Zach Banks-Calderín
Zach Banks-Calderín | |
|---|---|
 Banks in 2019 | |
| Born | Zachary Mitchell Banks December 15, 1997 |
| Nationality |  American |
| Alma mater | Florida State University, B.S. 2021 |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
| Years active | 2012 - present |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Racing career | |
| Teams | Zach Banks-Calderín Racing |
| Former teams | International Racing, Ocala Gran Prix |
| 2021 Monticello Karting Championship career | |
| Car number | 28 |
| Engine | ROK Senior |
| Starts | 10 |
| Wins | 10 |
| Poles | 5 |
| Fastest laps | 10 |
| Previous series | |
| 2014-2017 2014-2017 2018-2020 | Florida Winter Tour U.S. ROK National Championship Monticello Karting Championship |
| Championship titles | |
| 2019 - 2020 | Monticello Rok Senior Champion |
| Awards | |
| 2015 | Most Consecutive Wins (Homestead Karting) |
| Last updated on: 4/17/2021. | |
| Website | www |
Zachary Banks-Calderín (born December 15, 1997) is an American racing driver. Banks has recorded over 90 career race wins.
Early life
[edit]Born to Cuban immigrant mother Jacqueline and Irish-American father Jason, Banks-Calderín grew up in Miami, Florida,[1] where he attended George Washington Carver Middle School, and later Christopher Columbus High School, Immaculata-La Salle High School, and Coral Gables Senior High School, where he graduated. Banks-Calderín graduated with honors and served as president of his class during his junior year of high school. Banks-Calderín began attending Florida State University in 2016, pursuing a degree in management information systems.
Racing career
[edit]2012 - 2014
[edit]Banks-Calderín competed in his first karting race in October 2012. He recorded his first win in October 2013 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in TAG Junior. His first championship came in early 2014 with International Racing,[2] shortly after turning 16.[3]
2015 - present
[edit]Banks-Calderín's karting career progressed to the international stage with top-10 finishes in both the Cold Stone Florida Winter Tour and the United States ROK National Championship in 2015 and 2016. He won the 2016 Florida Karting Championship Series [4] at Homestead-Miami Speedway in TAG Senior and the 2016 Florida State championship [5] in ROK Senior. Banks-Calderín began testing Le Mans sports cars in 2017 at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Daytona International Speedway. In mid-2017, Banks-Calderín took a brief hiatus from racing to further his studies at Florida State.
Banks-Calderín resumed racing in September 2018, winning his first 8 races, consecutively. Banks-Calderín followed up his championships with another championship in the Monticello Racing Series in December 2019. Banks-Calderín won 17 races in 2019.
In August 2019, Banks-Calderín became an officially licensed Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) race car driver.
In December 2020, Banks-Calderín repeated as champion at Monticello in ROK Senior with a 15-win season, shortened by the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Banks-Calderín won his 3rd consecutive championship at Monticello in 2021.[6] Banks-Calderín graduated from Florida State University in 2021 with a degree in Management Information Systems, and stopped racing at Monticello.
After almost 2 years away from racing after college, Banks-Calderín moved to Charlotte, NC in May 2023 to resume his racing career - restarting his career under the name Zach Banks-Calderín, to honor his Cuban upbringing. [7] Banks-Calderín worked at Rackley WAR from May-July 2023, gaining experience before attempting to move up the ranks in oval racing. [7]
Banks-Calderín has been featured as a guest on several podcasts and interviews since September 2018.
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
[edit]Banks-Calderín was selected for the 2020 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Driver Recruitment Program in Fontenay-le-Comte, France. Banks-Calderín signed a letter of intent to drive for Hendriks Motorsport for the 2020 season. However, due to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the plans never materialized.
Personal life
[edit]Banks-Calderín speaks Spanish, English, and Italian. Banks-Calderín has competed and placed on the podium of multiple ultramarathon races, including winning the 2020 Hellcat 50K in the male 20-24 category.[8] Banks-Calderín has also competed in several triathlons, duathlons, and other endurance events.
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- "Florida Pro Kart Series - Summer #1 - Saturday". AlfaKarl. 2015-05-30. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
- "Championships - overview". Mylaps.com. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
- "Championship Standings of PRD Junior Fall Championship 2013". Organisation.mylaps.com. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
- "More Great Racing At Florida Karting Championship Series Round Three". Go Racing Magazine. 2014-06-02. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
- "Zach Banks profile". International Racing USA. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
- "More Great Racing at Florida Karting Championship Series Round Three". Ekartingnews.com. 2014-06-02. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
- ^ "Zach Banksb biography". internationalracingusa.com. International Racing USA. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
- ^ "Zach Banks Driver Database". Driverdb.com. 2014-06-02. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
- ^ "Go Racing Magazine - FKCS". Go Racing Magazine. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
- ^ "2013 PRD Senior Championship results". Homestead-Miami Speedway. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
- ^ "2015 Summer Championships - Ocala Gran Prix". Ocala Gran Prix. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
- ^ "Zach, 01/18/2023: : M". ZBC. 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
- ^ a b "2024 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program Entry Video | Zach Banks-Calderín". Zach Banks-Calderin. 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
- ^ "HellCat 10K/30K/50K, 01/18/2020 : : My.race|result". HellCat. 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2020-07-26.