FORT WORTH – Most high school sophomores are worried about getting their driver’s license, but for 16-year-old Zane Lawrence learning how to drive isn’t an issue.

Lawrence, of Lillian, Texas, doesn’t need to practice his driving skills in the family car either as the Alvarado High School sophomore already is in his second year of competition in the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) Gulf South Region.

Lawrence is among the numerous local dirt track racers descending upon the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track on May 13-14 for the Texas World Dirt Track Championship. It will be Lawrence’s first visit to the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track and he is looking forward to competing in the high-profile event that draws racers from around the country.

“It would be cool to win at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track,” Lawrence said. “That’s the race everybody wants to win. It’s one of the more prestigious dirt track races in the country. It would be even better to win because it’s in my backyard.”

For Lawrence, life is not like that of the ordinary teenager. When he is not focusing on his schoolwork, his social time is spent primarily prepping his No. 76 sprint car for the next race.

“I know a lot of teenagers hang out with their friends and go to the movies on the weekend,” he said. “Every day I come home and work on the car and get it ready for the weekend. Every weekend we go to the race track. It would be weird if we didn’t do that.”

Just five races into the ASCS Gulf South Region series, Lawrence has four feature appearances and one top-10 finish. He currently sits eighth in the standings, 80 points behind leader Tommy Bryant.

A win at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track during the two-day ASCS show would be ideal, but learning is his top priority for this teen-age student of dirt track racing.

“I’m looking for a good finish and staying out of trouble,” he said. “A win would be nice, but good finishes are our main goal.”

The two-day show gets underway Friday, May 13 with practice at 6 p.m. and Limited Modified, Factory Stock, and ASCS heats beginning at 7:05 p.m. The evening culminates with the 40-lap ASCS Sprint Car championship. The weekend show continues Saturday, May 14, beginning at 7:05 p.m. with Factory Stock and Limited Modified qualifiers and followed by features for all three series. The evening will be highlighted by a 30-lap Factory Stock Championship followed by a 40-lap Limited Modified Championship and another 40-lap ASCS Sprint Car Championship.

Grandstand tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under for Friday’s action and $25 for adults and $10 for children on Saturday. Fans can save $5 on adult tickets purchased at any participating O’Reilly Auto Parts store.

For tickets or more information on the Texas World Dirt Track Championship, call the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com.

Story and photo courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway