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Matthew Laprade is a 14-year-old racing driver from New Smyrna Beach, Florida, competing across four divisions simultaneously in the 2026 season — Pro Trucks with Grant Thompson Racing, Late Model Stock Cars with Tom Usry Racing, Asphalt Modifieds with BMF Shocks & Chassis, and Sportsman with Boyd Tech. A karting champion and multi-division short track winner before his teenage years, Matthew’s career highlights include the 2024 Legend Car Winter Nationals Championship, a race win at Houston Motorsports Park in the Modifieds of Mayhem, and a second-place finish in the Pro Truck division at the 2025 Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway.

Matthew Laprade was born on January 10, 2012, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. He began his motorsport career in karting, winning the Vega National Championship and Florida State Championship in the Rookie class in 2019, before claiming the Florida Dirt Championship Series State Championship in the Junior 1 class and the World 100 Karting title in 2021. In 2023, he finished third at the Bandolero Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway — one of the most prestigious events in youth short track racing.

Matthew’s transition to stock cars produced immediate results. In 2024, he won the Pro Truck race at Auburndale Speedway and claimed the Legend Car Winter Nationals Championship at Citrus County Speedway, winning five races in five days. The 2025 season raised the bar further — a debut in the Modifieds of Mayhem class produced a pole position and podium finish at Montgomery Motor Speedway, followed by a race win at Houston Motorsports Park.

At the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway, Matthew delivered one of the standout results of his young career, finishing second in the Pro Truck division and sixth in the Modified class in his debut at the event. In 2026, Matthew is undertaking the most ambitious schedule of his career — more than 60 race dates across four divisions, five series, and nine states.