TeamWWF Ambassador Spotlight: Kaeden Ballos

What inspired you to get involved with Wings & Wheels and become an Ambassador?

The struggle of seeking sponsors became quite difficult. We noticed and admired an established community that looks to help young racers like me. We ended up working with Ralph Hansen at Pegasus Marketing Group, who introduced us to Mark and Alora McAlister!

What does being a Wings & Wheels Ambassador mean to you personally?

It means the world. Being part of such a credible organization as Wings and Wheels Foundation has been surreal. I’ve always loved the idea of supporting other drivers through a charity, so being part of a community like this is absolutely outstanding.

Tell us a bit about your background in motorsports. How did it all start for you?

It started at age seven at my local dirt track, “Capital City Speedway,” where I ran Champ Karts. The same place Denny Hamlin started.

We quickly progressed to Bandoleros on Asphalt around age 12, capturing the championship at the Charlotte Motor Speedway “Summer Shootout”

It wasn’t long before we moved up the ranks to the Asphalt Legend Car, finding great success at numerous tracks across the Southeast!

After about a year or two of legend cars, we moved up to Late Models! I captured a hard-fought win in one of my first late model starts.

Now we sit today in the points lead at Tri-County Speedway for the LMSC division. Looking to get us another win this season!

I’ve also completed around 6 months of karting experience and had the opportunity to test an F4 car at Virginia International Raceway and an F3 car at Autobahn Country Club!!! While I am not a road course racer, we should reconsider that after closing in on a second off the track record in my first test on any road course, in any open-wheel car, or even a car in general!

Do you consider yourself more “wings” or more “wheels” — and why?

I’d consider myself to be more wings, but I’m a good mix of both, honestly. My favorite time is on the track, like any other true, passionate race car driver. I find the charity, youth influence, and business side of racing very fascinating! In fact, I do the Charlotte Motor Speedway STEAM every year for that exact reason. Being able to speak, influence, and inspire the youth generation about racing has been a big focus of mine. What a great question!

What’s your favorite part of Wings & Wheels events?

I love the atmosphere of the Wings and Wheels events for multiple reasons!

Networking and charity events have always been my favorite since I was a kid. Everyone is out to benefit each other, and it’s the most important part of racing.

It gives my team, my sponsors, and me a voice and a credible platform to progress very far in the motorsport world!

Is there a particular driver that you’re most excited to share with visitors?

My favorite driver was Kyle Busch! It’d have to be Carson Hocevar now.

How do you like to connect with guests at the event — anything special you do to make their experience memorable?

I love spending time getting to know every one of my supporters. Something special I would do differently than others is truly take the time to establish a genuine connection with every person I’m surrounded by and leave them better than I met them!

What’s one question you hope visitors will ask you when they stop by?

I’d love to answer the behind-the-scenes aspect of racing. The preparation work and all the commitment and sacrifice it takes to get to the point where people take notice.

Share a standout memory from a past Wings & Wheels Event (a moment that really stuck with you).

Unfortunately, I haven’t been to any Wings & Wheels events quite yet. I’m more eager than ever to join the fun!

How do Wings & Wheels’ mission and values line up with your own?

I relate heavily to Wings & Wheels’ mission and Values. As a driver who’s raced for the past 12 years, I can tell you firsthand that money is not infinite, and the higher you rank in racing, the more expensive it gets. This is what stood out and made me understand the true mission of Wings and Wheels. To help drivers like myself achieve the next step without breaking the bank. I couldn’t ask for a better partnership.

What do you think makes TeamWWF different from other race teams?

I’ve never met another organization remotely close to TeamWWF. The dedication of this diverse team to grow and win together is truly remarkable.

Have you had any mentors or role models in the automotive or racing industry, and how have they influenced your journey?

Honestly, I grew up racing on the same team as my now-best friend, Tristan McKee. He progressed quicker than us, and we practically followed in his footsteps. From old cars to parts they don’t use anymore to sharing the same shop now, the McKee family has been a great part of my racing journey! Tristan is now racing in the ARCA Menard Series for PRG.

What advice would you give to young people who are just discovering motorsports?

Don’t get discouraged. This path as a race car driver is meant to be difficult, as it will weed out anyone not willing to put in the effort, time, and energy to achieve the result. If you’re looking to become a race car driver, you need to stand out. Whether it’s your character in person or your presence on social media, find ways to stand out and do not get discouraged.

How do you see Wings & Wheels impacting the local community and future generations?

I see Wings & Wheels having a positive impact on future generations of drivers and the local community by giving them the choice to explore things they may never have seen or been interested in before. They allow you to fulfill your dreams.

In what ways do you use your Ambassador role to educate or inspire visitors (especially kids and families)?

I love using my Ambassador role to leave a positive impression of racing and Motorsport on the youth generation. Most kids would love to be race car drivers. They just were never shown the option. That’s why I believe it’s important to spread the message through personal encounters or by using your voice on social media to share the story of racing with the world. I recently had an in-person situation at a family reunion where a little boy who had seen my posts on social media came up to me and asked for my autograph. I gave him my hero card, signed his white T-shirt, and put my numbers on it like a jersey. 10 minutes later, I caught him riding around the field in a circle on his bike, fast as ever. This same kid went home and continued to talk about me to his mother and won’t let her call him anything other than “#19 Kaeden Ballos “. Proving the true impact we can have on the younger generation.

What would you like first‑time attendees to take away from their visit?

I’d love for them to hear all the amazing stories we could share about our time in Motorsports and, hopefully, be so fascinated that they come back!

First car memory that comes to mind.

I was 7 years old, my first time in a car. I ran 100 laps in a dirt champ kart my first time out and still remember the claustrophobic feeling of the helmet haha.

Dream car you haven’t experienced yet.

Bugatti Tourbillon.

Three words that describe Wings & Wheels to you.

Passionate, Community, Uplifting.

One thing on your personal “wings and wheels” bucket list.

I’d love to attend the Indy 500.