Max Olmsted II is carrying on a powerful family legacy as a third-generation driver currently competing in INEX’s the Young Lions Division. Olmsted uses the wisdom and racing instincts passed down from his grandfather and father, both racers themselves, while carving out his own path in Legend Cars.

Hometown: Greenwood, Indiana

Number: 35

Division: Young Lions

Team: 77 Speed Shop

1. How did you get your start in racing?

My dad and grandpa raced, and I always wanted to be like them. It took a lot of convincing but when I was around 10 years old, my dad bought me a go-kart and I ended up being really good when I started. That's how it took off and now it's turned into Legend Cars.

2. How did you pick the number?

My grandpa ran a bunch of different numbers, but he settled on number 35 because that is the number he won a championship with in a street stock. That’s what my dad chose and I just carried on the legacy.

3. Who is your biggest inspiration?

Kyle Larson, because of how diverse he is as a driver.

4. What is your favorite racing memory?

Meeting my team for the first time and getting to be a part of something because up until then I had run by myself everywhere.

5. How do you get focused before a race?

I like to put my headphones on, listen to a little bit of music and just try to get myself hyped up.

6. What is your favorite track (and why)

Nashville Fairground Speedway or Altana Motor Speedway [EchoPark Speedway]. Those two are my favorites but it’s hard to choose one of them. I like them because they’re flat tracks, if you don’t hit the line every lap, you will not be fast.

7. What is a lesson that racing has taught you far?

To never give up.

8. You’ve recently won at Mt. Lawn Speedway, a very unique-shaped track. Walk us through a lap around Mt. Lawn Speedway. What do you have to do to be successful there?

It's a really odd line. You have to start really high and then work your way down to the bottom because it's more of a “D” shape rather than an oval. You gotta shift, which I have never done before because I haven’t done any road course stuff.  Once you get the line right, it feels like a normal race track.

9. You travel a bit for racing. What has been your favorite place to race outside of Indiana?

I like all of the national events because I get to see my friends for a week.

10. You come from a family of racers. What knowledge has been passed down to you as a third-generation race car driver that has helped with how you have developed?

Before I even started racing, my dad would give me random tips about racing. Now that I do race, that has helped me a lot. All of those tips, sharing all those memories has helped me. He taught me a lot about trying to cross people over, that one was my biggest one that I try to do every opportunity I can get.  

11. What are your 2025 racing goals?

I wanna try to finish top five in Young Lion points, and I wanna make a couple of late model starts.

12. What is your ultimate goal in Motorsports?

I would like to race a Dirt Late model and try to make a living out of racing, whether it be working at the shop, racing on the weekends or just racing full time.