Student Moonlights As Dirt Track Race Car Driver

CARTERSVILLE, GA — On any typical day, Georgia Highlands College students may see Logan Palmer racing to and from his classes. Like any other student, Palmer has to balance not only his academic demands, but also priorities outside the classroom that could involve family and financial obligations.

Along with attending to those necessities, Palmer has another hobby he likes to pursue on a regular basis. Palmer is a dirt track race car driver who makes regular appearances in competitions around the state.

When he was young, Palmer raced karts on a pro circuit throughout the South. When he turned 15, he took a seat behind the wheel of a crate late-model race car at a dirt track racing event at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, and he hasn’t stopped since.

“To be a driver, it’s an honor and a blessing to get to perform and race and have the ability to go out and do something not everyone gets the opportunity to do,” he said. “When you strap in and hear the engine roar, you feel like you’re a part of the car.”

The GHC student has been active in the Georgia racing scene for several years now. Palmer notes it's been a fun experience racing on different tracks, as each one feels different.

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here)

“You feel a lot of g-force. This car accelerates instantly, and your reaction time has to be perfect,” he said. “You have all these emotions going, but the actual feeling is indescribable.”

Palmer claimed his first win last year. He said winning is all about seconds and the driver’s precision. Despite how much skill it takes to race and win as a driver, Logan doesn’t take all the credit.

“There is no part of this car somebody did not put their hands on," he states. "Everything is custom, completely custom. There’s a lot of geometry and math that goes into making this car go. Everything is made, adjusted, and customized to handle the speed and turns, and it all makes a huge difference. It takes everyone to make this car run.”

Palmer takes classes at GHC’s Cartersville location. He is working on his business degree and is glad he chose to start his post-secondary academic career at Georgia Highlands.

“I chose to go to GHC because it’s close to home. I can still go to school, I can still work, and it also gives me the ability to work on my car and be close to our shop,” Palmer added. “I also have time to do what has to be done to maintain the car and get it ready to go to the race track each week.”
Logan said GHC’s caring faculty has really resonated with him.

“I was struggling in one class and my professor met with me after the class and that really helped me,” he continued. “With me, that’s how I learn, having that one-on-one connection with my teacher.”

You can follow Palmer's racing career actions by checking out his Facebook page.

Image via Georgia Highlands College