Between Thursday Thunder at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the Cook Out Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Mason Lastra has brought home five first-place trophies, including one for his maiden Summer Shootout victory. He’s a first-generation driver, a big fan of Jeff Gordon, and loves strapping into his Legend Car and going fast!
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Division: Semi-Pro
Car Number: 17
Favorite Ice Cream: Vanilla
1. How old were you when you first started racing?
I was 12 years old when I first started racing. I started my career racing Go Karts.
2. What sparked your interest in racing?
My aunt watched NASCAR all the time and was a big Jeff Gordon fan which first caught my attention, and then I started racing go-karts with the number 24 for Jeff Gordon.
3. What is your favorite racing memory?
I would have to say my favorite racing memory would be winning my first race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It was this year during Round 2 of the [Cook Out Summer] Shootout. I’ll never forget it.
4. Who is your biggest inspiration?
I would have to say Jeff Gordon since he was the one who initially sparked my interest in racing.
5. If you pulled into victory lane right now, who would you thank?
I would first of all thank my parents because they do so much for me all the time, and then I would thank my sponsors because they support me a lot as well.
6. Outside of racing do you have any interest or hobbies?
I would say I would hang out with my friends when I go back home. I haven’t gone on any trips this summer and have mainly been racing.
7. Do you have any pre-race rituals?
No, I just get in my car and go.
8. Is there a certain track you’d like to race at one day?
If I could race at any track I'd like to race at Daytona [International Speedway]. I would say there because it's in Florida where I’m from. I also went to my second NASCAR race there, and I just think it's cool and have always wanted to race there.
9. What's one piece of advice you would give younger drivers who are starting their racing career?
I would tell them that it’s more important to learn how to race, then it is to learn how to be fast.
10. What is one fun fact about you that people may not know?
One fun fact about me is that I actually don’t come from a racing family. I am the first person in my family to race which I feel like is something you may not hear a lot.
11. If you weren’t on the track right now, where would you want to be?
I would have to say the beach, not really one in particular though.
12. What goes through your mind while driving?
I don’t really think, I just get in my car and do it and go.
13. What is your dream street car?
My dream street car would probably have to be a Porsche 911.
14. Is it difficult to be traveling to different races while also keeping up with school and social aspects of life?
Yeah, I mean, I’ve become a lot closer with people in racing instead of people back at home in Tampa. I am around them so much more so I’ve just become closer with people who race because I see them more.
15. What's the best piece of advice somebody ever gave you?
The best piece of advice somebody has ever given me is to have fun with racing, and that's really it. Just to always remember to have fun with what we do.
16. What are your goals for the rest of the Summer Shootout?
My main goal is to really just win as many races as I can, and to keep going and going.
17. What has been the key to your success in the 2023 season?
The key to my success has to be Mark Nahrstedt Race Cars. Mark and Chad and everything they have done to make me a better driver and to give me fast cars has definitely helped me a lot this season.