For most students, a typical week means classes, homework and extracurriculars. For Grant Mitchell ‘28, it can also mean flying across the country to race a car.
Mitchell’s interest in racing began with watching motorsports online before eventually getting behind the wheel himself.
“I got interested in racing from watching motorsports, and then eventually carting,” Mitchell said.
A friend from middle school helped introduce Mitchell to the sport. After spending time carting, Mitchell decided he wanted to pursue racing at a more professional level.
“I thought it would be fun and I liked carting, so I figured I would try something professional,” Mitchell said.
His first experience in a race car came at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, where the weather added another challenge to an already unfamiliar experience.
“It was cold and rainy in Austin, Texas, at the track COTA, and even though it was bad conditions, it was still fun and a little scary,” Mitchell said.
Three years into racing, Mitchell has learned that success depends on how a driver responds when things go wrong.
“It’s important to stay consistent after setbacks, make the right moves in my career and be persistent after crashes,” Mitchell said.
Racing also demands a significant time commitment outside of race weekends. Mitchell practices on a simulator throughout the week while managing his school responsibilities.
“I practice at least an hour daily on the racing simulator,” Mitchell said.
The travel schedule can make the balance even more difficult. Mitchell often leaves school early in the week and does not return until late Sunday.
“I have to skip classes to race, so it is difficult to keep the grades up,” Mitchell said. “It’s important to know when to focus on what, and I separate both tasks into two different aspects of my day.”
A race weekend typically begins Wednesday after school when Mitchell flies out to the track. Practice takes place Thursday and Friday, followed by qualifying Saturday and the race Sunday before he returns home for school on Monday.
Once race day arrives, Mitchell follows his routine before getting behind the wheel.
“I wake up in the morning and drink a lot of caffeine,” Mitchell said.
When he is on the track, Mitchell relies on both his physical reactions and his ability to remain composed.
Not every race has gone according to plan, but Mitchell said those experiences have helped him improve. His approach to mistakes is straightforward.
“Learning from my mistakes and moving on,” Mitchell said.
One of Mitchell’s favorite races came at Road America, where he fought his way up the leaderboard.
“During the USF 2000 and Road America, I drove from last to ninth place,” Mitchell said.
His biggest accomplishment so far has opened an opportunity to race internationally, “being offered a seat in Europe with AF CORSE and Ferrari in an LMP3,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell hopes the opportunity will eventually lead to a career in professional racing. For now, he continues to put in the work required to reach that goal.