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Sophomore strives to become first NASCAR driver with Autism

Armani+has+been+featured+in+over+100+competitive+starts+and+has+earned+17+wins.++Some+of+his+major+victories+include+2011+Michigan+Karting+Series+Rookie+of+the+year%2C+2012+Future+Stars+Mini-Cup+Rookie+of+the+year%2C+2014+New+Paris+Champion%2C+2014+Series+Most+Improved+Driver%2C+and+2015+Diamond+Products+Champion.
Armani has been featured in over 100 competitive starts and has earned 17 wins. Some of his major victories include 2011 Michigan Karting Series Rookie of the year, 2012 Future Stars Mini-Cup Rookie of the year, 2014 New Paris Champion, 2014 Series Most Improved Driver, and 2015 Diamond Products Champion.

By Christina Ambrozy ‘16 | Staff Writer

Since he was a young child, Armani Williams ‘18 has been in love with NASCAR, and with a combination of determination and passion, Williams has been striving toward his goal to become the first NASCAR driver with autism.

“Most children of his age would be interested in watching cartoons, but Armani was glued to the television watching auto racing,”  Del Williams, Armani’s father, said.  “At the time we were not really sure exactly his level of interest because of his autism diagnosis.  Honestly, we thought he just liked to watch cars go in circles to keep his attention.”

Armani was born with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Children with ASD are characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interactions across multiple contexts, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

“He is very outspoken about being autistic, like it doesn’t hinder him in anyway,” Johnson said. “He is very open and he tells everyone, he will say ‘I am Armani, and I am autistic’ and he totally owns it.”

A major inspiration to Armani’s dream is his idol and favorite NASCAR driver, Jimmie Johnson.

“From 2006 to 2010, Johnson has won five consecutive championships,” Armani said.  “It shows what type of champion he is, he knows how to win, knows how to prepare and knows how to finish.  He is a guy that I would like to be someday.”

After years of watching NASCAR, Armani finally started his racing career when he was nine years old.  He began racing Junior Go Karts and then transitioned into Super Mini Cup Stars.   

“Armani stated that he would like to become a professional race car driver at age eight or nine and at the time, I would not have dreamed this, given his autism diagnosis that this would be possible,” Del said.  “So,  we set out to have fun with go karts, then it became competitive and he began to win.  I think at that turning point for Armani there would be no turning back, and we have been after this dream ever since.”

At an early age,  Armani and his family invested in a racing go kart and a Super Mini Cup car, both of which is a 50 percent scale of the model of cars that race in NASCAR. These two cars were raced competitively and has helped Armani develop the competitive level that he is currently at, Del said.  Now, Armani does not compete in either car anymore because he has reached the skill level that requires a race team owner and a sponsorship to race.

“While I was racing Super Mini Cup Star cars, multiple professional teams asked me to test out a track in Sandusky, Ohio,” Williams said.  “I wasted no time just showing what I got.”

Most recruitment develops when race teams observe the skill level and potential of drivers present at the track during race events, Del said. This connection branched into the opportunity to race in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA)  Trucks and potentially racing through the NASCAR K&N Series, a driver development series for competitive drivers seeking to reach NASCAR’s elite series.

Armani has been featured in over 100 competitive starts and has earned 17 wins.  Some of his major victories include 2011 Michigan Karting Series Rookie of the year, 2012 Future Stars Mini-Cup Rookie of the year, 2014 New Paris Champion, 2014 Series Most Improved Driver, and 2015 Diamond Products Champion.

Williams has also been recognized as the 2014 Rookie of the year Owner, 2015 ARCA Truck Owner Champion, And the 2015 Series Champion Owner.

Armani’s most significant race was in 2012, and he was just 12 years old, Del said.  After just eight races in the Junior Ranks Future Stars Series, Armani was invited to step up to the traveling series where he would race against a couple competitors his age, but mostly me two to three times his age.

“Armani would win heat races in his very first race and then his second race with the traveling series,” Del said.  “This was significant because Armani learned that age nor autism is a barrier to him succeeding.”

Everyone around Armani has full support in his passion, and are inspired by his dedication and hard work to fulfill his dream, said Johnson.

“I think it is fantastic,” Christina Reygaert, Armani’s Follow That Kid (FTK), said. “I think that every student should go after their dreams and I am very supportive of him.”  

Both of Armani’s parents agree that his success is unbelievable and that they could not be more proud of him.

“We are extremely proud of Armani and what he has accomplished with racing.  He knows endless facts about drivers, significant races and the list goes on,”  Del said.  “Racing has given Armani a tremendous purpose in life.  The fact that he has taken the social challenges of Autism head on and not let it become a distraction from his goals is something that any parent would be proud of.”

For the upcoming 2016 season, Armani has signed with SPEAR Motorsports to race in the ARCA Truck Series.  He will be driving a Chevy Colorado V8 powered engine truck.  The ARCA Truck Series will compete from May 2016 through October 2016 and the races will be held in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Kentucky.  Armani will be competing for the Holley Performance Rookie of the Year honors.  

Not only does Armani have the opportunity fulfill his lifelong dreams through all of his hard-earned success, but now he is also in the perfect position to spread awareness about Autism and inspire others who are affected by this disorder.

“Armani  has a real chance with this gift that he has been given to bring greater awareness to autism and what it is and what it is not,” Del said.  “There is an entire world of families affected by autism one way or another.  Armani wants to be a champion race car driver, as well as develop a louder voice for families with autism and give them all something to be inspired by.”

Both Johnson and Reygaert agree that Armani is an inspiration to everyone around him, and they have full support behind whatever he does because they the amount effort he puts in on and off the track.

“Since the ARCA Series with the Regional development of the Professional Stock Car Racing Series, we have been able to help build a foundation to help other Autistic kids like me,” Armani said.  “I was born with Autism Spectrum and I am working to help build my dream and I’m trying to help other Autistic kids feel happier.  We deal with challenges, and personally, in life it is a struggle but we tend to try to build more awareness through that and find research of trying to help people with autism Spectrum.”

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