Brad Zahensky wants to race NASCAR someday, and in preparation he is learning his craft by kart racing at Sugar Hill Speedway in Weare.

The 11-year-old already has three years of experience on paved oval tracks. After taking second in the Tiger Sprint A division, he’ll move up in class next year to the Junior Outlaw division for 12- to 15-year-olds.

Zahensky’s No. 7 racing kart is powered by a menthol-burning, single-cylinder, four-stroke Briggs and Stratton Raptor racing engine. That’s roughly 18 horsepower. Couple that with slick tires and an aerodynamic body for racing on an asphalt oval, and the young Zahensky can reach speeds in the 50 to 60 mph range.

For safety, the karts have a full roll cage, an aluminum racing seat and a five-point racing harness.

Zahensky, a good all-around athlete, also plays soccer, basketball and baseball. When the weather won’t allow on-track racing, he and his family go offroad on their snowmobiles.

The Bow Memorial School fifth-grader is a second-generation racer. His father, Paul, raced dirt cars at Orange County Speedway in New York for many years. The elder Zahensky now turns the wrenches, as well as serving as crew chief, transporter driver, marketing director and instructor for his son, one of four children.

With the help of his experienced coach, the younger Zahensky strives to be a smooth, smart racer. He certainly has the pedigree, as well as good equipment and sponsors, to reach his goals.