Taegan Knowland has a burning passion for all things racing, and has the grit and drive to get him far in his racing goals. While he ultimately has the dream of making it to NASCAR, he is putting in the work with his Bandolero to improve and grow as a driver each time he touches the track.

Hometown: Topeka, KS

Division: Outlaws

Number: 17

Team: Race Driven Performance

1. How did you get your start in racing?

I started to love racing by watching NASCAR every Sunday on TV and YouTube. I have loved racing since I was about three or four, but I actually started racing myself when I was around seven.

2. How did you get the number 17?

That is really my family’s lucky number. I was born on the 17th, and so was my brother. I have worn 17 in every sport I have played, so racing was no different.

3. Who is your biggest inspiration?

Probably Brad Keselowski, he is my favorite NASCAR driver. He has won the NASCAR championship one time and I want to be like him when I am older.

4. What is your favorite racing memory?

This is a tough one, but probably my win at Daytona or at Charlotte Motor Speedway. They both were really awesome.

5. How do you get focused before a race?

I sometimes listen to music, that kind of calms me down. But really whenever I get strapped into the car I like to zone in and focus, gotta tune everything else out so that I can focus on the race.

6. What is your favorite track?

I loved Highland Rim, we went there this year for Spring Nationals in the Bandolero. It was really fun! I picked up a third place in one of my races and I got hooked on that track. While there are a lot of tracks that I enjoy, the speed and energy at Highland Rim has to be my favorite so far.

7. If you could build a racetrack for Bandoleros and Legends cars in Kansas, what kind of track would you build?

Actually, we were talking about this a couple years ago, whenever I race quarter midgets. When I first got into Bandolero, at our local quarter midget track, there was a huge field. Just a wide-open space that would be perfect for another racetrack. I would love to see a pavement oval track put there with a road course configuration within it. Nothing really special or crazy, just a couple of turns and a solid track.

8. If you had a name for your Bandolero, what would it be and why?

This also goes back to my quarter midget days. One of my cars at the time was wrapped blue and white, another was gray. My third car was a white car that my grandpa, who used to help me out, would call White Lightning. My car now is not completely white, but it has some white on it and so I have kept the name White Lightning.

9. What is a life lesson that racing has taught you?

The best advice racing has given me was to never give up. I learned that the most this year at the Summer Shootout and Charlotte Motor Speedway. There was one race where I was running up front and was doing really well until I spun out. I was all upset because there were seven laps to go and had to move to the very back of a pretty big field. However, I was able to remain calm and made my way back up into fifth place.

10. If you could live a day in the life of any famous professional racecar driver, who would you choose and why?

This is a really tough one because there are so many to choose from. I do not know if I could narrow it down to one specific person, but between a F1 and a NASCAR driver, I think I would rather be an F1 driver for a weekend. Professionally though, I would rather race in NASCAR professionally.

11. You have plenty of experience in front of the camera, what is the part you most enjoy about interacting with the media?

There are multiple things. I do not think I have ever worked with someone in the media that is not kind. I remember when I first started doing media stuff, I was so scared people were going to judge me. But the people in the media that you work with and you do interviews with at the racetrack or over the phone, they don't judge you. You can say things that you are personally passionate about and they will not judge you, at least from what I have experienced. I love being able to interact with so many different people through the media.

12. What are ultimate goals in racing?

Probably to make it to NASCAR. Like I have said, I have been watching since I was really young, so it realistically has always been my dream. There is just something special about it, I play multiple other sports and nothing has hit me in the way that racing has.