While many Anderson High School students are just learning to drive, freshman Colson Gray feels most comfortable behind the wheel of his Crown Victoria. Colson has been racing since elementary school. Gray won the championship last year in the Crown Vic category.
This was Gray’s first year placing first in season points at the local Anderson Speedway. He was fighting with Owen Aaron for the title. By the end of the season, Gray pulled out in first with 14 seasonal points.
Racing is not the safest activity. Racers at Anderson compete on a figure-8 track. Gray was hit where the track intersects in September by Michael Phipps. Despite this, Gray was uninjured and maintains a positive attitude about the crash. “It was fun,” he said.
Gray can’t do all of this alone. He has the help of a sizeable pit crew. Some people that help get the cars ready are Colt Gray, Matt Tharp, Jordan Tharp, Rickie Tharp, Jaden Tharp, Gaige Hulett, Jack Gray Josh Tharp. Gray also has a group of people that turn out to cheer for him. Some of these are Janis Gray, Jami Rushelle, Mellisa Tharp, Chloe Tharp, and Ashly Tharp.
Gray’s stepbrother got him into racing. His first race was sometime in 2016. “I have most definitely improved since my first race,” Gray said. He couldn’t give any advice to newcomers coming into the Crown Victoria category because last year was his first year.
In the past, he raced quarter midgets, a smaller version of the sprint car. The major difference between quarter midgets and Crown Vics is that, with Crown Vics, you can use the mass of the car to position yourself.
Gray is excited to get on the track next year. When asked if he saw professional racing in his future, Gray said, “Most definitely.”
