Making his second appearance on In the Pits, Cole Denton continues to love racing, and has for as long has he can remember. The passion has continued to grow every year and he has big dreams with an urge to succeed. After moving up to Semi-Pro in 2025, he now jumps to the Pro Division for the 2026 season.
Hometown: Pascagoula, MS
Division: Semi-Pro
Number: 46
Team: 77 Speed Shop
Favorite Track: Cordele Motor Speedway
1. How did you get your start in racing?
I’ve loved anything with wheels since I was one, starting with a balance bike. At two years old, I noticed the Lowe’s number 48 Jimmie Johnson car on TV and recognized it from riding in the cart at Lowe’s. That moment sparked my love for NASCAR and my dream of becoming a racecar driver. By age four, I attended the Snowball Derby and already knew all the cars and drivers. A family sitting behind us overheard me and mentioned that I could race champ karts at a local track. Less than three weeks later, I got my first champ kart for Christmas and began racing the following season.
2. How did you get your number?
My number is 46, inspired by Cole Trickle from the movie Days of Thunder. My given name is Nicolas, but when I started racing at age four, people began calling me “Cole”, a nickname pulled from the “Col” in Nicolas. The number and name stuck, and they’ve been part of my racing identity ever since.
3. Who is your biggest inspiration?
Jimmie Johnson has always been my biggest inspiration. I admire the respect he shows and the clean, professional way he races.
4. What is your favorite racing memory?
I’ve had many great memories, but my favorite is winning my first Bandolero race at Winter Nationals. The excitement and adrenaline I felt that day are hard to put into words, but it’s a feeling I’ll never forget.
5. How do you get focused before a race?
I’m not the nervous type, so I don’t really need a routine to get focused. Racing is such a big part of my life that I’m always in the zone. It’s like my mind is naturally locked in on racing all the time.
6. What is your favorite track and why?
Cordele Motor Speedway is my favorite because it’s fast, it’s banked, and the changing track conditions force me to adapt. Every race there feels like a new challenge, and I love that.
7. Where is one place you would love to travel for racing?
Of course, the ultimate dream is to race at Daytona in NASCAR. But I also have a few favorites from iRacing that I’d love to experience in real life, but South Boston Speedway is on the top of my list.
8. If you could live a day in the life of any famous professional racecar driver, who would you choose and why?
I would choose Kyle Larson because of his ability to race so many kinds of cars on payment and on dirt. Experiencing a day in his shoes would be incredible- getting behind the wheel of different cars and proving adaptability at the highest level.
9. What are your ultimate goals in racing?
My ultimate goal is to race as a NASCAR Cup driver. I’m excited about the journey to get there because I truly love everything about racing. Even beyond driving, I’d enjoy being a commentator or even hauling the big rigs. It’s all part of the sport I love.
10. When you are not racing, who is someone you cheer for while in the pits?
When I’m not on the track, I cheer for my teammates at 77 Speed Shop. I also support the younger Bandolero drivers because it builds their confidence to know others are rooting for them. And I love cheering for my crew chief, Noah, when he goes dirt racing.
11. Do you have any racing superstitions? What are they?
I wouldn’t say I’m very superstitious, but I do have a few rituals. During Thursday Thunder, I avoid getting a haircut, and I like to wear certain shirts under my suit. My parents also have a tradition of attaching my Simpson backpack to my helmet and strapping me into the car. It reassures them that I’m safe, and it’s become part of our routine.
12. What is one skill outside of racing that you hope to master someday?
I want to be a pilot. Airplanes are my other passion, and I practice flying on a simulator to build my skills. On my 15th birthday, I did my discovery flight where I actually flew the plane, including touch-and-goes and landings. My ultimate dream is to earn my pilot’s license and fly myself to racetracks as a Cup driver.