Garin Up for a Bojangles' Summer Shootout Championship

Garin Mash isn't new to Charlotte Motor Speedway, but the 18-year-old driver is relatively new to racing.

Mash grew up watching his father, Dewayne, race on Charlotte's frontstretch quarter-mile oval at the Bojangles' Summer Shootout before he first tried his hand in a Bandolero in 2017.

In the two years since, Mash's visits to Victory Lane speak volumes to his determination and continued dedication to racing.

When he was eight years old, Mash gave junior drag racing a try. He didn't stick around very long.

"I went 150 feet, turned off the car, got out, and said I'm not racing again," he recalled. 

In 2017, the Mash family was in a serious car accident. Dewayne "Grumpy" Mash was revived on the scene and needed numerous surgeries to return to normalcy. Grumpy's racing career was over, but his son -- nicknamed "Little Grumpy" was prepared to take the seat. He resumed his career at K1 Speed in Concord, North Carolina learning the basics of racing aboard a go-kart. 

It didn't take long for Mash to learn the ropes. He recorded his first win at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Round 2 of the 2017 Winter Heat Series.

This summer, Mash's exploits in his neon yellow No. 12 Bandolero have more than justified his investment in motorsports. He's got two feature wins, he's the points leader in the Farm Bureau Bandolero Outlaws division and has his sights set on a Bojangles' Summer Shootout championship. Mash recognizes his competition at Charlotte Motor Speedway can dominate all over the country. This summer, he wants to win against the best of the best.

And, when he isn't behind the wheel, Mash furthers a different kind of passion - storm chasing.

"I want to be a meteorologist, but NASCAR is always a good option, too," Mash said.

Mash enters next Tuesday's Bojangles' Summer Shootout First Responders Night presented by Disconnect & Drive with an eight-point lead in Outlaws standings. Fans can see Mash and his fellow Shootout competitors take on Charlotte's frontstretch quarter-mile when gates open at 5 p.m. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 6:15 p.m.