Galt racing family, Brooks Motorsports, is pictured with Maycie Brooks (center left) and Cash Brooks (center right) posing with their parents after heat races on Sept. 13.

 

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Drawing youth racers, their families and spectators to the American Quarter Midget Association racetrack in Rancho Cordova, was the fourth annual Johnny Cash Classic, a NASCAR Youth Series Showcase Event on the weekend of Sept. 12 to 14. 

Youth racers as young as 5-years-old up to 17-years old competed against each other within 14 respective, co-ed age groups that are also separated by chassis type. Rancho Cordova’s American Quarter Midget Association races on a paved track within the Prairie City State Vehicle Recreation Area. Upon arriving at the racetrack, teams began setting up their camp equipment and pit area, assembling their vehicles and workstations. 

Drivers were represented locally with drivers from Rancho Cordova’s American Quarter Midget Association and Rio Linda’s Capitol Quarter Midget Association, two of California’s seven quarter midget tracks.  

Making the trip across state and country lines were drivers from Utah, Washington and Canada. Practice sessions were on Sept. 12 with the heat and main races on Sept. 13. 

“It’s really fun being out here with all my friends and racing with them,” said Tatum Talcott, a racer from Rancho Cordova’s American Quarter Midget Association who came in second place of his class, the Light 160. “It’s just fun.” 

The Chase Miller racing team assembles and configures one of their multiple quarter midget chassis for the Johnny Cash Classic on Sept. 13 in Rancho Cordova.

Some teams brought more than one vehicle to race among a range of class types based on weight and chassis configuration. Other teams had more than one racer participating in multiple events. Some classes included red and blue Honda; junior and senior Honda; heavies and formula. More than 80 racers participated across the 14 different classes. 

Derek Becker, the father of racers Cash and Memphis Becker from Utah, said that he and his wife, Laura, made the journey from Colorado after completing a race there the weekend prior. Cash and Memphis Becker are fourth-generation racers in their family, a trend common throughout many racers at the event. 

“It's pretty cool to just think about what you did and what you accomplished the last race and then you go to your house or your new school and you're thinking about that,” Cash Becker said. 

Paisley Becher Racing, locals to Rio Linda’s Capitol Quarter Midget Association, was represented by Paisley Becher, her father Ryan Becher and their family. 

Ryan Becher said that his daughter first got started racing when she participated in a “Ride N Drive” event at Capitol Quarter Midget Association on Rio Linda’s dirt track, now racing for approximately two years, racing three different chassis. 

Pictured is Rio Linda’s Paisley Becher, representing Capitol Quarter Midget Association at the Johnny Cash Classic in Rancho Cordova on Sept. 13. The Johnny Cash Classic took place at the Prairie City State Vehicle Recreation Area on the American Quarter Midget Association’s paved track.

A “Ride N Drive” event allows participants to drive 20 laps for $20. Becher said his daughter had so much fun that she drove a total of 40 laps and they bought a car that same day. 

To get started racing quarter midgets, entry level costs can range from more than $1,500 for a used chassis and gear to upward of $4,000. Safety gear consists of a NASCAR Youth Series approved helmet, fire suit, neck restraints, arm restraints and gloves. After acquiring the chassis, gear and proper equipment, drivers can contact their local quarter midget association about applying for a club membership.

To join the NASCAR Youth Series membership, there are options for annual applications through the United States Auto Club, single-event applications and “Ride N Drive” applications. The applications are available at https://usacracing.redpodium.com/2025-nascar-youth-series-membership. Applications can range from $10 for single event tickets per person to $100 for annual family memberships, with an additional $10 per person in the membership. 

Beginning drivers start out in the “Rookie” program, learning the basics of track etiquette, safety and driving skills. Volunteering is a requirement when you become a member.

Brooke Hegje, a local to the Rancho Cordova track who came in second place during the heavy world formula class main races, said that she has been racing for seven years and that she first got started after watching her cousins race. 

Two races compete in the final heat races before the main events during the Johnny Cash Classic at the American Quarter Midget Association’s racetrack in Rancho Cordova. The Johnny Cash Classic took place Sept. 12 through 14 and featured drivers from age 5 to 17.

Tate Hegje, Brook Hegje’s little brother, said he has been racing for six years, coming in third place of the light 160 class mains. Tate Hegje said he and his sister have participated in race events as far as Indianapolis, Indiana. 

“Being here, I’ve made so many friendships and we’ve hung out with them three weeks in a row now outside of the racetrack,” Brooke Hegje said. “It just brings so many people together in some amazing community.”

American Quarter Midget Association Vice President Alyssa Craine said that it’s rewarding to have such a large event run efficiently, drawing people back to the racetrack for more events and growing the venue’s reputation. 

“Just overall, getting drivers from everywhere makes our drivers better,” Craine said. “So having not just the locals, enhances everybody’s racing.”

Grayson Craine, Alyssa Craine’s son, said he’s ranked in the top three of three different chassis classes, ranking in first place within one of those chassis’ classes. At the Johnny Cash Classic, Grayson Craine came in first place within the junior Honda, junior animal and junior 160 classes for the main races. Grayson said he spends a lot of time practicing and that he has his dad to thank for why he’s so successful. 

“I've watched these kids grow from five, six, seven, eight, ten years old, to now being able to drive full-size NASCAR cars or do bigger, better, crazier things,” event announcer Ian McAdams said. “And just seeing that growth and seeing the effect that it had on so many, it's so fulfilling on a level that I can't really describe, if that makes sense.” 

Members of the Becker family relax in their trailer during some down time of the Johnny Cash Classic, a NASCAR Youth Series showcase event in Rancho Cordova on Sept. 13.

Quarter midget racing events take place nationwide with many local drivers having competed across state lines in places such as Indiana, Talladega and Las Vegas. Many parents said they stay in contact with other families across the country, building life-long friendships. Parents also spoke about quarter midget racing’s ability to provide a network for youth to socialize and make friends everywhere they go. 

Chase Miller from Vancouver, Canada and his family traveled to race in Sacramento for the first time and he recognized a few familiar faces from other NASCAR Youth Series races. 

Miller said he took six days from school to travel and race in California because their season in Vancouver is limited. He finished first in the heavy 160 and unrestricted animal classes, as well as second in the heavy Honda class. 

Moving from track to track, Miller said, tracks might be identical but they’re never the same and that there is always something to do. 

“Even after the race,” Miller said, “it’s not over until you finally get in the car to go home.”

Multiple parents spoke about the tight-knit quarter midget racing community that has a “no-one-left-behind” mentality, where no matter which child might have an issue on the track or in the pits, there is no shortage of volunteers.

Drivers said that they focused on practicing their drive line before the race, meaning that they could carry as much momentum as possible without slowing down. Parents and pit crew members said that some of the biggest changes from track to track are suspension and gearing. 

“One thing you'll find here is that everyone helps everyone,” Chas Miller’s father, Steve Miller, said. “So when a kid comes off the track with a mechanical problem, you know, your competitors, their dads and moms, and everyone joins in to get that kid back on the racetrack.”

Chase Miller of Vancouver, Canada, stands in front of one of his race chassis, while his team works on others to prepare them for race day at the Johnny Cash Classic on Sept. 13. The Johnny Cash Classic took place at the American Quarter Midget Association’s racetrack in Rancho Cordova.

Steve Miller said that it’s crucial to test everything and check everything because it could be a 90-cent part that costs a driver the race.

“Going fast” was one of the more popular responses from drivers when asked what their favorite part about quarter midget racing was. 

Quarter midget races can range anywhere from 10 to more than 40 miles per hour on the racetrack, with the objective being to pass as many drivers as possible and accumulate the most points. Rookie races last as low as 10 laps with heavy and senior races lasting as long as 40 laps.

“This track has done a lot for kids anywhere from age five to 17 to help build their character; they build their social skills,” said Cole Farrow, the father of junior Honda racer Kyle Farrow. “They build confidence levels and they take all the stuff that they learn here from this track and they use that for the rest of their lives.”

Kyle Farrow came in third place within the junior Honda and junior animal classes, as well as second place in the junior 160 class. His grandfather, Paul Farrow, said that “in his mind, he’s 20-years-old. He gets a different, kind of a focused mindset.”

To learn more about how to get started with the American Quarter Midget Association, visit https://www.aqma.us/. The American Quarter Midget Association in Rancho Cordova is at 13302 White Rock Road, within the Prairie City State Vehicle Recreation Area.

To learn more about the Capitol Quarter Midget Association in Rio Linda, visit http://www.capitolqma.com. The track is at 800 G St. Another showcase event will take place at the Rio Linda CQMA on Sept. 26 through 28 for the series finale and California Monza. 

To learn more about the NASCAR Youth Series, its events and how to participate, visit https://www.nascaryouth.com

Many Sacramento-area racers will be in Livermore from Sept. 19 through Sept. 21 for the Tri-Valley Western National Championship, hosted by the Tri-Valley Quarter Midget Association, whose website can be found at https://www.tvqma.com.