Full Throttle & Full Heart:
Raising a Racer, Raising a Musician
If you had told me years ago that my son would be pursuing a professional racing career while also sharing a stage with artists connected to Prince’s legacy, I probably would have smiled politely and said, “That sounds like a movie.” But here we are, with two passions running side by side.
My name is Chris Moyer, and together with my wife Elizabeth, we’re raising a 16-year-old who seems to live in two fast lanes: one on the racetrack and one through music. Our son, Casey, proves that passion can come roaring in from two completely different directions at once.
The Day It All Started
Before Casey was even born, I used to commute past Sonoma Raceway. There’s a kart track tucked up on the hill, and something about it always stuck with me. Years later, when Casey was about four years old, I asked him a simple question:
“Do you want to go for a ride?” Of course, he said yes.
We drove up to that same kart track, got out of the car, and watched the kids, the adults, the engines buzzing, and the smell of rubber and fuel. I turned to him and asked, “Is this something you’d want to try one day?” At four years old, the answer was immediate: yes. That moment changed everything.
I went home and did what any dad with zero racing knowledge does: I started searching the internet. I found a small “kid kart” in Florida. The listing said it was complete and ready to run. I didn’t know what I was looking at, but it had tires and an engine, so that seemed like a good start. I messaged the seller and asked, almost jokingly, what it would cost to ship it to California. “$100,” he replied. Sold. A few weeks later, a tiny go-kart showed up on a pallet wrapped in plastic. Casey was five years old when he first got behind the wheel. That was the beginning.
From Kart Tracks to Real Cars
Fast forward to today, and that little kid kart has turned into something much bigger. Casey has now transitioned from karting to full-size cars. In 2025, he’s competing in the Teen Mazda Challenge in Northern California through the National Auto Sport Association, where he’s currently the points leader.
He’s also stepping into GT4 racing professional-level competition. That means driving a GT4 Mustang with around 450 horsepower. To put it in perspective, that’s a massive jump from the 125-horsepower Mazda Miata he also races. But here’s the part that still amazes me: he’s adapted like he was built for it.
Last year, we took him to Texas for his first GT4 test session. By the second day, he was matching lap times with seasoned drivers who knew that track inside and out. Talent matters, but in racing, it’s only a small piece of the puzzle. Still, when you see a kid step into a car like that and get it, you pay attention.
A Local Story with Big Potential
One of the things I’m most proud of is that this isn’t just Casey’s story; it’s a local story. He’s co-driving with Clayton Williams, a young driver from Oakley who built his own racing team and has already competed at high levels, including International Motor Sports Association events.
Clayton has become a mentor to Casey. He saw something in him early and helped open doors that we wouldn’t have known how to open ourselves. To have two drivers from Brentwood and Oakley working together, both chasing the professional racing scene, is something special. It shows what’s possible right here in our community.
Life at 16: No Days Off
People often ask what Casey’s daily life looks like. The honest answer? It’s nonstop. He’s a junior at Liberty High School, carries a 3.7 GPA, and has been on the honor roll consistently. He’s also been on the varsity tennis team since his first year. During marching band season, when most kids are winding down after school, Casey is just getting started, with band from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. So, what does he do? He wakes up at 6:00 a.m. to hit the gym before school. No one is forcing him to do that. That’s just who he is.
He’ll go to school, come home, juggle homework, band, tennis, and then still prepare for race weekends. When race season hits, we’re at the track once a month from March through October, with practice on Fridays and racing Saturday and Sunday. By my estimate, he’s logged close to 100,000 laps over the years. That kind of repetition builds something deeper than skill; it builds instinct.
Racing for More Than Just Wins
A couple of years ago, we were introduced to cause marketing, using an athlete’s platform to support something bigger than themselves. Casey became a brand ambassador for Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, and we’re incredibly proud of that.
It’s one thing to chase a dream. It’s another to use that journey to raise awareness and make an impact on others. Casey understands that, and it’s become part of who he is, not just as a driver, but as a person.
The Other Side of Casey: Music
Now here’s where the story takes a turn that surprises people. We never pushed Casey into music. In fact, it wasn’t even on our radar. One day, he came home from school and said, “I joined the band. I think I need a saxophone.” That was it. No big buildup. No lifelong plan. Just a spark that became something incredible.
Through a connection to Live4Love Charities, Casey was selected for a mentorship program that pairs young musicians with professionals. He was matched with Bill Evans, a legendary saxophonist who had played with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. They’ve worked together regularly, and then came an opportunity we never saw coming. For the 10th anniversary tribute honoring Prince, Casey was invited to perform in Hollywood as one of only two featured student musicians in the program. The foundation flew him out, put him up, and gave him a chance to experience a professional production from rehearsals to stage performance. Elizabeth and I chose not to overwhelm him with the magnitude of it beforehand. We didn’t want him psyching himself out. He walked in, played his heart out, and delivered.
Where Did the Music Come From?
To this day, we still ask ourselves that question. Elizabeth likes to say it started before he was even born. When she was pregnant with Casey and his twin sister Jenna, she would play music, especially Stevie Wonder, and she swears they reacted differently to it in the womb. Now, Casey gravitates toward jazz. Not exactly typical for a 16-year-old, but it fits him. It’s expressive, complex, and for Casey, carries the same feel and instinct as racing.
Once again, his environment helped shape him. The music program at Liberty High School, especially under the direction of Lindsay Kellogg, has played a huge role in nurturing that talent.
Two Passions, One Future
So where does this all go? If you ask me, Casey’s strongest passion is racing. That’s where his drive, no pun intended, really shows. But racing is expensive. It’s not just about talent. It’s about funding, sponsorship, and opportunity. That’s where my life has shifted, and where the business side of this journey begins.
I retired earlier this year and now spend more than full-time hours working on the business side of my career: building partnerships, pitching sponsors, creating marketing materials, and opening doors. It’s a grind. You’re asking companies for serious investment, and you must show them real value in return. But I believe in what we’re building.
Elizabeth sees it from another angle. She believes music could become a powerful pathway for him, something that could even help fund his racing dreams. She might be right.
The Dream
If you ask me what the ultimate goal is, it’s simple: I would love to stand in the pits at the 24 Hours of Le Mans or the Rolex 24 at Daytona and watch my son race on one of the world's biggest stages. That’s the dream. But more than that, I want him to build a life where he gets to pursue what he loves, whether that’s behind the wheel, on stage, or somehow both. Because at the end of the day, Casey isn’t just a race car driver. He’s not just a musician. He’s a young man with discipline, heart, and the kind of work ethic you can’t teach. And wherever this road leads, I have no doubt it’s going to make it one incredible ride.
