Most people get their driver's license at 16, but one of Larry Phipps Jr.'s rules as a parent was each of his children -- Tim, Larry and Megan -- had to race in the Virginia Dirt Karting Association for a year or two before they were allowed to test for their driver's license.
But racing in the Phipps family is more than just go-karts.
After racing go-karts for nearly eight years as a child, competing in the Semi-Pro Legend Car Series for three years during college and majoring in high-performance racing at a special academic program at University of Northwest Ohio, 23-year-old Shady Side, Md., native Tim Phipps is getting his, and his family's, first shot to compete in a NASCAR-affiliated series this year.