ca
9 starts - 1 win - 7 top-fives

Michael Faccinto has taken advantage of the opporuntities presented to him by car owners Gary Scelzi and Tommy Tarlton to make a name in Midgets and 360 sprints. Faccinto has only raced partial schedules in several different series this year, but has produced some fantastic results.

6. Laura Hayes - Wilton, Ca
11 starts - 1 win - 6 top-fives

Laura Hayes has had a productive season in her transistion year from USAC to NASCAR, running eighth in the All American Speedway points. A main event win definitely boosted her stock, along with good looks and a well-spoken attitude. Her future looks bright with Golden State Racing and a possible move into the Drive for Diversity program.

7. Josh Combs - Sacramento, Ca
4 starts - 0 wins - 1 top-five

Racing in an SRL Series completely dominated by veterans, Combs has been the freshman sensation of sorts, leading the rookie points. Although he is yet to see victory lane and the SRL runs a limited schedule, Combs is making a big impact with quality runs against legendary drivers. It may benefit Combs to step into some WLM races on SRL off weekends.

8. Alissa Geving - Penngrove, Ca
23 starts - 2 wins - 9 top-fives

Alissa Geving became a major star with both the fans and sponsors with her brilliant runs at Petaluma Speedway and with the California Sprint Car Civil War in 2007. Geving continues to shine at Petaluma, although Petaluma’s competition level has decreased a bit this season. Geving only has scored one top-five in her starts with the Civil War, but a Petaluma championship seems to be in her grasp

9. Trevor Schlundt - Clovis, Ca
17 starts - 3 wins - 10 top-fives

Trevor Schlundt has been improving throughout the 2008 season, putting together several good runs in the Western Late Model divisions at Altamont and Madera. Madera’s car counts have suffered a bit in 2008, but Schlundt has been running Altamont more regularily with great success. Schlundt turns 19 in September.

10. Alex Bowman - Tuscon, Az
16 starts - 5 wins - 13 top-fives

15 year-old Alex Bowman is another young-gun making waves in California who is not actually from California. Bowman runs both the USAC Ford Focus Dirt and Pavement programs in California and is in contention to win both championships. Bowman will continue to improve his stock once he moves up into full Midgets or Sprints next year.

11. Justin Grant - Ione, Ca
9 starts - 1 win - 2 top-fives

After a darling 2007 season that included the BCRA Midget championship, Justin Grant has struggled through 2008 with just two top-fives. Grant spent his entire season in 2007 in the BCRA ranks, and has found the USAC Midget division to be a bigger challenge. Grant needs to get more dirt starts this year to really flex his muscles.

12. Keith Bloom, Jr. - Anderson, Ca.
Silver Dollar Speedway Wingless Sprint Points Leader

15 year-old Keith Bloom, Jr. is a big story in the making. Bloom leads the exciting wingless spec sprint division at Chico ’s Silver Dollar Speedway and Placerville Speedway. He is also dabbling in the Modified division on asphalt at Shasta Raceway Park. A Outlaw Kart graduate, Bloom should be exciting when he moves up from Spec Sprints.

13. Mitchell Faccinto - Hanford, Ca.
Plaza Park Raceway Super 600 Points Leader

Tanner Swanson and Michael Faccinto began their careers with several championships in the Super 600 division at Visalia’s Plaza Park Raceway. Michael’s younger brother Mitchell looks to be following in those footsteps as the current points leader.

14. Jacob Gomes - Manteca, Ca.
WSRA Baby Grand Points Leader

Jacob Gomes had a two-year span in the WSRA Mini Cups where he won 90% of the races. Now Gomes has attacked the Baby Grand division, which is chock full of talent, and is batting a thousand. Gomes has scored six wins in six starts. The Gomes Motorsports team has reportedly purchased the former Sammy Solari Late Model, putting Gomes in the drivers seat for an exciting run next year in Western Late Models.


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