Jared, now 14, has been competing in quarter midget racing since he was five years old. "Jared has always shown that he has talent and good instincts for racing, and as he's gotten older, he's really developing his driving skills," said Ernie.

Jared has competed primarily through the NC Quarter Midget Association at the quarter midget track in Salisbury, NC. According to Ernie, "Jared will continue to compete in Salisbury when possible, but we're also planning to compete in the USAC Mopar .25 Midget Generation Next series in 2011." This is a 12 race traveling series with races scheduled in AZ, NC, NM, CA, MI, OH, and TN. The series crowns champions at the end of the season for each of the quarter midget classes. Jared will compete in Sr. Honda, Light 160, Light World Formula, and Sr. Animal.

"Jared has stayed interested in racing for the past 8 years, and Kim and I will continue to support him with it as long as he wants to race. We have always left it up to him, and we'll keep doing that. Right now, he says he wants to race, so that's what we're doing," said Ernie.

Ernie does a large part of the work on the quarter midget cars himself and also works with Jared during each event. Last year the Irvans also began working full-time with Paul Platt of Talon Chassis in Salisbury, NC. Paul's company produces the chassis for Jared's quarter midget cars. In addition to producing and helping to set up the cars, Paul works with Ernie and Jared at each race to assure that proper adjustments are made to the cars.

More About Jared and 1/4 Midget Racing! ----->