In The Paddock: Khayden Brown

At the beginning of the season, the expectations were modest; to qualify for a MotoAmerica race. Just make the show and see what happens from there.

A few months later those expectations look a little different.

Coming off a seventh-place finish in Race 2 at Virginia International Raceway, Khayden Brown and 2-Bones Racing have gone from simply hoping to earn a spot on the grid to proving capable of racing well inside the top 10.

Khayden Brown entering NASCAR Bend at VIR

“Honestly, our expectations were to qualify,” Khayden said of the team's mindset heading into Daytona. “No real placement, just to qualify, try to get into the big show and, you know, go from there.”

The schedule was supposed to be limited. The original plan called for only three rounds, but as the season progressed that plan grew along with the results. VIR provided the clearest sign yet of just how far things have come with a 7th place finish in Race 2.

Brown said the result wasn't necessarily a surprise; looking at the lap times and the riders around him on the grid, there was already a belief that kind of result was possible.

“I knew where I could be,” Khayden said. “I just needed to get a good start, which I really didn't have the best start. But I just knew where I could be, and if I pushed and put my head down, I could be there.”

Now the focus shifts to New Jersey, another unfamiliar circuit and another opportunity to build on what happened at VIR.

“I've never been to Jersey,” Khayden Brown said. “So it's kind of the same thing I did at Barber: just show up and try to learn the track in practice, qualify, and perform in the race.”

2-Bones Racing, made up of Khayden and his dad Dwayne, line up to take the start of Race 1 at Barber Motorsports Park.

The plans are beginning to stretch beyond this season as well. While nothing is finalized, Khayden Brown said the goal for next year is to contest the entire championship.

All of this is happening while Khayden is still a junior in high school. The arrangement Brown has with his family is simple: keep the grades at A's and B's and the racing continues. 

“The minute I start slacking in school the racing stops,” Brown explained.

As for the long-term future, Khayden has ambitions that extend beyond the MotoAmerica paddock.

“I definitely do want to go race in Europe and get the experience,” Khayden Brown said. “I think it'd definitely be good for me.”

For now, however, the immediate targets are much closer: establish themselves as a regular top-five contender in MotoAmerica, continue building results and attract the sponsorship necessary to take the next step.

It's a considerably different set of goals than simply hoping to qualify at Daytona.