Unleaded Only Racing
(Driver: Caleb Kennedy)
About Unleaded Only Racing
This page exists to document the career path of a burgeoning young driver: Caleb Kennedy. Aspiring to someday race in Formula 1 or IndyCar, Caleb made his open-wheel racing debut at Motorsport Park Hastings on September 28, 2025 at 11 years of age. With only three races left in the season, Caleb’s emerging talent quickly became evident as he progressively proved more and more competitive. Below, you’ll find the latest stats and images from his 2026 season and (hopefully) beyond.
We want to thank Caleb’s Ignite Karting Nebraska 2026 sponsors: Kennedy Fitness, WorkoutWhereYouWork.com, Unleaded Only Publications, Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates, Perry Auto Care, Omaha Auto Wraps, Krypton Comics, and Gronenthal’s Anchor Farm. Caleb sincerely hopes you’ll support those that support him.
Of course, motorsports is the most expensive form of athletic competition there is. So, Unleaded Only Racing/Caleb is always open to welcoming a new sponsor. If you’d like to help accelerate his dreams, please contact us here, and we’ll be happy to discuss your potential involvement with this promising young athlete and his team!
2026 Race 1/10
April 12, 2026
Caleb’s 1st race of the 2026 season saw him perform well enough throughout qualifying and the first two heat races that he started in the second row for the day’s feature race. Piloting his new #34 kart, Caleb held a solid P4 position through the first five laps. Unfortunately, early in the sixth lap, the kart immediately in front of him spun during a sweeping left turn. With little time and space in which to react, Caleb also spun - conceding three positions as he straightened out and returned to the track. Clocking his personal best lap time (1:06.318), Caleb was able to climb back up from P7 to P6 before the checkered flag waved.
Nevertheless, the presence of his grandparents (who’d traveled from Wisconsin to support him) and the realization that both he and his kart were unharmed, helped to ease his disappointment.
2026 Race 2/10
May 3, 2026
Caleb Kennedy (#34) narrowly avoided multiple spins and crashes by other drivers over the course of an adrenaline-packed afternoon. By the time the checkered flag waved, Caleb had successfully avoided even a single spin and placed P4 in this second race of the Ignite Karting Nebraska season at Motorsport Park Hastings. This represents Caleb's best finish yet!
2026 Race 3/10
June 14, 2026
The third race of Ignite Karting Nebraska’s 2026 season saw Caleb experiencing the highest of highs - and a single soul-crushing low. During warm-ups, Caleb benefitted immensely from the kindness of the eventual race winner, who offered to help Caleb overcome his fear of close-contact drafting. Having practiced the technique together during warm-ups, Caleb did well enough in Qualifying to start in the second row for Heat Race 1. In the first turn, he narrowly avoided a collision that took out two of the other drivers. Resultingly, he maintained P3 (of 9) throughout the rest of the race. This already represented Caleb’s best finish yet. But a surprise revelation that the driver who’d crossed the finish line between him and the race winner had lost his transponder on the track - resulting in Caleb being elevated to an official P2 finish!
For Heat Race 2, Caleb started in the coveted outside pole position (yet another career first). Laps 3 and 5, again, saw Caleb narrowly avoiding disaster as karts in his proximity spun violently in the same turn that had taken out both drivers during Heat 1. To his absolute elation, Caleb completed Heat 2 having successfully defended his P2 position all the way across the finish line, setting the stage for his second consecutive outside pole!
Unfortunately, the third time was not a charm for the young driver. The day’s Feature Race was packed with red-hot action with several driver’s aggressively going flat-out in close contact with each other’s bumpers. Caleb quickly fell to P5, then climbed to P4, then P3 - before spinning as he came out of turn 3 during lap 5. In a heartbreaking turn of events, Caleb’s kart became high-centered on the dirt and grass, just off the track, and his race was over. With his hopes for his first-ever podium finish ripped out of his grasp, the young driver was grief stricken and deferred his post race interview until a couple of days later.
2026 Races 4/10 & 5/10
July 12, 2026
Sunday, July 12 was the 2026 season’s only double-header, hosting both Feature Races #4 and #5 at Motorsport Park Hastings. Across the warm-ups, Qualifying, and four separate Heats, Caleb earned more outside pole positions and finishes as high as P2.
The day’s first Feature Race (#4) saw Caleb holding P2 until a spin in lap 5 dropped him and another racer back three positions. Unfortunately, as Caleb began to climb his way back up the order, race control waved a crossed flags signal that the children weren’t familiar with. Unsure what to do, the leader turned into pit lane and all the other racers followed. Confusion ensued and, despite pleas from parents and racers alike, the race was aborted completely.
After a lunch break (and the day’s third and fourth Heats), the kids hit the track for the season’s fifth Feature Race. Starting mid-grid, Caleb narrowly avoided yet another spinning kart in lap 1, quickly climbing back to P2. By lap 4, though, he fell to P4. Well behind P1, the racers in P2 and P3 began drafting off each other and slowly began pulling away from the rest of the field - ultimately proving untouchable. Resultingly, Caleb finished a decisive P4 but, recognizing his continued improvement, remained positive and is looking forward to Race #6 on August 2.
Click here to watch Race 4/Race 5’s highlights & race day summary.
2026 Race 6/10
August 2, 2026
Sunday, August 2, 2026 was a landmark day for this young racer. Following a red flag situation (resulting from a crash that saw one of his competitors thrown out of their kart and into the guard rail), Race #6 was restarted. More karts would spin, and one would even suffer a broken drive chain, but Kennedy (#34) kept his cool. Late on the brake, early on the throttle, commanding the inside line, and eventually crossing the finish line in a near-photo finish - Caleb never flinched and genuinely earned his first bronze medal. He looks forward to trying to make it two-in-a-row on August 23!
