The year 2024 marked my debut in the Senior karting category, a season dedicated to intense juggling—balancing racing and academics, dreams and deadlines. I missed more races than I had intended; school always came first, yet racing never left my mind.
One particular weekend stands out forever.
It just so happened that my SAT exam was scheduled for the same weekend as a key race. I spent Saturday morning taking the test, grabbed only a few hours of sleep, and drove to the track early Sunday morning. There was no warm-up, no setup time—just three minutes of morning practice before qualifying.
To be honest, I didn’t expect much. I simply wanted to get back in the kart, shake off the stress, and execute the best session I could. But when I rolled into the scale line immediately after qualifying, something extraordinary happened.
The technical official handed me the first position card. I froze.
“Wait, did they give this to me by mistake?” I actually looked behind me, half-expecting someone to correct the error. But no—it was real. I had just qualified on pole.
Then I turned around and saw my brother, Yashom, holding the P2 card.
We had just gone 1–2 in qualifying. Pole and off-pole. Together. It was one of our last races before he left for college, and we were stunned. Then we smiled. Then we couldn’t stop smiling.
It was a surreal moment, not just for us, but for our parents too. After years of watching us compete against each other, push each other, and even crash into each other, they got to see us win together at the highest level of competition we had reached as siblings.
That day reminded me why I truly love this sport. It’s not just about the speed or the trophies, but about the unique and unforgettable moments you share with the people who have been with you from the very start.
Building Each Other Up
Where it all started 🙂