Matthew Laprade

Age: 13

Birthday:  January 10, 2012

Hometown:  New Smyrna Beach, FL

Matthew Laprade is a 13-year-old racer from New Smyrna Beach, Fla.  Matthew began his driving career at six years old in dirt go-karts, now having raced for half his life. He shocked the karting world in 2019 during his rookie season by winning the Vega Florida State Championship in the Rookie Division.

Invited to the nationals as a result, Matthew went on to capture the Vega National Championship that season in the Rookie Division, cementing his place as a young racer with prodigious talent.

Matthew’s second major championship came in 2021, when he claimed the Florida Dirt Championship Series title in the Junior 1 division, and he also added a victory in the prestigious World 100 karting event in Junior 1 that season as well.

After racing Bandolero cars for back-to-back seasons in 2022 and ’23, highlighted by a third-place finish in the Bandolero Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway in his sophomore Bandolero season, Matthew made the move to Legend cars for 2024. His Winter Nationals mini-series championship at Citrus County Speedway came on the strength of five race wins in five days from Feb. 12-16.

Matthew’s summer stretch was highlighted by a top-five finish during round nine of the Summer Shootout, as well as a ninth-place finish in the Thursday Thunder Young Lions standings.

In 2024 Matthew ventured into the world of Pro Truck racing.  He had an amazing first year with a win in September at Auburndale Speedway, 3 top 5s and 5 top 10s.  In the Legend cars he also had a win at Citrus County Speedway.  

For 2025, Matthew is returning to the Pro Truck Series at various tracks around the Southeast.  He also competed in the INEX Winter Nationals at Auburndale Speedway in January in his Legend car and brought home 3 wins and 4 top 5 finishes.  

Away from the racetrack, Matthew’s competitive interests include golfing and fishing, and he golfed rounds with the PGA Junior League during downtime from his racing schedule. He is also a supporter of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation’s efforts to fight pediatric cancer.