Six-year-old Carson Epps started with a yard kart. Two weeks later, the Oglethorpe County Elementary School first-grader upgraded to a flat cart go-kart and began training for competitive events.
Now, he spends two hours a day practicing on a small dirt track in the front yard of the Epps’ Crawford home.
“I love it,” Carson said. “I want to be like a NASCAR driver.”
Carson races at the red-plate level, which means he competes against other racers between 4-7 years old. According to Caleb, Carson’s dad, it’s the “rookie” class out of about 16 classes.
“He’s in at least the top two, sometimes even running the first place (in) the majority of his races,” Caleb said.
Carson first practiced at Hunters Creek Speedway in Toccoa. He’s also spent time practicing and competing at Monticello Kart Racing.
Caleb said there are approximately 100-120 karts that race in each weekend competition, and Carson has made friends along the way in what the family considers a “clean” hobby.
“He has his opponents that he races with, but at the end of the day, they’re all friends with each other,” Caleb said.
Preparation for go-kart racing goes far beyond loading up a trailer on race day.
He races a Phantom Chassis kart with a Predator Harbor Freight motor.
Caleb works on the kart throughout the week, prepping the tires with different grips and bites. He said it takes long nights and constant work, but it pays off. He said Carson earns around $100 if he wins in his class.
With his performances, Carson, under the name “Carson’s Motorsports,” has earned five sponsorships from local businesses, including Dam-Licious Sweetz, Precision Concrete & Land Development, Patriot Welding LLC, Soto's Pressure Cleaning and Watts Custom Designs.
“Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do it,” Caleb said.
The sponsorships help pay for travel to the tracks, tire prep, equipment and anything else they might need. They also provide an opportunity for business owners to give back.
Hunter Shelnutt, the owner of Precision Concrete & Land Development, sponsors Carson and other local racers.
“It helps build character in the younger generation,” he said. “It’s a great community to be in.”
Carson even has his own merchandise, designed by Kimberly Watts, one of his sponsors.
Watts is from Clarksville and sponsors 10-15 local racers.
She takes the cost off of merchandise fees in return for a sticker on Carson’s car.
“I just enjoy seeing little ones get to do stuff that I know I never did get to do when I was a child,” Watts said.
Caleb also grew up racing go-karts, and Carson is the third generation to live in Oglethorpe County, as Carson’s grandfather, Rodney, moved here when he was 7 years old.
Carson’s mom, Ansleigh, and sister, Ryleigh, are also big supporters of his hobby and both attend his races.
“It keeps him out of trouble,” Ansleigh said.
Carson competes about once every other week.
“It’s something he just enjoys,” Ansleigh said. “And he gets to spend time with us while doing it.”
The original version of this story misidentified Bulldog Kia as a sponsor of Carson's Motorsports. The Echo regrets the error.