BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Day two of the Lehigh Valley Auto Show switched into high gear, as it headed into NASCAR weekend.
And in the driver’s seat, to kick it off Friday night, was NASCAR Xfinity driver and Lehigh Valley native Sage Karam.
Karam spoke with 69 News about what drove him to love driving fast, growing up in the area.
“When I moved to Nazareth,” he said, “my dad became really good friends with Michael Andretti. Became his fitness trainer.”
A relationship with Lehigh Valley racecar legend Andretti ‘fast-tracked’ Karam’s future as a racer.
“The first time I got in a race car was about 12 or 13,” Karam said. “So, I can drive these race cars 130, 140, but I can’t drive a street car yet.”
And Karam’s been living in the fast lane ever since. In fact, he was still a senior at Nazareth High School when he raced his first Indy 500.
“Yeah, missed my senior prom to qualify for the Indy 500 and then race the Indy 500,” he said. “Got ninth, and then a month later, graduated.”
He’s now raced the Indy 500 nine times and hopes to race it again someday.
But first, it was back to his roots Friday night: signing autographs, taking pictures, and inspiring young racers, all in the area he grew up in.
“It’s always cool talking to, like, young race car drivers that aspire to do that,” he said.
Karam was also taking in the Auto Show.
“It’s beautiful, it’s a cool event, for sure,” he said. “Being a Lehigh Valley native and then racing, you know, being my background and my life, it’s like my two worlds colliding.”
NASCAR weekend at the Auto Show continues Saturday with a Pit Crew Challenge, benefitting GLVADA Charity Initiatives, at 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.
There will be a Tuner Showcase from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
On Sunday, another Pit Crew Challenge, benefitting GLVADA Charity Initiatives, happens at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
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