New Hope-Solebury Seventh Grader Wins First National Victory In NASCAR Youth Series

A New Hope-Solebury School District seventh grader emerged victorious in the NASCAR Youth Series, securing his first national win at the prestigious Talladega Motor Speedway on April 23.

Student Jackson Herr competed in the Light 160 category, showcasing his driving skills in a competitive field.

Jackson’s triumph follows his recognition as the Northeast Regional Champion in the Light World Formula category last year after winning a series of races in the Northeast Titan Regional Series, which takes place across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.

Jackson’s passion for racing began at three years old, after frequent visits to his uncle’s home, located near a racetrack where they watched NASCAR races together.

Despite being the first in his family to take up racing, his father, Jason, works as a mechanic, and Jackson’s appreciation for cars runs deep.

At nine years old, Jackson discovered that he could start racing and began competing in the Senior Honda class at the local quarter midget track Oaklane QMRC in Quakertown. He now races in four different categories, all in Storm Chassis, including Senior Honda, Senior Animal, Lt 160, and Lt World Formula, which can reach speeds up to 45mph.

Thanks to sponsorships from LandCare and Juniata Concrete, Jackson continues to hone his skills as a racer.

Jackson dedicates his weekends to practicing, except for the weeks leading up to a race to keep his vehicle from getting wrecked too close to a competition.

On off weekends, he spends time with friends at the racetrack, watching other racers to evaluate their progress and their cars.

During his race at Talladega, Jackson showcased his driving prowess, starting in seventh place and eventually making his way to second place before a series of caution flags derailed his progress. After his main competitor wrecked, Jackson secured the lead, making a series of passes to take home the win.

Looking to the future, Jackson aims to compete in professional NASCAR, either as a driver or working on the cars.

For now, he will continue racing in the NASCAR Youth Series, with competitions in Kansas City, Indianapolis, Charlotte, Darlington, and Watkins Glen on the horizon.

“We hope to see him on those professional tracks someday,” the school district said.