Many auto racing tracks have junior classes, and Murrieta driver Tommy Myers Jr. has raced in the Junior Sprints and the Masters Mini‑Dwarfs divisions at various tracks since 2023. He concluded his junior racing career October 11 with a third-place finish in the Junior Sprints main event at Barona Speedway.
“Third is pretty good, so I’m happy with it,” Myers said.
Myers turned 14 September 21. Next year he will race a Micro Sprint, which has a 600 cc engine. Although neither Barona Speedway nor Perris Auto Speedway have Micro Sprint races that class competes at Plaza Park Raceway in Visalia, Lemoore Raceway, and Delta Speedway in Stockton as well as in other states.
The October 11 race may thus have been the last for Myers at Barona Speedway. “We’re just running the tracks where they race,” he said.
Both of Myers’ parents were raised in the City of San Diego; Tommy Myers Sr. lived in Pacific Beach while Crystal Myers is a former Mira Mesa resident. The family moved from Carlsbad to Murrieta when Tommy Myers Jr. was five years old.
Neither of Myers’ parents raced. Myers decided to become a racecar driver after watching NASCAR on television.
Myers began his racing career in 2023 with a Masters Mini-Dwarf. He competed in 14 Barona Speedway races that year, placed fourth in the standings, and won the July 21 main event. He finished second and third in his final two Barona Speedway main events of 2023. Cocopah Speedway (east of Yuma) had two Thanksgiving Weekend races, and Myers finished second in both of those main events.
In 2024 Myers placed third in Barona’s Masters Mini-Dwarfs standings with ten finishes in the top five and took second place four times. He was eighth in last year’s Junior Sprints standings, finishing ninth in his debut in that division and obtaining a fifth-place finish later in the season
In November 2024 Myers won a Thanksgiving Weekend main event at Central Arizona Speedway (in Casa Grande just west of where Interstate 8 ends at Interstate 10). He ran his Mini‑Dwarf at Mohave Valley Raceway in Arizona (between Bullhead City and Parker) four times in 2025 before Barona Speedway opened for the year and won the February 8 main event.
Myers won his first Junior Sprints main event May 10, which was Barona’s second race of 2025. He finished third May 24, sixth June 7, and second June 20. On the second day of the Summer Shootout he finished seventh June 21, and he was also seventh July 19. Myers finished fifth August 1 when Barona hosted the Dwarf Car Nationals for two days but broke in his August 2 heat race and could not run the main event. Myers also raced in the heat race but not the main event August 16.
Mohave Valley Raceway has Masters Mini-Dwarf but not Junior Sprint races. Myers missed three Barona Speedway racenights to race in Arizona and finished third August 30 and second September 13 and September 27. Barona Speedway races every other week if weather permits while Mohave Valley Raceway had October 4 competition which gave Myers his third consecutive second-place finish.
Myers was not in the Mini-Dwarfs competition October 11, preserving that car for sale. He was in the second Junior Sprints heat and began on the outside of the front row while Mavrick Matthews of El Cajon began on the pole. Myers took the lead and retained first for the remainder of the eight-lap race to win his final junior class heat race. El Cajon’s Kiara Bush, who will turn 15 in December, won the other heat race and also completed her junior heat race career with a win.
The main event was 20 laps. Charlie Carty of Jamul began on the pole. Nathan Manalo of San Diego took the original green flag on the outside of the front row. Myers started on the inside of the second row with Matthews beginning on the outside of the second row.
Carty took the initial lead and retained first for the entire race. Manalo was in second place throughout the main event. Myers knew he likely couldn’t safely overtake Manalo.
“Second place kind of took off, so I was trying to keep my cool,” Myers said. “I was trying to hold third. I didn’t want to mess up and give up third.”
Vista driver Declan Sypolt finished fourth and Matthews was the fifth driver to be given the checkered flag.
“I’m happy with the podium. I’m happy with myself,” Myers said.
Barona Speedway will also have October 25 races, but Myers will now preserve both racecars and will not race his Junior Sprint that night.
“It’s been honestly just such a blessing to be able to drive it,” Myers said.
“This car’s been awesome. We’ve had some ups and downs,” Myers said. “It’s been so fun to drive.”
Myers’ parents help with the cars. “I couldn’t thank them enough,” Myers said.
Missing the October 25 race will likely cost Myers seventh place in the final Junior Sprints points standings, although he can place no worse than eighth and would not be able to overtake sixth-place Kellen O’Connor of San Marcos even if Myers raced on the season’s final night.
“I think honestly this is just the beginning of my racing career,” Myers said. “We’re always up for something new.”
