Travis Labat’s sprint car journey
For Livermore native Travis Labat, the high-octane world of sprint car racing isn’t just a hobby — it’s a way of life. From the intense competition on the racetrack, to the meticulous tinkering on his race car, to the preparations in the pits, Labat lives and breathes grassroots motorsports.
Labat continues a family tradition spanning generations, a racing spirit ignited by his grandfather Dean Sr. and great-uncle John. Dean raced “hardtops” and dragsters at the San Jose Speedway while his brother John built sprint car motors for many notable racers in the San Jose area during the 1970s and ‘80s, embedding the love for auto racing into the family DNA. Although Labat’s father, Dean Jr., didn’t take up racing until he was 25, when he did dive in, it was a commitment that lasted over two decades, moving through various forms of racing.
Labat’s initiation into motorsports began at a remarkably young age, kindling a fascination that would only strengthen as he grew older. At just two and a half years old, his parents put him on a dirt bike. By the age of five, he was already behind the wheel of a go-kart with a five-horsepower motor, a Christmas gift that marked the beginning of his racing journey.
Racing quickly became a family affair. He and his father would race on the same days, with matching cars, and the younger Labat’s progression through the ranks was steady and determined. From his speed-restricted go-kart, he moved to less restricted junior sprint cars around the age of eight. By the time he was 10, he was racing micro sprint cars with a 600cc street bike motor, a significant step up in terms of speed and complexity. At dirt tracks in Stockton, Dixon, Lemoore and Visalia, Labat honed his burgeoning skills.
From go-karts to sprint cars
Like many young racers growing up, Labat dreamed of someday competing in the World of Outlaws, the sprint car professional series that serves as a proving ground for many NASCAR drivers, including the Northern California native Kyle Larson, who has made a name for himself in both NASCAR and dirt racing.
“Most NASCAR guys come from dirt,” Labat says. “It’s grassroots racing, and it teaches you so much. Asphalt racing is more expensive at the lower levels, so these guys come up and work their way [through] the dirt.”
In 2014, Labat and his family made the pilgrimage to “the Mecca of micro sprint racing” in Tulsa, Oklahoma, competing in one of the world’s largest freestanding buildings, the Tulsa Expo Center (now SageNet Center) with nearly a thousand cars. Although he didn’t win the coveted Golden Driller trophy that day, the experience was invaluable for Labat and the rest of the Labat family.
Labat’s first major milestone came in 2014 when he won his first track championship in the three-quarter restricted class at Delta Speedway, a testament to his growing abilities. He continued to race in various classes, including the superclass (formerly multi-class), where he won another Delta track championship in 2016.
“Winning those championships was huge for me,” Labat says. “It felt like validation for all the hard work and the support from my family. Racing was always a family deal, and those wins were for all of us.”
He won Lemoore’s biggest race, the California Cup, in 2018. His steady performances earned him the nickname “Mr. Consistent” from the owner of the Stockton track, where he was known for always being in the hunt and battling for the top spots. In 2020, Labat made the step up to racing a 360-sprint car — a winged race car that sports a 360 cubic-inch engine. This transition was motivated in part by his grandfather, who, after retiring from truck driving and facing a serious health scare, wanted to do everything possible to support Labat’s racing dreams. Selling his truck to fund the new venture, his grandfather’s sacrifice was a touching tribute to Labat and the family’s racing legacy.
“My grandpa has been there since day one,” Labat says. “One day he says, ‘Hey, is this something you want to do? Would you want to drive one of these cars?’ Growing up, it was something I’d only dreamed of, so to get that opportunity to even think about getting a car — of course I told him ‘I’ll drive anything with four wheels. It doesn’t matter what it is, I’ll drive it.’”
The move was both exciting and daunting for Labat. With a 720-horsepower engine, the powerful “360” demanded a higher level of skill and precision to control, but his first race in the new car at the Marysville Raceway was a testament to his talent. Despite having no prior experience, he managed to lead several laps in the preliminary race and finish 12th in the main event, an impressive debut.
“We just went there with no expectations,” Labat says. “It was pretty special just to be able to move forward and not tear up any equipment. I just focused on being smooth and not getting in anyone’s way.”
While he practiced getting the hang of the 360, Labat continued to race and learn, often helping others at the track when he wasn’t racing himself, soaking up knowledge from more experienced racers and cementing his dedication to the sport. Alternating between racing go-karts in the winter and both winged and non-winged sprint cars in the summer, he raced all across California, from Chico to Tulare, in as many as 60 events a year, consistently pushing his limits and picking up multiple wins.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person racing went on hiatus, Labat designed his car’s graphics and raced online with a sprint car simulator. In 2021, he sold his micro sprint car and fully committed to the 360. For Labat, the transition was not just about moving up in terms of vehicle class, but also about embracing a new community and set of challenges.
The winter of 2023 marked a pivotal change, as Labat decided to step away from go-karting to focus entirely on sprint cars. Midway through the 2023 season, Labat hired a family friend, Ryan Riley, to be his crew chief. Labat says the car “found speed right away” with the addition of the seasoned racer, who used to run his own team and brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise.
“We started getting quick times in qualifying and making it to the trophy dashes,” Labat says. “Our whole program stepped up at that point.”
It’s a family affair
The shift was strategic and came as a relief to Labat, allowing him to put all his “eggs in one basket” and set his sights on mastering the 360 sprint car division. The 2024 season is a crucial one for Labat, as he competes in the Sprint Car Challenge Tour, a series that features the best 360 drivers in California. The competition is fierce, with dozens of cars vying for about 20 spots in the main event each night. Despite formidable challenges from well-funded teams, Labat’s family-run operation is holding its own.
“A lot of these guys are rolling in there with full tractor trailer semi-trucks and all these million-dollar backing corporate sponsors, so for an all-family team to come in and beat them some nights is huge for us,” Labat says.
Every race day is a symphony of coordinated efforts, and Labat’s crew plays an essential role. His team includes his family and several close friends, each contributing to the operation. Labat’s grandfather Dean Sr., despite his health challenges, has remained a constant presence and continues to work with Dean Jr. and Labat’s close friends in the pits.
“My dad and [friend] Dan tackle tires, get them all pumped up with air to the right pressures, measure them out and then we put it on a chart, so we know our staggers for our rear tires,” Labat says. “Our other guys are setting up our tire bleeders, getting some spare axles ready on the trailer or helping my grandpa with shocks and torsion bars. It’s a good group and a family effort; we might not have the youngest team out there, but they’ve all got just as much heart in this as I do.”
Labat’s mother Karin also films every race so the family can review and learn from each performance and ensures that post-race nights are special, regardless of the hour.
“Her big thing is making breakfast for us when we get home, even if it’s midnight or two in the morning. My personal favorite is chocolate chip pancakes,” Labat says.
Back in his early go-kart days, Labat and his friend Brenden made a promise that whichever one of them made it to the 360 division would help the other racer. The promise has held firm, with Brenden becoming a key member of Labat’s team. The labor continues long after the races are over. Each Sunday requires about two and a half hours of fuel maintenance, flushing methanol from the fuel system, running valves and performing various maintenance tasks to keep the car in peak condition. During the week, the team works on tires and torsion bars, suspension and motor maintenance.
“It takes a lot of work because the car has to be ready on a Thursday to go race on a Friday,” Labat says. “So basically, every night after work I go home and at least do two or three hours on the car, get into the house about eight or nine o’clock, make some dinner, go to bed and do it all over again. It’s a constant grind, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Besides benefitting from a four-day workweek, leaving his Fridays open to “go play,” Labat’s day job complements his racing by providing some machining and 3D modeling experience that he applies to some of the parts he uses, including trailer accessories he builds with his home 3D printer.
“I started at a young age playing with things in the shop and building stuff, and now I’m doing it for a living,” Labat says. “I wouldn’t want to send anything out of the shop that I wouldn’t trust to put on my own race car.”
The thrill of it all
The exhilaration of sprint car racing is a powerful draw for Labat — equal parts adrenaline rush and calculated precision. The technical challenges are immense, as sprint cars lack transmissions and clutches, requiring constant vigilance and swift adaptability.
“There’s nothing like throwing a car sideways at 100 miles an hour in the dirt, right against the wall,” Labat says. “You get a push start — like bump-starting a dirt bike. Once it starts, you can’t really go under 25 miles an hour. It’s all 720 horsepower straight to the wheels. It’s an addiction that I won’t give up until I have to.”
Most events take place in a single day. They begin with qualifying races, with each car taking two laps to post their fastest time, which then determines their starting position in the heat races. From there, the top performers advance to the trophy dash and the main event, with others competing for a chance to make it to the final race, which can go up to 50 laps with a mandatory fuel stop. Racers receive points for finishing in the Top 5 in the qualifying heats and for completing the “A”, “B” and “C” feature races, starting with 150 points for finishing first in the “A” feature and dropping based on order of finish.
Managing fuel is a critical aspect of the race, as sprint cars consume about three-quarters of a gallon per lap, and on a typical night, Labat can burn through 30 gallons. Labat has raced various types of cars all throughout the West Coast but has a special fondness for certain tracks, each offering unique challenges. Placerville is the smallest track in California, like “a tight little bullring with red clay,” Labat says. Despite its difficulty, he enjoys the technical demands.
“If you’re fast there, you’re going to be fast everywhere,” he asserts.
One of Labat’s most memorable races was at Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway, during the prestigious Johnny Key Classic. “That was my first year, and I was parked out between all these 50-foot semis with my little Chevy truck and a 24-foot trailer,” Labat says. Despite the modest setup, Labat’s team made it to the main event, turning heads and earning respect from seasoned racers.
“I had a couple of these of the guys that have been in the sport a long time — guys that I look up to — come out and say, ‘you’re not supposed to be this fast, this quick yet,’” Labat says. “That kind of thing makes you feel good.”
Sprint car racing isn’t without its setbacks and close calls. Labat recounted his first major crash, where he “flipped [the car] on a Friday, stripped the car down on Saturday and left for training for work on Sunday.” His crew’s dedication was evident as they repaired the car in his absence, allowing Labat to race the following weekend.
Beyond the finish line
Sprint car racing demands resilience and discovering constant ways to improve, with each race offering lessons to carry forward. But for Labat, it isn’t just about the speed — it’s about heart. While racing foments a healthy competition among racers, he also enjoys the camaraderie of the close-knit racing community.
“There’s nothing like lining up next to one of your good buddies,” Labat says. “You were talking to him on the computer all week, and you go golf or hang out on your off-weekends, and then here you are, starting side by side. They’re your friends, but when they put on the helmet, it always goes a little bit beyond that.”
Labat cherishes the friendships he’s formed through racing and the experiences he and fellow drivers have shared at bonfires and by racing “quads” — four-wheeled off-highway vehicles — at each other’s homes, even outside the state. Racing has also shaped Labat’s personal growth; he attributes motorsports with providing him the discipline and dedication that have translated into valuable life skills and positively influenced his career choices.
“Everybody wants to just go out there and do what they love, and it’s definitely led me toward the career here [at the Lab],” Labat says. “Without racing, I probably wouldn’t have taken auto shop or metal shop and all that stuff [at Granada High School]. I just love racing. My friends would go out and party in high school, and I was in the shop with my dad and wrenching on race cars or watching racing on TV, and just growing closer to family.”
As he continues to compete and chase new milestones, Labat’s goals are both ambitious and grounded. While he dreams of competing at the national level, he is equally content with making a name for himself locally.
“If I can just get to the point where I have good enough sponsors to do 20-30 shows a year in California and just kind of be a California hero, that would be ideal,” he says.
Despite the stakes, Labat remains committed to his roots. He wants to maintain a strong family racing operation and possibly drive for a bigger sponsor in the future. Labat also is passionate about sharing his love for racing with others, which includes interacting with fans, especially young enthusiasts.
“After the races, all the fans get to come in the pits for free,” Labat says. “Having the same kids and families come up to you after each race, want to sit in the car and want your autograph or picture is definitely surreal.”
Labat also has advice for anyone interested in attending a race at any one of the numerous dirt tracks scattered throughout Northern and Central California.
“It’s a good family night out,” he says. “But if you go, just be careful, because once you start, you can’t stop.”
