ELISTERN

Eli Stern didn't choose motorsport — motorsport chose him. Before he could name the drivers, he was watching Formula 1 with his family, absorbing every overtake, every strategy call, every championship fight. Lewis Hamilton's racecraft. Alex Palou's composure under pressure. These weren't just TV moments — they were education.

His off-road racing family gave him his first wheels at age 5 — a Polaris RZR 170. The basics of steering, throttle, terrain. By the time he attended the United States Grand Prix in 2021, the goal was already forming. Two years later, direct paddock access at IndyCar's Laguna Seca round — standing next to the machines, feeling the exhaust — made it concrete.

He wasn't going to just watch this. He was going to compete.

Late 2024, Eli committed. He acquired a Junior 1 VLR Sapphire chassis with a Briggs LO206 engine and started showing up multiple times a week at PKRA — Phoenix Kart Racing Association. Coach David Haraldsen of Next Level Karting took him through the fundamentals: racing lines, braking points, focus, and how to adapt.

The temptation to rush is always there. Eli didn't rush. He trained. He watched data. He made mistakes and fixed them methodically. By the end of 2024, he had something more valuable than results — he had a foundation.

2025 was where the investment paid back. In Jr 1 Novice, Eli won in his first main event — proof that the practice was paying off. He then stepped up into the full Junior 1 class, far more competitive. Three Top-10 finishes and 10th in the championship — a solid result in a seasoned field.

K1 Speed e-karting became a parallel program. Eli podiumed in every event he entered, finished 3rd at the Arizona State Championship, and earned his berth at the 2026 K1 Speed E-National Championship. A national stage, secured.

Not content with asphalt, he went back to his roots. He race-prepped his RZR 170 for the 170 Pure Stock class at the Best in the Desert Laughlin Classic. Coached by his grandfather Will Staats and family members Emily and Greg Shapiro, Eli came back with a P2 in class, P11 overall — ahead of a lot of others in faster classes.

He also signed his first driver contract — joining Next Level Karting Team as a founding member. Three disciplines. Three podiums. One season.

The trajectory is steeper now. In PKRA's 2026 Winter Series, Eli delivered three podiums and set two new track records — rewriting his own times from the year before. With a particularly strong second-half of the season, Eli managed to secure 5th in the championship and is now focused on carrying the momentum into the 2026 Summer Series.

He's also begun training on new hardware: a Croc Promotions Rotax Mini Max package. Double the power of the LO206. Far more mechanical grip. A completely different driving style required. This is the next deliberate step in a structured progression toward higher-formula competition.

And in May 2026, the K1 Speed E-National Championship arrives. A national stage. Real competition. He's already qualified.

The goal has never changed: the top tiers of professional motorsport. Not someday — as a structured, deliberate destination. Every discipline adds a layer of racecraft. Every record is evidence. Every season builds the resume that professional racing demands.

Eli is 10. He started competing in early 2025. In less than 18 months he has had success at three different disciplines, set multiple track records, qualified for a national championship, and signed his first driver contract.

The ceiling hasn't appeared yet.