Rylan Speight is having a very successful 2025 season in the Bandolero Outlaws Division, finding success at numerous tracks and currently standing second in overall points. He has put in the hard work to persevere throughout this season and is determined to stay focused on finishing the season off strong, all while still having fun and enjoying every minute.

Hometown: Emerald Isle, NC

Division: Outlaws

Number: 45

Team: Rapp Racing

1. How did you get your start in racing?

We started off going to our local tracks [in Carteret County] and just watching, and it kind of started out as a joke between me and my dad about starting. I then got into the Junior Mini Cup class and it was horrible; we didn’t really finish many races there. I finally got into Bandos about two years ago, and we just started out running locally. This year we started running with Rapp Racing and we have been doing good running national events.

2. How did you pick the number 45?

My dad was a Kurt Busch fan, so he kind of encouraged me to use the 45.

3. Who is your biggest inspiration?

Probably my parents and Levi [Rapp]. Levi helps me out a lot, and my parents do too. They each put a lot into letting me race and getting me everywhere I need to travel to race.

4. What is your favorite racing memory?

Either making a comeback after I wrecked at Dominion [Raceway] Road Course or at Auburndale coming from the back.

5. How do you get focused before a race?

I try not to talk too much to people, I just like to sit and focus before I head to the grid. Once I’m in the grid, I honestly fall asleep a little in my car to relax then I am ready to go.

6. What is your favorite track?

My favorite is Dominion Road Course. It is very technical and it’s an open and fun place to race. You can carry speed, but you have to be fast in other sections too.

7. Do you have any superstitions that you believe in with your racing?

I don’t keep my hat in my car and we do not put GoPros in my car anymore either because every time we do, we do bad.

8. What is a skill outside of racing that most people don’t know you are really good at?

My parents had me in the pool pretty much my whole life up until this year. I was pretty good at it, but I didn’t love it, so I stopped this year to put more time into racing.

9. Who is the driver you look up to?

Carson Hocevar, definitely. He started off in late models and was really good. Then he was able to take what he learned from that with bumping and all into NASCAR. He is really fun to watch.

10. What is the biggest challenge you have faced from behind the wheel?

Definitely how to learn and adjust to different tracks and their own challenges.

11. What has been your favorite place to travel? Where would be your dream place to travel for racing?

I loved traveling to Nashville, Tennessee and Florida during Winter Nationals. I would like to go out to Vegas, [because] their tracks look really fun.

12. What are the challenges that you face with racing three times in four days by participating in both the Cook Out Summer Shootout and the Thursday Thunder?

The biggest thing for me is staying focused and not getting frustrated. I have to stay focused and positive the entire time and not get in my head if I have a bad first day, so I get over it for the rest of the races and push through.