He wanted to go to Disney World, but instead found himself at the Daytona 500. Spencer Bradshaw now races Legend Cars with 860 Motorsports after spending time in Outlaw Karts at Millbridge Speedway. Now, the race he didn't want to attend just a few years ago, is the one he wants to win because it sparked a new passion and life goals.
Hometown: Troutman, NC
Division: Young Lions
Car Number: 99
Team: 860 Motorsports
1. How did you get your start in racing?
It’s actually a funny story. I didn’t want to go to the Daytona 500 when I was in Florida, the 2020 one, and I wanted to go to Disney World instead, but I ended up going to the 500. That’s kinda how I fell in love with racing. Then late 2021, we went and bought a go-kart and started racing at Millbridge.
2. What has your racing journey looked like since?
Last year I started Legends racing for a different team, also running part-time at Millbridge in Outlaw Karts. I also won two Restricted-Micro races there. Now I’m here [racing Legend Cars] with 860 Motorsports.
3. How does driving an Outlaw Kart compare to driving a Legend car?
It’s way different. Outlaw Karts are more twitchy. They seem more fast-paced, even though they’re not faster. Just being in the small cage and not having that much room, just mainly size and how it handles.
4. How did you decide on the number 99?
I kinda liked Chase Elliott. He was my favorite driver but I didn’t want to be a 9 because I was afraid there was going to be too many of them, so 99 it was.
5. What is your favorite track to race at?
I like Nashville (Fairgrounds) a lot, more than any other track I’ve raced at this year. I feel like that weekend was pretty fun. It’s in a great area and it’s tight racing, bumper to bumper.
6. How do you mentally prepare for a race?
I just look at where I’m starting and think about how to capitalize from that position. I just have to play through the race in my head.
7. What does it mean to be a part of 860 Motorsports?
It’s great that CJ is giving me an opportunity to be a part of it. They all work their butts off to make sure we have our cars competitive every week.
8. What have you learned racing at a track like Millbridge that you apply to racing today?
I learned a lot in race craft. It’s definitely different driving dirt compared to Legends. Just mainly race craft, how different lines come in and how the track changes.
9. What is it like to race with your nephew Kaden and be his teammate?
It’s fun. We got him into a Legend car at the start of Winter Nationals. He was racing for a different team as well. He didn’t really do too much, but an opportunity came up that CJ had an extra spot for the Shootout so they him race it and just went from there.
10. What is the biggest learning moment in your career?
I think it’s most recently transitioning teams because the cars have handled a whole lot differently and trying to learn how to drive different setups.
11. Which do you prefer: dirt or asphalt?
I like asphalt better. I kinda like the short track racing aspect of it, being able to move somebody and having to brake to make the corner.
12. If you weren’t racing, what would be doing?
I might be playing school sports because that’s where I’m at before the summer, but I’ve only ever thought about racing.
13. What are your long-term racing goals?
I want to get into a Late Model towards the end of this year, maybe into next year. I want to test a couple times. I just want to learn how to drive a bunch of different cars.
14. What would you say is your biggest challenge in racing?
Probably learning how to drive a Legend car. It took me a little bit to get the hang of it. It’s the car I’ve struggled the most with trying to learn. With like the Outlaw Karts with the intermediates and opens, I was able to get in it in run competitively with not much practice. There’s always room to get better in this stuff.
15. Who is your biggest role model in racing?
I would say Kyle Larson. I kinda want to be like him and race all the tracks he races at. Be able to run from dirt to asphalt, be able to run the Indy 500.
16. If you had to pick one motorsports event to win in the world, what would it be?
Probably the Daytona 500 because that’s what gave me my passion for racing and it would great to win because it’s the biggest race in NASCAR.