TAMPA, Fla. — At just 13 years old, Sarah Bradley is already making waves in the racing world. 

What You Need To Know

  • Sarah Bradley started racing go-karts when she was just 5 years old

  • At just 13, she's taking the racing world by storm

  • Her ultimate goal is to race Formula 1

  • She stands out in this male dominant sport

She’s won several local competitions, and her talent has caught the attention of several racing teams. 

Bradley had a dream that she held close to her heart ever since she was a little girl. 

“So when I was younger, like 4 or 5, my parents were taking me to these NASCAR races in Texas because we use to live there, and so I remember asking my dad one time, I was like, 'How old do you have to be to do that?'” 

She was immediately hooked, and her passion for speed only grew with time.

“Well, once you try it, it’s hard to stop," she said. "The speed, the competition, the atmosphere.”

By the time Sarah turned 6, her dad had bought her a go-kart, and she started racing in local competitions. 

She quickly proved to be a natural behind the wheel and started to win races, but it wasn't always easy as a young girl in a boy's world.

“I’ve been in it for a few years and I’ve gotten kind of used to it, but it can be a little intimidating at the start," Bradley said. "Once you’re good enough and you beat the boys around, sometimes you can get them to respect you.”

She often found herself the only girl in a field of boys, and some of the other drivers didn't take her seriously, but dad John Bradley pushed her to believe that she can compete with the boys. His belief in her never wavered.

“It took probably four to five years for them to finally accept her to where now, they…for the most part, view her as an equal," he said.

Sarah spent every spare moment on the track, practicing and refining her skills.

John can barely hold back his tears thinking of how far his daughter’s come and all that she’s accomplished.

“Very proud," John said, fighting back tears. "It’s tough coming out on the weekends or the big races and the level of competition and teams she races against, you know, we’re just a small family that does this. We race with teams but still, we don’t have a lot of the budgets these other racers do.” 

While financially is it hard, they are determined to make it work and Sarah is determined to continue to excel on the track and one day become a professional race car driver.

Her ultimate goal? To drive Formula 1, the pinnacle of racing. 

“I’ll go into anything I can get, NASCAR, Formula 1, IndyCar,” Sarah said.

Sarah is racing to be part of teams that can help get in front of a lot of eyes. 

She’s racing for sponsorships as well. That’s their main goal right now. 

The Bradleys moved down to Florida from Texas because Sarah can race year-round, but there are races that she’s not able to participate in because financially they are unable to make it. 

Sarah's in her rookie year, she’s won several medals and the Bradleys are optimistic that things will work out for the better very soon.