INCE THE day she was born , Kyla Hubbard has been raised at the racetrack , and she wouldn ’ t have it any other way . Her parents built their entire lives around drag racing , and they ’ ve passed their love for the sport onto their daughter .

A Texas native now living in Idaho , Hubbard began racing Jr . Dragsters at the age of six but stopped at 13 as she eagerly awaited the chance step into a big car . In 2018 , without any influence from her father , Kenny Hubbard – a prominent small-tire racer – she decided it was time to get back behind the wheel . The first step was to restore her father ’ s 1985 Monte Carlo , which was his very first race car and has been in the Hubbard family since 1998 . The car had been parked since 2006 , gathering dust and cobwebs , until the now 24-year-old determined it was her time to get back on track .

“ The goal has always been to race the Monte Carlo if I wanted to ,” Hubbard says . “ My dad waited until I was ready to make that decision on my own .”

In early 2021 , the Monte Carlo underwent a complete rebuild . When it was time for the finishing touches , Hubbard understood her father ’ s desire to maintain the car ’ s factory yellow paintjob on the sleek G-Body . However , she was pleasantly surprised to see the car emerge from the paint booth sporting the same House of Kolor orange as her father ’ s iconic ProCharged 1974 Chevy Nova . Nowadays , the vibrant team cars of the father-daughter duo are hard to miss at events .

In February 2021 , Hubbard made her first pass in the Monte Carlo . Since the moment the tree first dropped , she has consistently evolved and improved as a driver . Currently , she races in the Ultra Street class within the FuelTech Radial Outlaws Racing Series and has achieved a personal best elapsed time of 4.48 seconds at 155 MPH . In 2023 , Hubbard secured her first class win at Alabama International Dragway , and she has been hungry for the next win ever since .

“ After winning my first race in Alabama , I was so ecstatic ,” she says . “ I can ’ t even explain it , but I ’ m hoping to get another one soon .”

Hubbard graduated college at Sam Houston State University in 2023 with a bachelor ’ s degree in health science . While she has been juggling her new career in pharmaceutical sales with a very busy racing schedule , the young driver is no stranger to the pressure . From the moment she entered the small-tire racing scene , Hubbard managed to attend college while also working fulltime . At the racetrack , however , she prioritizes pouring her heart and soul into every run . She is fully dedicated to improving her ability as a driver and learning from her teammate and father .

When asked what ’ s next for the young Ultra Street racer , Hubbard says she is focusing on the 2025 Radial Outlaw Racing Series season , starting with the World Street Nationals at Orlando Speed World Dragway . Her goal for the season is to attend and win as many races as possible , aiming for at least a Top 10 finish , if not the championship .

“ We are going to chase that championship and just have fun ,” Hubbard says . “ Winning is great , but what matters the most is that I get to have a good time with my family and my race family . And that we are all happy and healthy .”

By the end of the 2024 season , Hubbard and her team made significant progress by gaining valuable seat time and becoming more dialed in as a driver . She credits much of her success to the unwavering support from her family , including her mother , Billie , her sister , Crystal , and her boyfriend , Chase . At just 24 , Hubbard is only beginning her journey and is more determined than ever to make her mark in the world of smalltire racing . – MADELYN MARCONI DI

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