Meet Robby Warren: Winner of Arlington’s Hot Wheels™ IndyCar Jr GP

Just days before the IndyCar circus hit Texas Motor Speedway, many junior racers were duking it out on track at K1 Speed Arlington to become one of three finalists for the Hot Wheels™ IndyCar Junior Grand Prix powered by K1 Speed! At the end of the day, 13-year-old Robert “Robby” Warren, Jr. took the overall win, thus receiving an all-expense paid trip to California for himself and a parent/guardian to compete in the championship race in San Francisco this September!

We had a chance to get in touch with Robby’s father, David, to find out more about the speedy youngster. David and Robby answered these questions together via email, and we think you’ll love reading their story as much as we did!

K1 Speed: Are you folks from the Arlington area?   

David Warren: Robert Jr (Robby) was actually born in Arlington but we now live in Mansfield which is a neighboring town.

K1S: How long has Robby been karting?

DW: He got his first yard kart for Christmas in 2012.  He started racing at K1 Speed Arlington when it opened in early 2014. His first race there was March 2, 2014. He has continued to race there but has also been racing outdoor karts as well. He began racing Rotax Mini Max at North Texas Kartway back in the spring of 2015 with the Core Karting team. He has continued racing and is now running the X30-Junior class.

K1S: What prompted Robby to visit K1 Speed the first time?

DW: He has loved racing since he was a little kid. He was mesmerized anytime it was on TV. When we found out that there was an indoor kart track opening up close to home, it was too much to pass up.

K1S: How often does he visit K1 Speed?

DW: Since he is running a full schedule of club and regional outdoor races, he does not get to K1 Speed as often as in the past (which was quite often). The finals on Thursday night was his 64th visit and 260th race at the Arlington K1 Speed. He has also hit the K1 Speed track in Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio (soon to add San Francisco to the list).

K1S: What’s his favorite thing about K1 Speed?

DW: The rapid acceleration of the karts.

K1S: Has he done any Junior League races with us? Or enrolled in our Karting Academy before?

DW: Yes, he has competed for each season of the Junior League (until this year) since it started. He was the Arlington Jr League Champion in 2017. He has done the Karting Academy in the past with Patricio Jourdain.