Blairs Race as a Family Tradition

Junior, Brennon Blair, began his racing career when he was 11 after his parents finally agreed to buy him an Outlaw Kart, a smaller version of a sprint car meant for children. For the Blairs, racing is a family tradition. 

Brennon said,“My dad raced a Street Stock and my grandpa raced what we now know today as Vintage Cars. My Uncle Shane races B Mods so therefore, in a way, I wanted to be just like them and figure out what all the excitement was about.” 

Brennon said that the night got his car was by far the best night of his life. He and his dad drove to St. Louis, MO to pick it up late at night. Then they came back to his uncle’s shop and dropped it off. He and his dad stayed up to two in the morning and adjusted the petals to fit his size. 

Brennon said,“I could barely sleep at all, I was so excited for that weekend because I was finally going to be able to race.” 

Now, however, he has moved up in the racing industry where he still races an Outlaw kart. He also races a 2018 GF1 Sprint car with a 360 motor disgranted, which means its blown to other regions. His Outlaw kart is a 2018 Outlaw Kart and he just got it in from California. 

Brennon’s biggest inspiration was his grandpa who had passed away in January 2021, 14 days before his 15th Birthday. Brennon and his grandpa were extremely close and did everything together: hunting, fishing, racing and sometimes even just going for a drive. 

Brennon said, “Losing my Grandpa who was also one of my best friends made me mad but also gave me more drive to want to make him proud of me and what I have accomplished within my racing career. It also makes me want to race to the best of my ability because I have a very big name to live up to.” 

Brennon’s grandpa wanted to see him drive a Sprint Car more than anything in the world. He started racing Sprint Cars the year after he passed. Brennon said he never thought about quitting because his grandpa would have wanted him to chase his dreams within the industry. 

“It’s hard for me to get in the car knowing he isn’t there to see me race and chase my dreams but I know he is always with me.” 

Brennon said that you make lifelong friends at the track and within the people you race with. However, when it’s time to go out on the track those people are no longer your friends they become your enemies and your competitors. Brennon also said that he has made a family at the race track. His race track family is some of the best people who you will ever meet. They are the people who will drop anything and everything to come and help you out. 

Brennon said that he thinks he is at a disadvantage when it comes to racing because he got started at an older age. 

“Most kids are put in a Flat Cart at four and then typically an Outlaw Kart at seven or eight; however, I was much older being 11 racing against younger kids who had been doing it longer and had much better equipment. But it also gave me an advantage because my brain was much more developed and I was able to think better and faster.” 

Brennon said that racing is the biggest addrillen rush you will ever feel. From going around turn one and never lifting to sliding it sideways in turn three, it’s the best thing an adrenaline junkie will ever feel. He also said that he is nervous right before going out and never try to talk to him in staging because he won’t answer back. Because he is in the zone and ready to be a competitor. 

Brennon said his best memory was at Flickerwood Indoor arena in Jackson Missouri in the winter series which is made just for kids in Outlaw Karts.  

“It was so cold you could see your breath in front of your face and we were short on help, just me, my dad, and my grandpa. That was the usual though we broke in the heat and then went out in the feature and I ended up winning my class.” 

He then goes on to tell me that he then traveled to St Louis Mo, where there was another race going on at the Coliseum. Which is another place where kids can take their Outlaw carts and race during the winter which helps them prepare for the outdoor summer racing.  

“It was a rough race, good and tough competition but there was enough cautions and probably one of the hardest nights of the entire time I’ve been racing.” 

Brennon said it was a hard night because they had been going for 16 hours and it was a late night. The sun was up before we came home. 

Brennon tells me that his favorite part about racing is working on the car with his friends. However these friends are not friends from the track. He has made friends outside of the race track because his friends from the track have their own cars to worry about and get ready for the following weekend. 

Racing isn’t all about going in circles on a dirt surface there’s so much more to it. Just ask any Driver, Crew Fan, or anyone who has been around the track for any amount of time. Life lessons are learned at the track, how to work hard, and how to think quickly and on your feet. Families are made and friends as well anyone who has been around the race track usually never leaves without a lifelong friendship.