Gray Leadbetter

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• FULL BIO: Gray Leadbetter

   

  Gray Leadbetter is an 18-year-old motorsports prodigy from North Carolina who has shattered barriers across multiple racing disciplines, becoming the first woman to win both a Championship Off-Road Pro class race and a Pro Spec Class Championship. From dirt bikes at age two to electric SUVs in Extreme E, she’s proven that talent knows no gender—and she’s just getting started.

  EARLY YEARS

  Born and raised in Morganton, North Carolina, Gray discovered her need for speed at the tender age of two when she fell head-over-heels for motorsports. Her parents, Steve and Polly Leadbetter, supported their daughter’s unconventional passion from the start, even when it meant watching their seven-year-old bounce back from a dirt bike racing injury with the kind of grit that would define her career. As a first-generation racer in a family with no motorsports tradition, Gray carved her own path from ATVs and dirt bikes to four-wheeled glory, proving that sometimes the best racing genes are the ones you make yourself.

  OTHER INTERESTS

  While Gray’s world revolves around anything with an engine and the potential to go really, really fast, details about her life outside the cockpit remain as elusive as a perfect racing line. What we do know is that when you start racing professionally at 14, there’s not much time left for typical teenage pursuits—and frankly, when you’re living your dream at 200 mph, who needs hobbies?

  EARLY SUCCESS

  Gray’s rise through the ranks reads like a masterclass in making the impossible look inevitable. At 14, she signed with Dreyer-Reinbold Racing to compete in Americas Rallycross against former and current IndyCar drivers—because apparently, someone forgot to tell her that was supposed to be intimidating. By 2020, she had become the youngest driver and first woman to win a Pro Class SXS race in Championship Off-Road, setting the tone for a career that would be built on rewriting record books. Her transition from two wheels to four happened with the kind of seamless confidence that suggests she was born with a steering wheel in her hands and gasoline in her veins.

  NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 2019: Signed with Dreyer-Reinbold Racing at age 14 to compete in Americas Rallycross alongside IndyCar drivers.
  • 2020: Became youngest driver and first woman to win a Pro Class SXS race in Championship Off-Road.
  • 2021: First woman to win a Championship Off-Road Pro Class race, finishing 3rd overall in the championship with Greaves Motorsports.
  • 2022: Won Pro Spec Class Championship in Championship Off-Road by one point, becoming the first woman to capture that title with Ryan Beat Motorsports.
  • 2023: Extended podium streak to 12 consecutive races with two more Pro Spec wins and four podiums in Nitrocross SXS class.
  • 2024: Made Extreme E debut with Legacy Motor Club (Jimmie Johnson’s team) in Saudi Arabia and won the Traction Challenge.

  INSPIRATIONS

  While Gray hasn’t publicly name-dropped her racing heroes, she’s found a mentor in Travis Pastrana, the action sports legend who has taken her under his wing for Extreme E instruction and beyond. With parents who fostered her passion despite having no racing background themselves, Gray represents the beautiful chaos that happens when natural talent meets unwavering family support. As she puts it, “Everything I’ve taken part in before has been a big help because at the end of the day it is all about driving the car as best as you can”—a philosophy that’s served her well across dirt tracks, sprint car ovals, and electric SUV circuits.

  REPUTATION

  The motorsports world has taken notice of Gray’s rare combination of speed, versatility, and composure under pressure. Described as having an “old school racer’s heart,” she’s earned respect not just for being the first woman to achieve multiple historic firsts, but for doing it with the kind of consistency that separates flash-in-the-pan stories from genuine championship material. Her ability to seamlessly transition between SXS vehicles, sprint cars, and Extreme E’s electric SUVs has established her as more than a trailblazer—she’s a legitimate threat in whatever she chooses to drive. Industry insiders consistently praise her professionalism and rapid development, with media coverage remaining refreshingly focused on her talent rather than treating her success as a novelty.

  FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

  While specific 2025 plans remain under wraps, Gray’s 2024 season with Legacy Motor Club in Extreme E suggests she’s just hitting her stride. With backing from sponsors like Sparco and the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, and mentorship from Travis Pastrana, she’s positioned to continue her assault on motorsports’ record books. As she teased after her Extreme E debut: “2024 should be my biggest season yet—stay tuned…” If her track record is any indication, the motorsports world should indeed stay tuned—because Gray Leadbetter is far from finished making history.

  References:

  Gray Leadbetter Official Website
  The Podium Finish Interview
  Ryan Beat Motorsports Team Information
  Extreme E Official Site