WESTBOROUGH – When he was a senior at Worcester Academy in 2017, Kaz Grala spent part of the winter at Daytona Beach, Fla.
Not the beach – the speedway.
Not in the stands – he was competing in the NASCAR Truck Series.
And at 18 years, 1 month and 26 days old, he became the youngest person to win at the legendary racetrack.
Grala, who was born in Boston and raised in Westborough, credits his father with his interest in racing.
“My dad used to race when I was little,” said Grala.
Grala began racing with go-karts at F1 Boston (now X1 Boston) in Braintree. He added racing to his other childhood activities, including soccer, Little League and tennis.
“It was definitely atypical for a kid,” he said.
Grala has not only been driving, but collecting titles and trophies along the way.
His career includes winning the Outlaws Summer Shootout championship at the age of 10; winning 15 races and the Winter Heat Championship at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Legend Pro Car Division at the age of 12; and starting his stock-car racing career at the age of 14.
The following year, Grala competed in the Michelin Pilot Challenge, the youngest driver to do so. He also won events in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
In 2015, while Grala was attending Worcester Academy, he drove for Kyle Busch Motorsports, winning at the South Boston Speedway in Virginia.
In 2016, Grala competed in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. At the age of 17, Grala was again the youngest driver in the field. Later that season, Grala made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway, running a part-time schedule throughout the year.
After his impressive showing at Daytona in 2017, Grala continues to make a name for himself in the world of racing. He has competed in the NASCAR Cup Series, the Daytona 500; finished sixth in the GEICO 500 at Talladega; and collected several top-10 finishes in NASCAR car and truck races.
“I drive just any way I can,” said Grala of his versatility.
Grala is currently with Sam Hunt Racing and taking part in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for 2023.
Grala is driving the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra – the automobile currently on his promotional cards.
“Racing – it’s what I’ve done since I was little,” he said. “It’s my passion … I just got hooked on the adrenaline.”
In addition to titles, Grala has compiled a solid fan base. During a personal appearance at Arturo’s Restaurant on July 13, he signed autographs and chatted with well-wishers, many of whom were heading to Loudon, N.H., to see Grala compete the weekend of July 15-16.
“I admire him as a driver,” said Penny Morse of Ashland, who showed up wearing a Grala T-shirt. “There are not many Northern drivers on the circuit.”
For information on Kaz Grala, visit www.kazgrala.com, or www.samhuntracing.net.