Young Belleville racer wins first scholarship from World Wide Technology Raceway
Josiah Unaeze’s talent for racing has caught the attention of leaders at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison.
So much so that Josiah, a 12-year-old from Belleville, was awarded the inaugural Ignite Scholarship as part of the track’s Raceway Gives Foundation formed to reach out to youths.
“I love racing,” Josiah said. “It’s been my dream ever since I was a little kid. I love the competition.
“I never walk away from a challenge.”
He hopes to race on the top levels of professional racing.
Josiah, who attends Belle Valley School in Belleville, races go-karts at the Gateway Kartplex at the World Wide Technology Raceway.
As part of the pre-race events for the Enjoy Illinois 300 race in the NASCAR Cup Series at World Wide Technology, Josiah received his scholarship, which will be used to pay for his family’s expenses for him to race at 11 sites in the St. Louis metro area.
Larry Albus, the executive director of Raceway Gives Foundation, said Josiah “has the ability to go to this next level of racing” and the scholarship valued at $9,000 will provide the financial aid to help make it possible for Josiah to advance.
The assistance can be used to pay for Josiah’s go-kart, training, supplies and entry fees, according to Albus, who is also an instructor in sports management at Maryville University. Albus said the go-karts can go up to 60 mph.
The foundation works to help youths ages 8 to 18 with a focus on the gifted, diverse and underserved as well as military families, according to the group’s website.
Bubba Wallace, the first Black driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race since 1963 when he won last year in Talladega, Alabama, praised the track’s work to reach diverse groups of fans.
On Friday, Josiah and his parents, Jonas and Ciera Unaeze, got to meet Wallace, who autographed Josiah’s racing go-kart. They also met NASCAR legend Richard “The King” Petty. It was Petty’s NASCAR team that signed Wallace to his first Cup Series contract but Wallace has since left the team and now drives for a team owned by Michael Jordan of NBA fame.
Wallace told the BND he’s pulling for Josiah and that he advises him to get used to talking to others and doing interviews.
“It was just funny to sit there and watch him take it all in,” Wallace said.
“He just wants to go out and race and so this extra stuff, he’s like trying to figure it out and figure out how to navigate through it all.”
“It only gets worse from here so embrace it and enjoy it because if you’re going to be a star like everyone is saying you’re set out to be and we’re all pulling for you,” Wallace said. “You’re going to be at the big stage one day and you’re going to be doing this stuff. You gotta enjoy it.”
This story was originally published June 5, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
