MATT SHULTZ ’20

Matt Shultz ’20

Matt Shultz ’20 started racing cars at 8-years-old in the Slingshot Division—which included adults—driving up to 60 mph. At 14, he moved up to the Sportsman Division, where he continues to compete, racing against 380 horsepower engines and reaching speeds of 95 mph. And if you ask him, Shultz has no intention of slowing down.

For Shultz, racing cars is a family thing. “My dad has been racing since before I was born and I grew up around the sport,” Shultz explained. “He has taught me so much.” Even earlier, Shultz’s grandfather was out on the racetrack. “My grandpa got our family into this sport several decades ago and without him, none of this would have been possible.”

Shultz races on Fridays at Accord Speedway and on Saturdays at Orange County Fair Speedway. Though bumpy at first, his 2018 season has ramped up and he has found himself consistently toward the front during recent races. Shultz also looks forward to racing in the Short Track Super Series North Region during the course of the summer, which travels throughout Upstate New York.

“I love that racing is a unique sport,” Shultz shared. “Not many people get the opportunity to try it.” He also appreciates the hard work and practice time that the sport requires, which certainly keeps him busy. “I love seeing the hard work that we put in during the week pay off at the track on the weekends. It’s such a great feeling.”

At only 16 years old, Shultz has 27 wins under his belt. Last year, he picked up Rose Contracting from Westchester as a sponsor, due to his academic and athletic excellence here at Trinity-Pawling. Yet even with his early success, Shultz stays grounded and recognizes that a crucial part of racing goes beyond the cars, sponsors, and speeds. “It’s all about respect. I’ve learned that if you race others with respect, you get it back and that has been an important lesson for me to learn as one of the youngest drivers out there.”

As for Shultz’s plans for racing in the future? He hopes to work his way up each division and eventually become a full-time racecar driver. With a solid racing record, a supportive team behind him, and the constant drive to improve, we’d say he’s on the right track.