 Rider: Carter Gray Photo: Zachary C. Bako Joel YounkinsHigh Performance Coach From his first warm-up routine at age 9 to his SMX future, here’s how we’re building Carter Gray for the long game—not just the next race. Carter Gray’s blueprint didn’t start when he and I officially began working together in October 2024. It started years earlier.
Carter began racing at 7 years old. His family—who understands sports and success—saw his potential and drive for motocross early. They got connected with Clay Elliot and Jason McConnell, co-owners of Driven MX, who helped develop Carter into a top national-level rider. The kids Carter once watched on TV soon became the kids he would be competing against. The Start with Driven MX While I’ve always had a strong working relationship with Driven MX, my direct involvement with Carter began in a small way. Clay asked if I could create something age-appropriate for a 9–10-year-old. I normally don’t work with athletes under 12–13 in a structured program, but I made him a warm-up routine and some basic bodyweight exercises to build foundational movement. This became the origin of the “50–65cc Workout” in The Mini Moto High Performance Manual. From there, I got to know Carter—not as a client yet, but as a kid I rooted for and supported from a distance. The Mental Game Fast forward to spring 2024. Clay and Jason reached out to help with Carter—this time about mental performance. Carter was struggling with nerves and consistency at bigger races. They knew my wife Kelly’s expertise in mental skills coaching and thought she could help. Without hesitation, I immediately said she could absolutely help him. Kelly and Carter clicked instantly. She helped him shift from being overwhelmed by big moments to harnessing his strengths and riding the way he wanted. A few months later, Carter won the 65cc 10–11 Limited Class at the 2024 Loretta Lynn Nationals. He carried that momentum into the 2024 SMX All-Star Race in Charlotte, where he crossed the line first (despite a penalty for jumping the finish). Being there in person, it was one of those unforgettable moments you just feel lucky to witness. Enter High Performance SMX was Carter’s last race on a 65. From there, our real work together began. Carter is a young professional in every sense—laser-focused the moment he walks in to train. That focus lets us skip the months most teenage boys need to learn intensity and purpose. With high-level athletes, many coaches want to “throw the kitchen sink” at them—flashy, extreme exercises for social media. But special athletes don’t need “special” training. They got here by doing the fundamentals right, and my job is to keep doubling down on that. Ten months in, Carter hasn’t touched a barbell or lifted more than a 35lb dumbbell. That’s by design. We’re building general strength, movement quality, and athleticism. At 12–13 years old, we keep high-intensity aerobic work limited—he already gets enough of that on the bike. Instead, we focus on low-intensity aerobic work to build a big, efficient “engine” that will serve him for years. We’re not here to red line a 4-cylinder. We’re here to build a V8. The Long Game In motocross—and in most U.S. sports—you’re judged on your last result. Win one weekend and you’re the next superstar; finish third the next weekend and you’re forgotten. The reality? Many amateur champions never find the same success as pros. Look at the top riders today: most weren’t dominating amateurs. They peaked late, developing into pros who could sustain excellence. With SMX Next now in place and the pro age at 18, the game is shifting. Winning every Loretta’s title is great, but the real goal is hitting your stride at the right time—ideally when you’re battling for an SMX 450 Championship, not when you’re 13. Carter is what we’d call a “late bloomer,” and that’s a gift. Many of his peers are in growth spurts and early puberty. We get to play the development game—building skills, strength, and race craft while he is pushing himself to compete against men. Playing Chess Long-term development is like chess—every move now sets up the next. Carter is 13, on an 85, with big bikes and SMX Next in his future. The next five years are about growth, not urgency. As his coach, guiding an athlete from pre-puberty through that transformation into a full-fledged pro is the most rewarding work I do. Carter loves riding, loves the sport, and loves racing. Our job is to protect and fuel that passion—because when you love something, you keep giving to it, and eventually, it gives back. Carter, you hold the keys to the game you’re playing. We’re just here to help you play it for the win—when it matters most.
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