Austin Ruskauff may not have his driver’s license yet, but he knows a thing or two about sitting behind the wheel and going fast.
Since 2005, the 16-year-old has regularly raced at the Santa Maria Speedway. He began driving go-karts on asphalt, but this year, he’s graduated to the adult hobby stock class.
It’s a family affair, too. A few members of Ruskauff’s family, including his father, Gary, and some friends, are his pit crew, and Ruskauff represents the fourth generation in the Claborn family, which is well-known in the local racing scene, to compete.
“My family’s been into racing for quite a few years, so I’ve just grown up at the track,” he said.
As one of two teenagers competing in the adult hobby stock class at the speedway, Ruskauff began in 11th place but finished sixth on April 16. This was the first time Ruskauff raced in his black and orange ’81 Camaro, and marked only his second year racing against adults.
But Ruskauff doesn’t feel intimidated by his older peers. In fact, he grew up around most of the guys he races against.
“We’re all friends when we’re hanging out, but when you get on the track, you have to be competitive,” he said, laughing a little.
In both the near and distant future, Ruskauff plans to keep his family legacy alive.
“I actually like it because my family’s been racing forever—and I just gotta keep it going, you know?” he said. “So our family name is out there.”
This article appears in May 12-19, 2011.