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THUNDERBOLT, Ga. — Although Thunderbolt boasts a modest population, one of its young residents is revving up to make waves on the national stage.
Seventeen-year-old Broughton Boatright is carving out a name for himself in the competitive world of dirt track racing, a circuit that stretches from his home state of Georgia across the Southeast.
Boatright’s journey behind the wheel began at the tender age of 12 when he first piloted a late-model race car. However, his passion for racing was ignited much earlier.
“I’ve been at the track since I was in diapers,” Boatright shared. “From a young age, I was captivated by how things worked, especially what makes these cars fly around the track. My curiosity drove me to learn every aspect I could.”
According to his mother, Lindsay, Boatright’s desire to race took root even before he could reach the pedals.
The family held a fundraiser on Sunday for racing expenses, and Lindsay said the funds are needed just as much as talent when rubber meets dirt.
“You can’t just get ahead on talent,” she said. “You have to have money behind it. No offense to any other sports, but if you’re a really good football player, it doesn’t take $12,000 or more for a motor. It doesn’t take $250 a tire. A sport like this… money and talent go hand in hand.”
The family says it costs $2,000 a race — and that’s assuming no damage to the vehicle during the high-speed turns.
Attendees packed Coach’s Corner and participated in raffles that had prizes valued at a total of $5,500.
Lindsay detailed multiple products that were up for grabs, which ranged from a yearly allotment of a pound of cookies per week from Byrd’s Cookies to tickets to see the Savannah Ghost Pirates in action.
All the funds will go back into the race car, and Boatright has high goals for himself.
Boatright has had much success in his #9B car, as trophies lined the stage showcasing his accomplishments, but he has his sights on more legendary goals.
“I really want to climb the dirt track ladder, all the way to the top and then open my horizons towards NASCAR and asphalt stuff,” he said. “I really want to conquer the dirt world because that’s my roots. That’s where I came from.”
He adds that he is focused on innovation and finding new ways to improve his car and the sport as a whole.
“I want to make a revolutionary change in the sport, whether it’s safety or whether it’s performance-wise.”
Boatright is all in on the sport. He currently does online school and works during the day, with his paychecks going back into the car that he and his dad work on under their home’s carport.
“If I have come as far as I’ve came in this short amount of time, there’s no telling how far I’d go, especially if I get some people behind me, get some support behind me,” he said.
If you’re interested in sponsoring the team or donating to his dream, Boatright has social media with his contact information.
Lindsay says his family sees sponsors as a partnership, not just a donation.
“We call it a partnership for a reason,” she said. “If you want to bring the car out to an event, you want him to shake hands, you want to throw a birthday party, and you want your kid to have a race car driver there and a car to show up: we’ll work with you on that.”