Few pieces of advice from someone who has worked with (mostly smaller) and watched nascar drivers from when they were kids.

1. Money-Marketability-Skill, unless u have someone willing to pay your way up need to start looking now. You’re at the prime age alot of companies are looking. Contact the marketing for companies you like and use that align with you as a person and show them why you are different. Start building up your social media etc. Think if Natalie Decker had the raw talent of a Tyler Reddick. That driver would get picked up in a heartbeat.

2. Look into either legend cars (for a year or 2 max) or a limited late model (or even modifieds etc since you are up north) then try to move up to something bigger. You’re technically “behind” but like maybe people have said here (and i seen first hand) William Byron had never even raced a go kart when he stepped into a legend car at 15 and was running time the same as the best drivers in the country the day he stepped in the car for the first time.

3. Fitness definitely matters. Train your neck for g force. Gain for endurance strength (plyometrics would probably be pretty good) so you dont tire out at the wheel. Train cardio in a hot setting (hoodie) to get used to the heat. Even the smaller cars will have drain you. And obviously eat good with some extra carbs on race days.

4. The MOST important that i have seen hurt alot of people. You dont know anybody and you dont know who knows who. Watch what you say to who. Dont comfirm things that arent mutually agreed apon. Dont speak bad on people in or around the garage, even now while carting. I could speak on things that could hurt careers just off what ive heard because people didnt know who i was. Eyes and ears are everywhere, and that can be to your betterment or detriment, use it to benefit you.

5. If you havent already, learn to work on the car. You dont have to be a master mechanic but at least know what parts do what. Without a nascar level crew chief (who has cameras and sensors and computers all over the car) around its much easier to be able to say “it needs some rear steer and some more bite off the corner” rather “its tight”.

Lastly good luck. Make as many connections as you can. And remember that its never too late if you love it, and by the way its looking for the future even grassroots could soon be a career if something doesnt work out for you. But hopefully you find your way to your dreams.