By Ben Deatherage
VILONIA, Ark. (May 7, 2026) — In a town where there isn’t much to do and not many places to go, people tend to find something to hold onto.
For Gavin Lowe, that something came early.
Before he could drive.
Before he could reach the pedals without help.
Before most kids knew what they wanted to be.
It was already there.
In the shop and at the track.
And in the people around him.
Built Into It
“I started racing at 5 when I was in kindergarten in a go-kart that my dad got me for Christmas,” Lowe said.
Racing wasn’t something he discovered.
It was something he grew up around.
“I got into racing through family,” Cody said. “My godfather and dad did it their whole life. I helped them all the time and didn’t think I would do it myself.”
That connection goes back decades.
Cody and Pressley both got into racing around 1987, when Cody’s father let Pressley drive one of his older cars. It didn’t take long for it to stick.
They stayed with it for the same reasons many do.
They loved being around fast cars.
And they loved the challenge.
Eventually, he did.
Cody began racing in 2016, building his own experience behind the wheel before stepping away years later for a different reason.
To help his son.
“Last year was the first year giving my career up so we could focus on him,” he said.
That connection shows up in more than just how they race — it’s even in the number on the car.
“He runs the X because my godfather was running behind to get to the races to start the year and didn’t have his paint guy finish the car,” Cody said. “So he duct taped an X on it, and it just stuck in the family ever since.”
When Gavin got into racing, the next step was an easy one.
“He wanted to be X Jr., so that’s what we went with.”
It wasn’t planned.
But like a lot of things in racing, it became part of the story.
By then, Gavin was already moving forward.
He spent three to four years in go-karts, winning races and learning quickly. By 2021, he made the jump into a four-cylinder car — and didn’t take long to figure it out.
“The first year I won a track championship and 11 out of 16 races,” he said.
Moving Up
After two seasons in the four-cylinder ranks, Lowe took the next step.
Late in 2025, shortly after turning 14, he moved into the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car division.
“When I turned 14, the guy I drive for right now called me to see if I would drive his car since I was old enough to get my license,” he said. “I’ve been driving that ever since.”
That opportunity came through car owner Randy Herrin— a connection that put Lowe into a new environment, with a different level of competition and a different kind of car.
The adjustment wasn’t immediate.
“I was definitely nervous,” Lowe said. “I haven’t ever really been able to feel the suspension that those things have, but it has been a lot of fun.”
He ran six races in the class late in the season, learning what he could and building toward something more.
The breakthrough came not long after.
At Batesville Motor Speedway on April 25, Lowe picked up his first win in the division — a moment that carried more weight than just the result.
“It was a huge help to my confidence,” he said. “Especially spending all offseason without a win and thinking about that all the time. It definitely felt good.”
Gavin Lowe, 14, celebrates his April 25 Sunoco IMCA Stock Car victory at Batesville Motor Speedway with family in Victory Lane. Pictured from left: Uncle Aaron Lowe, stepmother Saranda Lowe, Gavin Lowe, and father Cody Lowe. (Photo by Sam Rogers)
From Vilonia
Lowe’s story is tied closely to where he’s from.
Vilonia is a small town in central Arkansas, home to roughly 3,000 residents, where life moves at a steady pace and familiarity carries from one generation to the next.
Settled in the 1860s as part of what was then known as Cypress Township, the community was later renamed Vilsonia — meaning “land of two valleys.” A transcription error eventually dropped the “s,” leaving the town officially known as Vilonia. It was incorporated in 1938 under Mayor Thomas Henry Hill.
“There’s not too much to do around here,” Lowe said. “It’s a very small town. We have a Sonic and a Dollar General, and that’s pretty much all.”
It’s the kind of place where people create their own opportunities — and where community matters.
It’s also a place that has endured its share of hardship.
Vilonia was struck by devastating tornadoes in both 2011 and 2014, events that reshaped parts of the town and left a lasting impact on those who lived through them. In 2014, a violent EF4 tornado tore through the area, destroying homes, damaging businesses, and claiming lives.
That resilience didn’t go unnoticed.
In 2013, Vilonia was recognized as Arkansas’ Volunteer Community of the Year — a reflection of how the town comes together in the face of adversity and supports one another through difficult times.
But like many small towns, Vilonia rebuilt.
And kept going.
Lowe is part of that same mindset — growing up in a place where resilience isn’t talked about.
It’s expected.
Damage is seen in Vilonia, Arkansas, following the devastating tornado that struck the community in 2014, one of two major storms to impact the town in recent years. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Reuters)
The People Behind It
Like most young drivers, Lowe’s path isn’t one he’s taken alone.
Support comes from every direction — family, crew, and a long list of local businesses and backers who help make each race possible.
“I really appreciate all the sponsors and support, as well as my family,” he said.
That group includes Hammett Trucking and Construction, Randi Herron Motorsports, KMS Engines, Central Arkansas Pest, Curtis Cook with 601 Motorsports, CRS Suspension, Fat Daddy’s, Tim’s Garage, Linn Tires, Jayson Hefley, CWC Mechanical, Majestic Colours, Rick’s Towing, Camron Traylor Upholstery, Kenny Presley Roofing, Brian Myers Painting, Greer Parts and Fuel, Nana, LKQ, Oliver Cook Millwork, Alex Martinez Roofing, Main Street Barber Shop, Slow Bob’s, Best Engines, Tintek Seamless Gutters, Larry Gaskill Racing, Ninety Two Graphics, B&B Chassis, Superior Plumbing, H4 Fireworks — along with his dad, stepmom, family, and crew.
It’s a long list.
And an important one.
Because at this level, it takes all of it.
Away from the racetrack, Lowe is still doing what most 14-year-olds do.
He plays basketball at Vilonia Junior High, following in the footsteps of his siblings, who have also been involved in sports like their father once was.
For 2026, the plan is simple.
Race.
Lowe plans to compete weekly at Batesville Motor Speedway, continuing to build experience in the Stock Car division.
If there’s a bigger show within reach, he’ll take that opportunity too.
It’s not about rushing the process.
It’s about staying in it.
Learning.
Getting better.
And continuing something that started long before he ever took the wheel.
In a place where there isn’t much to do, he found something that matters.
And at 14 years old, he’s already figuring out where it can take him.
