 Joel & Levi Younkins Joel YounkinsHigh Performance Coach Bringing Your A-Game to the Races (Without Getting on the Gate) With Loretta’s coming up this week, I wanted to have a little fun with this blog.
A lot of my readers for these blogs are actually moto parents trying to learn how to help their riders become their best. But this one isn’t about helping your rider—well, not directly. It’s about helping you perform better at the racetrack so you can keep up with them. Now I’ll be fully honest up front—“moto parents” aren’t clients I work with. I work directly with racers. And I rarely ever create blogs or podcasts as lead magnets. I just put out information to be helpful and attract the right clients who want to work with me. This is one of those times where I’m writing because maybe, just maybe, one or two tips will help a mom or dad out there show up a little stronger and go a little harder for their kid at the races. Our son Levi is currently in his first full year of competitive racing. He’s done some fun pit bike races before on his PW50 and entered a few Stacyc races, but 2025 marked the year he stepped into the real world of racing. And let me tell you—I’ve quickly learned that being a moto parent is no joke. I joke sometimes that it’s easier to just be the racer! The Elephant in the Room Let’s talk about it. It’s no secret that moto parents are known to enjoy a few beverages over race weekends. When it comes to giving advice on drinking, I’m not the guy who’s going to tell you not to drink. I simply share advice, and you make your own decisions. I always suggest reducing rather than eliminating. I don’t own anyone—and heck, I enjoy a couple adult beverages myself when the time is right. We all need to blow off some steam now and then. But if you want to be sharper, more present, and more effective for your kid on race day, cutting back on the drinking is one of the quickest ways to level up. Alcohol messes with your sleep, impairs your recovery, and affects both mental and physical sharpness the next day. And while you’re not the one lining up at the gate, you are making decisions that impact your child’s performance and safety—plus running back and forth from the pits eventually takes a toll on the body. So, not to sound like the fun police here, but if you want to keep enjoying yourself and show up better for your racer, here are some smart, realistic tips:
Don’t Forget to Eat Race weekends are chaos. Moto parents play a lot of roles: parent, mechanic, pit crew, coach, driver... and that’s before lunch. In the rush of race day and the nerves that come with it, it’s easy to forget to eat—or just not feel hungry. But running on fumes helps no one. Start your day with some lean protein and complex carbs. Something as simple as a breakfast sandwich with eggs, a meat, and sourdough toast can go a long way. Don’t skip lunch—get something substantial in, even if it’s quick. Have grab-and-go snacks on hand like fruit, pretzels, or an energy bar. If you’re reminding your kid to eat and fuel up, the same should apply to you too. You won’t need as many simple carbs as your racer, but complex carbs and a little extra protein will help you power through the day. And don’t forget to hydrate. If you’re walking a lot, sweating, and putting in work all day, your hydration matters too. Pro Tip: Keep a small bottle of orange juice handy. A quick 4–8 oz shot of OJ can rehydrate you and give you a clean energy boost without weighing you down. Be Smart With Your Own Workouts I know a lot of moto parents who train. They work out for themselves, not necessarily to be a better "moto parent" —even though it does help. That said, be smart with how you plan your workouts around race weekends. What I try to do in my own training is schedule a rest or active recovery day at least a day before race day. I don’t want to hit a hard workout 24–48 hours before I’m going to be running all over the track all day. If you typically come home from race weekends feeling beat up and you also train during the week, give yourself some grace. Plan recovery days before and after race weekends to stay fresh. Don’t Forget About You One thing I constantly remind my adult clients of: don’t forget about yourself. As parents, we wear a lot of hats. We’re responsible for so much—and often we put ourselves last. When you add in the pressure of being a racing family, that chaos gets turned up a notch. But if you want to be at your best for your racer, you’ve got to take care of you too. You are the team captain, the quarterback, the MVP. If you show up groggy, drained, or stressed out, how can you expect to bring your A-Game—and help your kid bring theirs? Final Word You don’t have to be perfect. But small changes—fewer drinks, better fuel, better recovery, more awareness—can help you be a stronger, sharper moto parent. And that energy? Your kid will feel it. And it might just be the edge they need...
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