Cody Brown, the reigning 2022 Semi-Pro National Champion, is gearing up for the 2023 Asphalt Nationals, which will take place in his hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada. This year, Cody has secured 10 victories, with nine of those wins occurring at his favorite track, The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. When he's not tearing up the asphalt, you'll find Cody exploring the trails on his new electric dirt bike.
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Division: Pro
Number: 88
Team: Third Gen Racing
Favorite NFL team? Green Bay Packers
1. What do you love most about Nevada?
My life basically revolves around cars so there is a lot of car stuff in Vegas. There’re museums, a bunch of shops and the tracks here are fun. I love the tracks in Vegas.
2. Favorite restaurant?
Raising Canes
3. What are your favorite activities and hobbies?
Just anything to do with cars. I just got my new electric dirt bike built and I like to ride it around and go on trails.
4. How old were you when you first started racing?
I started racing when I was eight and I started in the quarter midgets down here. I stayed in those until I was about 10 or 11 then after that I moved up to the Bandos. I was 12 and a half when I did have the Bando experience, so I was able to run the legends when I was 13.
5. How did you get into racing?
I originally started with dirt bikes. My dad put me on a little Yamaha when I was still only three. He raced his whole life and wanted to see me try to enjoy racing as much as he did. He first asked me about the quarter midget idea and I was all on board with it, [and] he put me in that. Ever since I sat in the car I didn't even have to drive it, I immediately fell in love with it.
6. What were your emotions when you won the Semi-Pro Asphalt National Championship?
Words can’t explain how happy it was, and it's not just me just seeing the smile on my dad's face and just my whole family congratulating me. Seeing all these racers congratulate me made me feel really good inside.
7. What is the background with the White, green, black paint scheme?
My original car was black and green and I loved that. It was a debate between black and white, and my dad and I just decided to go with white. We'd never really done it before and we just wanted to change our whole style up because after that pretty big wreck that I had my car we pretty much needed a whole new color.
8. What is one thing that racing has taught you in your everyday life?
Even though you're fast on the racetrack, take your time when you're just either at home or you're at work. Don't rush everything, it'll come to you. If you take your time and pace yourself, you'll live a better life and make more friends out of it.
9. What is your best memory you've had so far at a race?
Dominion Raceway and maybe some road courses.
10. What is your favorite track you've raced at so far?
Well, obviously Vegas would be my first answer and it's not because I grew up on it. You could even find some of the guys out where you are, they even love that track. It's just a well-maintained track and I love it. I also like Tucson Speedway in Arizona.
11. If you could give advice to any new driver starting off, what would you tell them?
I would definitely pace yourself in a car that you would want to drive. Say you're just starting out and you're pretty young, I would start with Bando. I wouldn't really recommend anything too crazy, like a pro late. I would definitely recommend a Legend Car. They say once you learn how to drive a Legend Car, you could drive anything and that is definitely true.
12. Do you have any pre-race rituals?
I hang out with either my friends or family, it eases my mind for a little bit before I get in the car.
13. What do you want to accomplish outside of racing?
I want to start my own business. I have a few ideas, but I definitely was thinking about an escape room and other big Vegas attractions.
14. What do you find most enjoyable about racing?
The adrenaline rush. Just how your body feels in the car. Your heart beats fast and you feel the adrenaline rushing through your blood while you're racing against other people. It's pretty much an addiction. You just wanna keep feeling it so that's what makes me really want to get back in the car.
15. What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome in the racing world?
I would say racing with the bigger guys, the big dogs like in the Nationals I was not prepared at all. I was saying I was prepared, I was telling my dad I was prepared and all of that, but once I actually saw how good these guys were and racing against them and learning from my mistakes really helped me. And that honestly was probably the biggest challenge to overcome.
16. If you could have a conversation with anyone, who would it be and why?
I'd pick my grandpa. He passed away when I was really young and I was super close with him even though I don't really remember him a lot. He loved racing and if I could just go back in time and tell him and show him my accomplishments and just talk to him about it.
17. If you get stranded on an island and could only bring 3 things, what would they be?
A knife, a tarp and a lighter.
18. What do you aim to accomplish as the season approaches its conclusion?
My goal is to hopefully win the national race and if I really get lucky, who knows, I might be able to win the national championship too in points