In Phoenix Arizona, a shiny new race car shot down the NASCAR track with 18-year-old Mia Lovell ‘29 at the wheel, testing her new vehicle before her upcoming Auto Race Car of America (ARCA) series on March 5. Rapidly making a name for herself and rising through the NASCAR ranks.

Lovell was exposed to high-stakes competition as a preteen when she won multiple gold medals in skateboarding at the California State Games.

Though Lovell’s primary passion is now auto racing, she was exposed to the world of intense athletics as a preteen. She started as a successful competitive skateboarder, even winning multiple gold medals in the California State Games. 

Her interest in racing began at the age of 13, when her father took her to the local race track in Arizona, Apex Motor Club. “He thought it’d be a good idea, since I was going to get my driver’s license soon, to put me in a car and see what I thought,” Lovell explained. “I didn’t think that this was the path that I’d be going on because I was still really strong in the skateboarding world.” However, with COVID having halted skate boarding competitions, Lovell was eager to try something new. 

After beginning racing lessons at 13, Lovell got the opportunity to participate in her first professional series, the Toyota GR Cup, three years later. The young racer spent two years competing in the series.

“After the first year, I realized that […] racing could actually be a career for me,” said Lovell. “I don’t know how they let me into a professional series, but it was kind of like a sink or swim situation.” Lovell has certainly been swimming. 

Lovell’s next step after the Toyota GR Cup was the Trans Am series, which she began racing in 2025. She raced TA2, a high performance vehicle geared towards longevity. The Trans Am track was a complicated course that required Lovel to make left and right turns instead of only left turns. The series is a hybrid of sports cars and stock cars where the vehicles are known for their strong chassis and heavy, raw engines. It was the perfect stepping stone for Lovell’s introduction to NASCAR.

Lovell’s goal is to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series, the best avenue for making a career out of racing. “I would love to be a freaking race car driver. That would be awesome,” she said. 

Lovell is about three or four series away from her racing dream, as the young driver will be racing in the 2026 ARCA Menards West Series. Her current series is an unofficial but crucial stepping stone to driving in the NASCAR Cup Series.

In the Trans Am series, finesse and maneuverability are key; but in NASCAR, the focus is speed. No more bells and whistles, just pure engine. 

“We’ll probably get up to 150 [MPH] in this series which is moving pretty good,” Lovell said. Top speeds on larger courses in the 2025 ARCA Menards West Series were around 150 MPH as well. As usual, Lovell is aiming high but as her record suggests, she will strike the target. 

In an activity as exhilarating and dangerous as racecar driving, Lovell emphasized the importance of maintaining the childlike sense of wonder that drew her in. “There’s really just nothing like being in a wheel-to-wheel battle with another car. It’s just so exciting. You’re on the edge, you’re leaning on each other. There’s no room for errors. It’s just so, so exciting,” she said.

Though Lovell is now a seasoned racer, she has not abandoned academic aspirations. “I could load up my schedule and be racing every weekend, but I choose not to because my school is really important to me,” she explained. “Balance is what helps longevity in the sport, and also keeps me in a good mindset where not everything is about racing.”

Many young professional racecar drivers like Lovell elect to drop out of school or take courses online so as to focus exclusively on racing. “But to me, you just miss out on so many life experiences and other skills that you just can’t get anywhere else,” Lovell said. “And I love it here.”

Lovell chose Davidson for its intimate size and academic excellence. Establishing an emotional and physical equilibrium has been Lovell’s continuous aim. “I do a lot of self reflection practices […] I keep a journal. I really just focus on being a student of the sport, and really just focus on taking care of my mindset and making sure I’m in a good place to make the most out of everything,” she said.

While poised and unbothered, Lovell is still focused on what comes next. Having tested her new ARCA car last week, she is ready to progress and continue striving toward the NASCAR Cup series. The young athlete is not about to let the competition, or their car, get in her way. “Truly it’s an individual sport,” Lovell said. “At the end of the day, only one person can hoist the trophy.”