As one of 360 Sprint Car racing’s youngest drivers, Brady Baker shined on multiple occasions last season with the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) National Tour. This year, he’ll try to do that as a full-time competitor.
The 17-year-old from Alexander, AR, posted four podium finishes in 10 Feature starts with the Tour in 2024 with a best finish of second to 2023 champion Jason Martin at Arrowhead Speedway in September. Though he has only a few years’ experience in the seat of a 360 Sprint Car and is half the age of the majority of the ASCS veterans, Baker has never let that scare him from competing with the best on the national circuit.
It’s that fearlessness and tenacity that drove him to make the decision to join the ASCS National Tour roster for his rookie campaign.
“We had a few good runs last year with [the Tour],” Baker said. “I had four podiums, a few Quick Time (awards). I made it into the Dash several times. Me and my dad were talking, and I’m so close to being 18 and almost being able to hit the road. This is kinda like my rookie year getting ready for it. I’m about to graduate high school, and I’ll be ready to go after that.”
Even before that shining moment, Baker was proving his worth against the best in the sport, claiming the pole position for the main event and finished third in the season opener at Super Bee Speedway in Louisiana. Later in the year, he posted third-place runs at RPM Speedway in Texas and at Creek County Speedway in Oklahoma — the home of ASCS — highlighting his potential for 2025.
“I got so close last year so many times and just never could make it happen,” he said. “Hopefully, my day is coming.”
Baker has already contested the opening three rounds of competition this year at Volusia Speedway Park against a strong field of 410 invaders and the 360 giants he’ll race on the National Tour this year. Though it was not his first time racing champions like Martin, Blake Hahn and Sam Hafertepe Jr., it’s still a surreal experience.
“It’s absolutely incredible to be able to race them; they were my heroes growing up,” Baker said. “Competition level for 360s, I feel like is growing back; it was kinda dying. Hahn coming back, Hafertepe coming back — it’s really helping it grow. I’m proud to see it happen and I can’t wait to join them.”
Like so many of today’s rising open-wheel talents, Baker is a goal-driven racer and has a few things he’d like to see done by the end of the season.
“I’d like to see at least one National Tour win,” Baker said. “Racing with them — some of the best 360 drivers in the country — I’d like to be able to be top five in points. I know that’s gonna be really hard, but that’s my goal.”
Baker continues his rookie ASCS National Tour campaign aboard the Mid-State Golf Cars, Scott Baylor Racing Engines-powered Lawson chassis No. 71 in the next event — Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, OK on Saturday, April 12.
Tickets for the event will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t make it to the track, stream every lap live with a subscription to DIRTVision.
