Kart Kanyon Driver Spotlight: Barrett Tenski

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Next up in our driver spotlight series is another young talent—Barrett Tenski! At just 10 years old, Barrett has already been racing for 8 years and competes in the Youth Expert class. Racing runs in the family for the Tenskis, and Barrett is no exception!

How It All Started:
Barrett’s racing journey began when his dad put him in a kart and sent him out on the track. From that moment on, he was hooked! One of Barrett’s most memorable moments? Almost flipping in his quarter midget—but still crossing the finish line first!

Family and Racing:
Barrett’s dad still races, and his mom used to race too. Even though she doesn’t race anymore, the whole family stays involved and supports his performance on the track. Barrett’s biggest inspirations are his mom, dad, friends, and family.

When He’s Not Racing:
Barrett loves playing games when he’s not out there tearing up the dirt. Before a race, you can usually find him playing a quick game of tag to get pumped up!

What Makes His Kart Special:
Barrett’s kart stands out thanks to its custom wrap featuring his favorite football team—the Miami Dolphins!

Words of Wisdom:
Barrett’s advice for new racers? “Don’t always go out wanting to win—it will come eventually.”

Shoutout to His Sponsors:
• TNT Motorsports
• Phantom Racing Chassis

Gratitude:
Barrett is grateful for the support he gets from his family, friends, and sponsors, helping him do what he loves on the track.

Let’s give Barrett a big shoutout in the comments and wish him the best of luck this season! 

Our next driver spotlight features Ryan Heath! At 25 years old, Ryan has been racing on and off for about 12-13 years. Originally from Aztec, NM, he’s recently moved up to the Super Stock class after competing in the Stock class. Racing is in his blood, and his passion for the sport runs deep.

How It All Started:
Ryan’s love for racing started with trips to Aztec Speedway and watching NASCAR with his dad. He first got behind the wheel in the 120 quarter midget class around 2012-13, and he’s been hooked ever since.

Favorite Racing Memory:
Capturing that first-ever trophy was definitely memorable, but what truly makes racing special for Ryan is seeing the smiles and excitement on his family’s faces every time he hits the track. That feeling will always be his favorite memory.

Family and Racing:
Racing truly is a family affair for Ryan. His cousin Skyler and his dad Rick have always been by his side, whether it’s working on the karts together or sharing advice on track performance. Skyler and Rick both race too, making it even more exciting for Ryan to watch, learn, and compete alongside them. His mom Ambie and little brother Sean are his biggest fans, always cheering him on. Without his family, none of his racing accomplishments would be possible.

Who Inspires Him:
Ryan’s family is his biggest inspiration for racing, and his love for the sport stems from them. Watching his cousin Skyler race stock cars at Aztec Speedway growing up played a big part in shaping his passion for the track.

When He’s Not Racing:
Ryan works in the oilfield industry, spending much of his time out in the field. When he’s not working or racing, he enjoys the outdoors—fishing, camping, and playing cornhole (especially at NASCAR in Phoenix—if you know, you know!). Anything outdoors when it’s warm? Count him in.

What Makes His Kart Special:
Ryan’s kart is hard to miss with its bright yellow body and bold purple accents. But what really makes it special to him is seeing his family name, “HEATH”, displayed on the sides beneath his iconic #12.

Pre-Race Routine:
To get in the zone, Ryan listens to high-energy music (usually Kevin Gates) on the way to the track, drinks an ice-cold RedBull, and packs an upper decky (nicotine pouch).

Sponsors:
Ryan’s main sponsors are his Dad, cousin Skyler, and the rest of his family who support him race after race. While he may not run actual sponsor decals on his kart, Ryan wants to give a huge shoutout to every sponsor that supports Kart Kanyon. Without their contributions, Kart Kanyon wouldn’t be where it is today, so thank you all!

Words of Wisdom:
Ryan’s advice for new racers? “Just make sure you’re having fun. It’s okay to be competitive—that’s why we do it—but always race with respect and integrity. Most of all, JUST HAVE FUN!”

Gratitude:
Ryan wants to give a huge thank you to his family for always being his biggest supporters, not just in racing but in life. He also wants to thank the entire Tenski family for all the hard work and passion they put into Kart Kanyon. Their dedication to keeping the track going and growing does not go unnoticed or unappreciated!

Let’s give Ryan a big shoutout in the comments and wish him continued success in the Super Stock class this season! 

Next up in our driver spotlight series is Wes Kennedy! At 16 years old, Wes has been racing for just a year but is already making a name for himself in the Stock class at Kart Kanyon. Hailing from Farmington, NM, Wes has shown determination and a love for racing that’s hard to miss.

How It All Started:
Wes decided he wanted to go racing, and karts were close to home and looked like a lot of fun. It turns out he made a great choice! One of his favorite memories is winning his first prize money at this year’s Ryan Bard Memorial Race—a moment that made all the hard work worth it.

Family and Racing:
Racing runs in Wes’s family. His dad, uncle, and grandpa all have a drag racing background, so it’s no surprise that Wes wanted to hit the track too—he just chose a different kind of racing! His whole family supports his racing journey: his dad and uncle work on his kart with him, his sister takes care of his decals, and everyone comes out to watch him race. They truly make it a family/team effort every week!

Who Inspires Him:
Wes is inspired by his dad, uncle, and grandpa—each of whom has been involved in racing. Their passion for speed definitely rubbed off on him!

When He’s Not Racing:
Wes has a wide range of interests. He played baseball for 12 years but decided to focus more on racing this year. He also enjoys traveling, working on cars, hanging out with friends, and watching NASCAR and F1.

What Makes His Kart Special:
Wes’s kart definitely stands out—he’s probably the only one running an Italian-built asphalt style sprint chassis at Kart Kanyon. It doesn’t look like anyone else’s kart, and while it’s been a challenge to make it work well, Wes likes taking a different path. It’s all about standing out and making it work!

Pre-Race Routine:
Wes has a bit of superstition—he always wears the same shirt on race day.

Sponsor:
• Nightlight Electric Company
Wes really appreciates his sponsor for helping him get started in racing. He’s actively looking for more sponsors to join the team, so reach out if you’re interested!

Words of Wisdom:
Wes’s advice for new racers? “Talk to people, listen and learn. And when you get on track, SEND IT!”

Gratitude:
Wes wants to thank Kart Kanyon and the Tenski family for providing a place to race, as well as his family for their support and encouragement. Special shoutouts to:
• Uncle Shelby for buying the kart
• Scotty Lasater for helping get it set up
• Roger Sheak and Nightlight Electric Company for sponsoring
• Shane and Cruz Vigil for being awesome teammates

Let’s give Wes a big shoutout in the comments and wish him the best of luck this season!  

Next up in our driver spotlight series is Wyatt Calcote! At just 12 years old, Wyatt has been racing for almost 5 years and competes in the Youth Expert class. He hails from Flora Vista, NM, and has a passion for building and racing karts.

How It All Started:
Wyatt’s racing journey began thanks to his dad, Randy Calcote. He got his first taste of racing in a quarter midget borrowed from Jake and Jackson Harpole. After that, Randy built Wyatt’s first kart during the winter of 2021, and Wyatt has been hooked ever since!

Favorite Racing Memory:
One of Wyatt’s favorite memories from the track? Doing donuts in his kart in the empty pits—pure fun!

Family and Racing:
Wyatt’s dad, Randy, is his biggest supporter and sponsor, always building and maintaining his karts. Wyatt enjoys helping out and learning the ropes when working on his karts, making it a true family project. Wyatt’s mom, Mindy Calcote, is also an important part of his racing journey, always cheering him on and supporting him at the track.

Who Inspires Him:
Wyatt looks up to a lot of people in the racing community, including his dad, Jackson Harpole, Barrett Tenski, Khloe Tenski, and Brendan McLaughlin.

When He’s Not Racing:
Wyatt is all about building and creating! He loves Legos, video games, painting, and learning how to weld from his dad. Right now, he’s also working on building his first street truck with his dad—another exciting project!

What Makes His Karts Special:
Wyatt currently runs two unique karts:
• 2023 Phantom Mincon, “The Hades”: Named for the flame and skull wrap he picked out.
• 2021 Phantom Seraph, “The Warbird”: Named for the vintage fighter jet wrap, which he ran in 2024.

Pre-Race Routine:
Before racing, Wyatt likes to hang out and play with his friends at the track until it’s time to get serious.

Sponsor:
• Dad (Randy Calcote - the ultimate racing supporter!)

Words of Wisdom:
Wyatt’s advice for new racers? “Don’t overcorrect your steering, and just have fun!”

Gratitude:
Wyatt wants to thank his dad Randy, his mom Mindy, Jackson Harpole, Jake Harpole, Darin Blakley, Michael Tenski, Chad Tenski, and Brandon Tenski for their support and encouragement along the way.

Let’s give Wyatt a big shoutout in the comments and wish him the best of luck this season!  

Today, we’re kicking off our driver spotlight series with one of our young speed demons—Khloe Tenski!

About Khloe:
At just 11 years old, Khloe has already been racing for 8 years! Hailing from Farmington, NM, she competes in the Youth Expert class and has built quite the reputation on the track.

How It All Started:
Khloe was introduced to kart racing through her family and mentors like Abby Harpole and Camron Spangler. Her passion for racing took off from there, and she’s been hooked ever since. One of her favorite memories? Winning her very first race back in 2018!

Taking It to the Next Level:
This year, Khloe is stepping up her game and racing a micro sprint for the first time! It’s a big leap from karts, but Khloe is ready to take on the challenge and make her mark in a whole new class.

Family and Racing:
Racing runs in the family! Khloe’s dad and grandpa sometimes hit the track too, while her stepmom and mom are always there to cheer her on. Khloe draws inspiration from those around her, especially Abby Harpole, Camron Spangler, and her supportive family.

When She’s Not Racing:
When Khloe’s not tearing up the track, she loves hanging out with friends and family and practicing cheer. Before a race, she likes to get pumped up with a quick workout and sometimes call her friends for that extra bit of motivation.

What Makes Her Kart Special:
Khloe says it’s all about the seat—she feels like that’s what makes her kart stand out!

Words of Wisdom:
Her advice to new racers? “JUST SEND IT, BROOOO!”

Shoutout to Her Sponsors:
Khloe is backed by an amazing group of sponsors who help keep her racing dreams alive:
• Smith Titanium
• Schaeffer's Oil Derek Neil
• Phantom Racing Chassis
• Victory Fuel
• Swindell SpeedLab
• MPI - Max Papis Innovations
• DeVilbiss Racing Chassis
• Snow Welding and Fabrication
• Walker Performance Filtration
• Palmetto Speedshop
• NR Racing
• Stiffie Racing Clutches
• WCC Customs
• Wofford Racing Engines

Khloe also wants to give a big thank you to her family for making it all possible!

Let’s give Khloe a big shoutout in the comments and wish her the best of luck this season—both in her kart and on her new micro sprint adventure!