Welcome to "21 Questions" with Racing Idiot Nation! The segment where we pick the brains of your favorite local racers! We are extremely honored to have with us MYA EATHERLY who won the 2024 Bandolero Rookie of the Year title!!
These are her words....
What inspired you to first become a race driver? I always grew up around racing. Whether that was watching NASCAR races on TV, or it was going to the local races, like the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. I loved meeting all the drivers when I was younger because I thought they were just the coolest people ever. I always knew I wanted to be like them.
Who were your role models growing up? My role models when I was growing up would have to be my dad(Josh) and his dad, my grandfather,(Steve). I noticed when my grandfather was still around, he always had a new project going on. If he was not at work, he was home in his garage working on something new. It was always the best day ever whenever he asked me to come help him, even if it was just holding a flashlight. He created the spark for my love of racing. My dad and I both inherited his interest in cars.
What do you enjoy doing in your downtime away from the track? There is a lot I enjoy doing in my downtime away from the track. I am very involved at my church, Life Church Nashville, so I spend as much time as I can there. I like to stay active by going to the gym or taking my dogs to the park. I also enjoy hanging out with my friends. Recently, I just got iRacing setup so I have really enjoyed that. Overall, I just enjoy to keep myself busy.
What do you enjoy the most about racing? What I enjoy about racing is the friendships it has brought me. Some of the people I talk to the most today are the people I met at the track or through people at the track. When it comes to race days I enjoy that I have them to hang out with.
How did you get started racing? As mentioned before, I grew up around racing. I was always going to races. It also helps that I have a family background in the automotive and racing world. My Great-grandfather, JD Eatherly, started Karco and Tennessee Speed Sport. I grew up visiting my dad, Josh Eatherly, and grandfather, Steve Eatherly, at the office. My Father also raced the first Jr Dragsters in Nashville and drove dirt track Chevettes in the 90s. My dad, grandfather, and I wanted me to start racing in a Quarter Midget when I was younger but we just could not find the time. A few years later from then my dad and I thought it was the perfect time to start looking for a car and looking into racing. In June of 2023 we got my first race car, bandolero.
What was your first race car, and how did it feel to drive it? My first race car is the one I am still driving today, a Bandolero in the INEX series. When I first started driving this car, it was both exciting and thrilling, to say the least. It has taken me a few races to get a good basis of what the car is even supposed to feel like. But I have enjoyed it.
Racing is both mentally and physically draining.
What are some things you do to prepare for a race? Physically wise, I try to stay active and eat healthy in my daily life. The morning of a race I try and eat a good breakfast with a lot of protein to keep me energized throughout the day. I also keep myself very hydrated throughout the day. Mentally wise, I like to think as positively as possible. I also like to rewatch some of my past races to see what I can improve on each time I go out.
How do you handle the pressure during a race? The pressure is my biggest enemy. I just have to remind myself to go out there and have fun. We work hard during all practices and tests getting my car and myself ready for the race. I can’t have fun if I am too caught up in my head.
What goes through your mind when you're on the starting grid? I use that time to pray and talk to God. I say the racer's prayer while I take deep breaths getting ready to start going. I try not to think too much about anything.
How important is the relationship with your pit crew and engineers? It is extremely important. Y’all need to be able to not just talk to each other but be able to understand each other. You need to be comfortable enough to be able to express what is going on with the car and yourself.
What has been the most memorable moment of your career so far? The most memorable moment of my career is my first race at Huntsville Speedway. This is when I got pinched going into turn 3 and ended up flipping coming out of turn 4. This was the most memorable moment of my career because one of the first things I said as I made it back to the pits was “I want to make it to the next race.” This just proved my dedication and love for this sport.
Do you have a favorite track or racing circuit? It is really hard to choose which track/ circuit is my favorite because I have made so many amazing memories at each one. I would say just being able to tell people I race at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway is cool in itself.
What has been the biggest challenge you've faced in your racing career? My biggest challenge was after I went into the air for two races in a row. It took me a few races to find my groove in racing again. It took a toll on me mentally but it gave me a challenge I proved to overcome.
Who or what continues to inspire you in your career? My love for the sport is what inspired me the most. It is what gets me to keep going on and off the track.
How do you see your career evolving in the next few years? We are focusing on 2025 and the Inex National Championship. That is the goal in hand. This will be 100% my final full year in Bandos, we may run a few races here and there.
Are there any specific goals or milestones you are aiming for in your career? In the spring/summer of 2026, I would like to be accepted into the Motorsports Mechanical Engineering program at Purdue or UNC Charlotte and start an internship ship with a full-time race team. If we can find time to put together some races in a Legend or a Full Bodied car in between that that would be great.
Are there any other forms of motorsport you would like to try? We would love to get into full-bodied cars of some sort. Pro-4s have been our first choice but we can't rule out some dirt fun. We are keeping our options open for 2026.
How do you see the future of motorsports evolving? I think the game will be changed as soon as these young racers grow up to be in full-body cars. The way these kids are racing today is very impressive. They all have the drive and dedication to go somewhere big in their lives.
How important is fan support to you? Fan support is really inspiring. Seeing someone with my name on their shirt, commenting on socials, or just cheering during driver intros helps keep it fun on the rough days. What is really amazing is meeting someone you have never met learning that they are keeping up with your stats. Fans drive this sport.
What has been the most memorable fan interaction you've had? It was really after the flip at Huntsville. So many fans and supporters reached out to check on me, which drove me to get right back out there. We got the car back together and were back racing two weeks later.
What advice would you give to aspiring race car drivers? The advice I would give is to just have fun. Stay out of your head. You are your own worst enemy, so don’t lose sight of what you love.
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