As a third-generation race car driver and fifth-generation FFA member, 16-year-old Gavon Veach stays busy — and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
Taking after his father and grandfather, Page High School FFA member Gavon Veach fell head over heels for amateur race car driving in 2019.
Since then, Veach, a native of Franklin, Tenn., has competed in local, regional and national races in specialty racing vehicles such as a quarter midget, bandolero and legend, which is his current race car.
To date, Veach has competed in races at Highland Rim Speedway in Greenbrier, Tenn.; Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, Tenn.; Huntsville Speedway in Huntsville, Ala.; and Auburndale Speedway in Winter Haven, Fla.
In 2022, he was named the Rookie of the Year at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and won multiple races throughout the year, including the Outlaw Track Championship and the 3-Track Championship in Huntsville and the Bandolero Track Championship in Nashville.
In addition to racing, Veach assists with maintaining his cars and ensuring they are ready to go the distance when it counts.
“My dad and I do this together,” Veach says. “We have incredible sponsors that support us, but it’s up to us to make sure we are prepared for the races. It’s hard work — a lot of long days and long nights — but it’s all been worth it.”
As he prepares for the 2023-24 school year, Veach looks forward to taking on a new challenge: serving as the Page High FFA reporter.
“I’m excited to take on a leadership role in my chapter,” says Veach, an incoming high school junior. “I know it will be a struggle to balance racing with my new responsibilities in FFA, but I’m lucky because my fellow chapter members support me 100%.”
Veach says he looks forward to building upon his previous FFA experiences, which include competing in livestock judging and meats evaluation and technology career development events.
“Along with being a third-generation racer, I’m a fourth-generation beef cattle farmer, and I grew up showing cattle,” Veach says. “On the other side of my family, I come from a long line of dairy farmers. I’m also a fifth-generation FFA member. So, just like racing, agriculture is in my blood.”
Looking to the future, Veach plans to continue his journey in both FFA and racing. Along with winning more races, he has his sights set on competing in livestock judging as often as his schedule allows and attending the next Tennessee FFA Convention.
“The biggest part of racing is the mental aspect, and FFA has helped me improve my mindset and mental capabilities tremendously,” Veach says. “I’ve learned how to problem-solve and stay calm in stressful situations. Plus, by competing in both FFA and racing, I’ve learned that winning isn’t everything; what you learn and who you become along the way is just as important.”
