What’s in a Number?
The history of racecar numbers and why drivers choose them.
Words and images by Cameron Hageman / Pure Pixel Visuals
If you've ever been to a racing event, you know one thing immediately stands out to separate the competitors: the number on the side. Whether it's cars, motorcycles, marathon runners, or horses—they all have some kind of number to distinguish them from the rest. In many sports, that number is simply a functional identifier. But in motorsports, it often carries personal meaning.
Drivers frequently choose their own numbers. Sometimes it’s a nod to a childhood hero, a birth year, or even the number from the address where they grew up. The stories behind these numbers are often as unique as the racers themselves.
I’ve been a racing fan since I was a kid—watching NASCAR on TV and the World of Outlaws at my local track, Tulare Thunderbowl. Two iconic numbers come to mind right away: Steve Kinser’s Valvoline #11 and Jeff Gordon’s rainbow #24. Those paint schemes and numbers are burned into my memory, just like Dale Earnhardt’s legendary black #3.
But the number that means the most to me is one you’ve probably never heard of: 6H.
In the 1990s, my dad started racing go-karts. He chose 6H to represent our family—him, my mom, my three siblings, and our last name, Hageman. The kart was bright red with yellow numbers, shiny chrome, and custom logos. I can still picture it perfectly, even as I write this.
Of course, life isn’t always rainbows and candy canes. My parents split up when I was young, and that part of our life faded away. But racing came back. When I was in high school, my dad and I decided to race flat track quads through a local series called CMA. I’ll never forget the day we drove to Thousand Oaks, California, and picked up two brand-new Suzuki LTR-450s. Shiny yellow plastics, clean aluminum wheels, and that factory-fresh smell. We had to stand them on end to fit them in the bed of my dad’s Silverado for the three-hour drive back to Tulare.
We customized the graphics—mine was Rockstar Energy-themed with red accents, his was Metal Mulisha with blue trim. When it came time to choose our numbers, there was no debate. We both picked #5, then added our initials for scoring: I was 5C (for Cameron), and he was 5M (for Michael). When my younger brother Seth joined in, he chose 5S for his white LTR-450.
We stuck with those numbers for years. My dad and I even found some success—each of us won a championship and a handful of races. Most of the trophies are still packed away in a storage unit, collecting dust but never losing their meaning. Maybe one day we’ll build a proper display in my dad’s workshop to show what those years meant to us.
To this day, #5 is my number. Every racing game I play—MX Bikes, iRacing, BeamNG, Monster Energy Supercross—I run 5C. It’s more than a number now. It’s a reminder.
A reminder of my first win at Tulare MX (now DT1 MX Park). A reminder of the season when my dad and I both won championships—me in 450 TT Novice, him in 450 TT Intermediate. I still remember those nearly six-foot-tall trophies. And yeah, they’re in that same storage unit too.
Peoria, Arizona native Jayden Ferneau on his number 37J
Why did you choose your car number? Is there a story behind it?
I chose 37J because it was my dad’s number when he used to race a mini sprint. The J stands for my name, “Jayden,” since I was always at the races with him. I wanted my first race car to look exactly like his paint scheme and kept the number.
Was this number your first choice, or did you have to pick it because another driver already had it?
This is always our first number choice and usually we never see another 37. But now I am racing with Cole Bezio in California and his number is 37X, which is cool.
Does your number have a personal or family connection? (e.g., a tribute, a birth year, a lucky number, etc.)
37J was just a random number my dad picked. His dirt bike number was 333, so he kept the 3 and added a 7. Now it has turned into a family number! My younger brother Ryker is starting to race, and he will be 37R.
Has your number changed over the years, or have you always stuck with the same one?
This number has been with me since I started racing in 2023, and I plan to keep it through my dirt racing career.
If you had to change your number, would you, or is it too important to you?
This number is very meaningful, and I wouldn’t change it!
Do you believe in any superstitions about numbers in racing?
I don’t like when people say that I’m going to win. I feel like that is automatic bad luck for the race.
Have you ever had a number that just didn’t “feel right” or brought bad luck?
No, but if I draw a 37 in the pill draw, I feel like it will bring good luck to a race.
Jayden is a young, up-and-coming racer. At 11 years old, he has already proved his skill behind the wheel. At the 2024 Mark Hagopian Memorial, Ferneau won the championship night in the Junior Sprint class and has since moved up to the Restricted class. He will continue to race this year in the Restricted class at Plaza Park, Lemoore Jet Bowl, and Adobe Mountain Speedway, his home track.
Visalia's own Conner Bolding on his number 27
Why did you choose your car number? Is there a story behind it?
My favorite number growing up was 12, and I was also a big fan of motocross racer James Stewart, whose number was 7. So it was 127. But I didn't like the look, so I narrowed it down to 27 and it seemed to click.
Was this number your first choice, or did you have to pick it because another driver already had it?
My first choice would've been 12, but when I started getting into this (micro sprint racing), I was helping Jake Hagopian and Cody Christensen, and they were 12 and 14. I didn't want to seem like a copycat, so I went with 27.
Has your number changed over the years, or have you always stuck with the same one?
It's been 27, but I got the opportunity to run a TQ midget in Indiana which was number 43. Other than that, the only number I’ve ever run has been 27.
If you had to change your number, would you, or is it too important to you?
I mean, this is kind of ironic coming from a graphics guy, but at the end of the day, it’s just stickers.
Have you ever had a number that just didn’t “feel right” or brought bad luck?
51—because that’s Justin Barcia, and I can't do that.
Jonny Mederos on his Outlaw class number 3J
Why did you choose your car number? Is there a story behind it?
I run the 3 because of my dad. My dad raced in the ’80s and ’90s in the 250 class before the 600s. He was part of the first class that ran 600s and the 250 twins before the 600s took over. My dad started racing that number in quarter midgets when he was eight years old.
My great-grandpa, who got my dad into racing, was president of Good Times Racetrack—the quarter midget track in downtown Visalia across from the DMV. My great-grandpa’s favorite race car driver at the time was Rick Mears, who ran number 3, so my dad picked up that number and I’ve continued to use it through my sporting career.
Was this number your first choice, or did you have to pick it because another driver already had it?
I went with 3J because I didn’t want to duct tape any numbers on, but I was strictly going to go for 3. My dad ran 3S, and there are a couple 3’s already out here, so I use the J for Jonny—and it looks better on the wrap anyway.
If you had to change your number, would you, or is it too important to you?
If I had to change it, I’d probably go with 16 because my uncle Denny ran 16 in his sprint car and micros. That’s how my parents met—my uncle and my dad were racing, and my mom was always at the track with my uncle. So that’s kind of cool.
Do you believe in any superstitions about numbers in racing?
I feel like I won’t do well if I’m not in a number 3 car. But there are some numbers I wouldn’t run—like 1 or 2.
Do you feel like it jinxes the win thing?
Yeah, I think so. I also wouldn’t run 11 because of Steve Kinser. I couldn’t do 11—he’s the King.
Kasey Leal on his number 3L
Kasey Leal is part of a multigenerational racing family alongside his father and younger sister. His father, Jimmy, is a local micro sprint legend, and his grandfather also raced. Kasey has been racing the Restricted 600 3L for 3 years.
Why did you choose your car number? Is there a story behind it?
I chose my car number after my dad and named the car “Marie” after my great-grandma.
Was this number your first choice, or did you have to pick it because another driver already had it?
This number was my first choice because my dad ran it.
Does your number have a personal or family connection? (e.g., a tribute, a birth year, a lucky number, etc.)
Yes, it’s a tribute to my family.
If you had to change your number, would you, or is it too important to you?
I would choose 88 for my grandpa, Robert Leal.
Do you believe in any superstitions about numbers in racing?
No, I just think it’s a number.
Have you ever had a number that just didn’t “feel right” or brought bad luck?
No, there are no numbers that don’t feel right for any reason.
Kendyl Leal on her number 379
Kendyl Leal is Kasey’s younger sister. She has been racing the 379 Junior Sprint for 2 years.
Why did you choose your car number? Is there a story behind it?
I chose it because it was my grandpa’s number when he raced boats, and he used to build motors. I named the car “Bob” after my grandpa Robert Leal.
Was this number your first choice, or did you have to pick it because another driver already had it?
Yes, this was my first choice.
If you had to change your number, would you, or is it too important to you?
Probably 62, because my dad used to race it when he drove the old 2-stroke cars.
Do you believe in any superstitions about numbers in racing?
I feel like 7 is a bad number. I also feel like the number 4 is bad luck because they always seem to be leading, and then near the end of the race, they always flip.
Have you ever had a number that just didn’t “feel right” or brought bad luck?
No, but I don’t like anything mean on the car—like “You just got passed by a girl”—because it will come back to you. Like karma.
Whether it’s a family tradition, a lucky draw, or just what looked best on the car, each driver at Plaza Park Raceway has a story behind the number they run. These numbers carry more than just identification—they carry history, pride, and sometimes a little superstition. As these young racers continue to carve out their paths in the sport, their numbers serve as a connection to where they came from, and a symbol of where they’re headed.
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Words & images by Cameron Hageman / Pure Pixel Visuals