{"id":1919,"date":"2023-11-09T22:51:08","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T22:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/?p=1919"},"modified":"2024-06-12T22:14:04","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T22:14:04","slug":"a-12-year-old-racing-champion-aj-luttmer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/es\/a-12-year-old-racing-champion-aj-luttmer\/","title":{"rendered":"A 12-Year Old Racing Champion\u2014AJ Luttmer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>By: Rick Bairett<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recently I\u2019ve written about a handful of Utah teenagers going head-to-head with experienced adults in various motorsports. It\u2019s not unheard of for those teenagers to come out on top of their events or even to win championships.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, I was surprised to find out about a young <em>pre<\/em>-teen running with adults, and in most cases <em>out-<\/em>running them. West Jordan\u2019s 12-year old AJ Luttmer (who recently turned 13) has been a front-runner in Ford Focus Midget racing on regional asphalt ovals for the last two seasons.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"sfsi_widget sfsi_shortcode_container\"><div class=\"norm_row sfsi_wDiv\"  style=\"width:360px;text-align:left;\"><div style='width:40px; height:40px;margin-left:5px;margin-bottom:5px; ' class='sfsi_wicons shuffeldiv' ><div class='inerCnt'><a class='sficn' data-effect='fade_in' target='_blank' rel='noopener'  href='https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/utahmotornews' id='sfsiid_facebook_icon' style='width:40px;height:40px;opacity:0.6;'  ><img data-pin-nopin='true' alt='Facebook' title='Facebook' src='https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/ultimate-social-media-icons\/images\/icons_theme\/flat_square\/flat_square_facebook.png' width='40' height='40' style='' class='sfcm sfsi_wicon' data-effect='fade_in'   \/><\/a><div class=\"sfsi_tool_tip_2 fb_tool_bdr sfsiTlleft\" style=\"opacity:0;z-index:-1;\" id=\"sfsiid_facebook\"><span class=\"bot_arow bot_fb_arow\"><\/span><div class=\"sfsi_inside\"><div  class='icon1'><a href='https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/utahmotornews' target='_blank' rel='noopener'><img data-pin-nopin='true' class='sfsi_wicon' alt='Facebook' title='Facebook' src='https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/ultimate-social-media-icons\/images\/visit_icons\/Visit_us_fb\/icon_Visit_us_en_US.png' \/><\/a><\/div><div  class='icon2'><div class=\"fb-like\" width=\"200\" data-href=\"https%3A%2F%2Futahmotornews.com%2Fes%2Fa-12-year-old-racing-champion-aj-luttmer%2F\"  data-send=\"false\"  data-layout=\"button_count\"  ><\/div><\/div><div  class='icon3'><a target='_blank' rel='noopener' href='https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Futahmotornews.com%2Fes%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F1919' style='display:inline-block;'  > <img class='sfsi_wicon'  data-pin-nopin='true' alt='fb-share-icon' title='Facebook Share' src='https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/ultimate-social-media-icons\/images\/share_icons\/fb_icons\/en_US.svg' \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style='width:40px; 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height:40px;margin-left:5px;margin-bottom:5px; ' class='sfsi_wicons shuffeldiv' ><div class='inerCnt'><a class='sficn' data-effect='fade_in' target='_blank' rel='noopener'  href='https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/utahmotornews\/' id='sfsiid_instagram_icon' style='width:40px;height:40px;opacity:0.6;'  ><img data-pin-nopin='true' alt='Instagram' title='Instagram' src='https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/ultimate-social-media-icons\/images\/icons_theme\/flat_square\/flat_square_instagram.png' width='40' height='40' style='' class='sfcm sfsi_wicon' data-effect='fade_in'   \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"sfsi_holder\" class=\"sfsi_holders\" style=\"position: relative; float: left;width:100%;z-index:-1;\"><\/div><script>window.addEventListener(\"sfsi_functions_loaded\", function()\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\tif (typeof sfsi_widget_set == \"function\") {\n\t\t\t\t\tsfsi_widget_set();\n\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t}); <\/script><div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"619\" src=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_5195-2-1024x619.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1925\" srcset=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_5195-2-1024x619.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_5195-2-300x181.jpg 300w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_5195-2-768x464.jpg 768w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_5195-2-1536x929.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_5195-2-2048x1238.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_5195-2-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Photo credit: Richard Ragsdale Photography<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ford Focus Midgets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ford Focus Midgets run 2.0L Zetec engines straight out of a Ford Focus. The US Auto Club (USAC) began the series in 2002 as a relatively affordable alternative to full-size sprint cars and more-powerful midgets. The idea was to help more people enjoy oval-track racing. Since then the class has become \u201cone of the fastest growing professional racing series in America\u201d (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.scrafan.com\/others\/focus\/main.html\">http:\/\/www.scrafan.com\/others\/focus\/main.html<\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Builders start with a bare tube-frame chassis and mount the Zetec motor, with factory internals, in the front of the car. They continue to add drive-train, suspension, cockpit and body\/aero components. Depending on the components, a finished car can cost well over $40,000. Although it\u2019s not unusual to find an existing build for much less.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4191-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1928\" srcset=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4191-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4191-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4191-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4191-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4191-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4191-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4191-446x297.jpg 446w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br>And while engine internals have to be factory spec, the externals do not. Straight-pipe cold-air intakes are the norm, and the typical exhaust system is a header with a short pipe and minimal muffler. For still more power, the cars run on straight methanol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With that setup, a Ford Focus Midget can produce 158 horsepower (hp) at the wheels. That\u2019s a big improvement over the factory-claimed 128 hp at the crankshaft. It\u2019s also plenty of thrust for an 1140-pound car and driver (minimum post-race weight). Speaking of which, AJ\u2014being the size of a typical 12-13 year-old\u2014has a lot of lead bolted to his seat to make weight.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"661\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"1930\" src=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4190-661x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1930\" srcset=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4190-661x1024.jpg 661w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4190-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4190-768x1189.jpg 768w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4190-992x1536.jpg 992w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4190-1323x2048.jpg 1323w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4190-8x12.jpg 8w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4190-1024x1585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4190-scaled.jpg 1654w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 661px) 100vw, 661px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1931\" src=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4188-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1931\" srcset=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4188-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4188-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4188-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4188-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4188-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4188-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4188-446x297.jpg 446w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>AJ Luttmer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>AJ\u2019s racing history really starts before he was born, since he is a fourth-generation driver on <em>both<\/em> sides of his family. Both of his great-grandfathers were stock car racers. And one grandfather was a driver while the other was a race mechanic.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His mother, Lindy Luttmer, raced in the Ford Focus Midget class herself (2007 and 2008), and AJ grew up watching his dad, Austin Luttmer, drive 360(ci) Winged Sprints and other classes. Lindy (mostly) stopped driving when children came along, and Austin\u2019s racing was curtailed by a non-track accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both of AJ\u2019s parents still\u00a0 have plenty of energy for racing, which they initially poured into founding the Salt Lake Valley Quarter Midget Association. SLVQMA provides opportunities for kids to learn asphalt oval racing and produces some outstanding young drivers (see <a href=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/es\/quarter-midget-racing-in-utah\/\">https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/ quarter-midget-racing-in-utah\/<\/a>). They have also poured that energy into AJ\u2019s racing career.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Jordan.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1932\" srcset=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Jordan.jpg 600w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Jordan-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Jordan-18x10.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br>His younger brother Jordan\u2014a talented driver himself\u2014also supports AJ as his crew chief.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AJ started in SLVQMA Quarter Midgets, building a great success record from ages 4 &#8211; 9. As a 10-year old, he started running 600cc Micro-Sprints on the bigger tracks. AJ was the 2021 points champion in both winged and non-winged Micro-Sprints, adding evidence to what was becoming increasingly obvious: he has real talent behind the wheel.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"569\" src=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Turn12000x-1024x569.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1941\" srcset=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Turn12000x-1024x569.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Turn12000x-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Turn12000x-768x427.jpg 768w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Turn12000x-1536x853.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Turn12000x-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Turn12000x.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>SLVQMA Quarter-Midget Racing<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ford Focus Midget Racing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>AJ started driving Ford Focus Midgets when he was 11, at tracks in Twin Falls and Meridian, ID and Lake Havasu City, AZ. He was fortunate to get sponsorships from Lucky 13 Racing and Utah Motorsports Foundation\u2019s youth racing grant. Lucky 13 owner Chuck Groat provides AJ with a car, and the Luttmer and Groat families are close and strongly supportive of each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what has AJ accomplished? He has great support, but when the green flag waves there\u2019s just him in the car. Well, he won Rookie of the Year in 2022\u2014his first time in Ford Focus Midgets\u2014competing against much more experienced drivers. He was also 2nd in overall USAC regional point standings.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"729\" src=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_3730-1-1024x729.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_3730-1-1024x729.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_3730-1-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_3730-1-768x547.jpg 768w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_3730-1-1536x1093.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_3730-1-2048x1457.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_3730-1-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Photo credit: Richard Ragsdale Photography<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In his first five events this season, AJ made the podium every race, including two 1st-place finishes. He DNF (did not finish) his sixth race with a technical issue\u2014a loose ignition wire. He had mostly positive results the rest of the year with plenty of podium finishes, including another 1st place.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the end of the 2023 season, AJ was the Magic Valley Speedway (Twin Falls) points champion and easily took second place in the USAC regional points standings. AJ was only four points, of over 900, behind the leader so just missed the regional championship. I can\u2019t help but think, if it weren\u2019t for that one DNF\u2026but that\u2019s racing and neither the Luttmers nor Lucky 13 Racing were making excuses or complaining about a fantastic season.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"613\" src=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Supporters-1024x613.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1934\" srcset=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Supporters-1024x613.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Supporters-300x179.jpg 300w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Supporters-768x459.jpg 768w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Supporters-1536x919.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Supporters-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Supporters.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>What&#8217;s Next for AJ?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Off track, AJ is already in the college mindset. He plans to earn a mechanical engineering degree and participates in a concurrent-enrollment pre-engineering program. Meanwhile, he\u2019s a typical, nice 13-year old who likes solving Rubik\u2019s cubes, having fun with family and friends, and making new friends.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He made lots of friends on track, and AJ can\u2019t say enough about how much he has enjoyed the quarter-midget and stock car communities. Drivers and race teams are just super supportive of each other.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His longer-term track goals include driving 410 (unlimited) Winged Sprints at the regional level. And if he could race for a living, driving either NASCAR or Formula machines, he wouldn\u2019t complain.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the 2024 season, while he might still get behind the wheel of a Midget, AJ plans to compete mainly in 350 Pepsi Sprint cars (mostly non-winged). This winter\u2019s project will be to make that car come together. Other than some steering enhancements to help a smaller driver to control it, this will be a typical full-size sprint car.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m looking forward to seeing how he does at an even higher level of racing against veteran drivers. Good luck AJ!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1279\" data-id=\"1940\" src=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4187-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1940\" srcset=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4187-1.jpg 2500w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4187-1-300x153.jpg 300w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4187-1-1024x524.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4187-1-768x393.jpg 768w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4187-1-1536x786.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4187-1-2048x1048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC_4187-1-18x9.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"526\" height=\"458\" data-id=\"1936\" src=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Engine-Hoist.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1936\" srcset=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Engine-Hoist.jpg 526w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Engine-Hoist-300x261.jpg 300w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Engine-Hoist-14x12.jpg 14w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 526px) 100vw, 526px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u00a9 2023, R Bairett<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"910\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Logo-910x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1937\" srcset=\"https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Logo-910x1024.jpg 910w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Logo-267x300.jpg 267w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Logo-768x864.jpg 768w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Logo-1365x1536.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Logo-11x12.jpg 11w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Logo-1024x1152.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/utahmotornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AJ-Logo.jpg 1820w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 910px) 100vw, 910px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>12-year old Utahn AJ Luttmer is a front-runner in Ford Focus Midget racing on asphalt ovals, where he regularly outruns more experienced drivers.  <\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3281,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[187,245,247,246,249,40,248,38],"class_list":["post-1919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-aj-luttmer","tag-aj-luttmer-motorsports","tag-ford-focus-midgets","tag-lucky-13-racing","tag-utah-midget-racers","tag-utah-racing","tag-utah-stock-car-racing","tag-utah-stock-cars"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.8 - 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