Ryan Zima, a native of North Carolina, has captured the Young Lions Feature Champion title at the Legend Car Dirt Nationals not once, but twice in 2022 and 2023. Beyond his achievements in racing, Ryan is a versatile athlete, participating in baseball, basketball, and golf. Apart from pursuing his racing dreams, he aspires to become a pilot.
Hometown: Cleveland, NC
Division: Young Lions
Number: 4
Team: Ryan Zima Racing
Favorite Restaurant: Barcelona Burger
1. What are your hobbies?
I play basketball, baseball, and golf. I’d say golf is my favorite. It's really relaxing to take a break from racing and just go out on the course and play around.
2. If there was anywhere in the world that you could live, where would you want to live?
The Caribbean
3. Do you have any pets?
I have a maltese poodle mix, her name is Carolina.
4. What is the most interesting thing that you have on your bucket list?
Skydiving
5. How did you get into racing?
My papa drove off road trucks back in the day, so that was already in the blood. When my dad moved down here, he worked for Stewart Haas and I started watching racing more and decided I wanted to do that. We got a go-kart and went from there.
6. Do you remember your first race that you ran?
I was seven and it was a flat cart in the peewee division at Millbridge Speedway.
7. What is your favorite track that you've run at so far?
Charlotte and Wake County are really fun.
8. How do you juggle school and racing?
The school I go to is Liberty Prep Christian Academy. I go to school Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, then I do homeschool Wednesday and Friday. It's a good balance between racing and school because they really help you get your work done if you miss.
9. What is something that you've learned from your dad and grandpa from them racing?
My papa always told me to be smooth and always keep your head in it. My dad takes good care of the car. He loves watching me and is always trying to help me go faster. Kyle is one of my friends and he's taught me how to set up cars and has given me so many driving tips over the years that I’ve improved a huge amount over the past year just by him.
10. What is the significance behind the number 4?
I picked number 4 because my dad worked at Stewart Haas and I was always a Kevin Harvick fan.
11. What do you find most enjoyable about racing?
The speed and just the feeling after you win. It's indescribable when you're going that fast and you win all that hard work paid off.
12. Dirt or Asphalt?
I love dirt, you always have to keep up with the track, but I think asphalt has taken over me now. It's starting to be a lot more fun than dirt, but I still enjoy the dirt.
13. What is something that you want to accomplish outside of racing?
I definitely want to get my pilot license no matter what, even if racing ever works out.
14. What is something you want to accomplish inside of racing?
Make it to the Cup Series like Kyle Larson where I can do some dirt and go to the Cup Series and drive.
15. What would you say the best place that you've ever traveled to has been?
Vegas for sure. The view of the track with all the mountains around is cool. You have the strip and all the cool things like The Sphere and all that, definitely my favorite trip because.
16. What is something that you wanna accomplish in the 2024 season?
Definitely go after the Young Lions National Championship for asphalt. I don't know if we'll have some time to do all the dirt, but definitely win the dirt nationals again. That'd be pretty cool to go for 3 times. Maybe run some road courses here and there.
17. If you could give any or could give advice to any new driver starting off, what would you tell them?
Do what you wanna do and have fun, you're not always gonna win, try to learn and do all you can to figure it out.
18. What is one thing that racing has taught you in your everyday life?
Staying focused. I know how to get in and how to just get focused on everything I do.