March 4, 2010

This is 9 year old Brenden Waterman of Bend racing #29 W.
Winning his first championship at the Willamette Speedway

"I was looking out in my mind, at where the crashes were happening and and seeing that I could get through there and not crash like all the other guys were, that's kinda what was going in my head," says Waterman.

Thursday he's getting his outlaw cage kart ready at his home in Bend for the West Coast Nationals in California next week.

Brenden started racing at age 5, with over 100 races under his belt, he's working toward becoming a professional race car driver.

He's only 9, but Brenden will be racing in the 10-16 year old division at the West Coast Nationals, race organizers say in his past races he's shown such skill that they feel he's ready to compete with the older kids.

All this success without a regular practice schedule.
There is no where for Brenden to practice or compete in Central Oregon, the track in Madras is too big.

Now Brenden practices right before a race on the course track.
His family travels about 3 times a month, at least 130 miles away for him to race.

Watching Brenden at speeds of up to 65 miles an hour is nerve racking for his Dad.

"I have to be the honest the only time is he got flipped a year ago and he went about 20 feet in the air but due to his safety gear the car was damaged and he just wanted to keep on racing," says Len Waterman.

For the Watermans this is a family sport.

"My mom usually just comes with us and makes breakfast for us," says Brenden Waterman.