Named the Rookie of the Year for 2024 in the E-Street SXS Series Extreme Short Course Racing, all 11-year-old Jaxston Duncan of Oakdale did to top that was win every race he entered in 2025.
In fact, the Magnolia Elementary School sixth grader has won three championships during his two seasons so far in the off-road racing world.
Not only is he competing in E-Street, he also has taken honors through Nor Cal Rock Racing, continuing to add trophies and plaques to his ever-growing collection.
“A friend of ours had talked us into it,” the 11-year-old said of trying out the sport initially. “And my dad surprised me with a car for Christmas and then we started racing.”
He is coached by Marcio Leal out of Escalon, and Jaxston later drove the car normally driven by Leal’s daughter.
“She didn’t want to race her car so I hopped in the car and then we won that race,” Jaxston said. “She didn’t want to race and it turns out I was the new driver of that car.”
It was an arrangement that worked well, with Leal’s TCS Suspension among the sponsors for Jaxston during the season.
Dad Jimmie Duncan and mom Mary logged plenty of miles during the season as well, as the family traveled together to races anywhere from the Rancho Cordova and Marysville areas to as far south as San Bernardino.
“I get a lot of support,” Jaxston said.
And while at just 11 years old, Jaxston still has a few years before he can even get a learner’s permit for on road driving, he took to off-road racing in a heartbeat.
“I don’t think, I just do,” he said of how he approaches each race.
The off-road vehicles are equipped with plenty of safety equipment and the drivers are also wearing state of the art gear.
“It’s kind of like a motocross track set up,” dad Jimmie explained of the type of courses the different series race on.
Jaxston capped off his 2025 season with two championships and plans to stay active in the sport.
He currently races in the 12- to 16-year-old class and originally starting with a Polaris 170, he has moved up to an RS1 1000 cc side-by-side vehicle and said he will “probably” get into racing Sprint cars in the future.
Top speeds can reach 80 mph in the races and there is always an element of danger; in fact, his car was extensively damaged at the end of this past season and is currently being rebuilt. Jaxston was not injured in the crash.
Looking back at the season overall, the young driver said it was more successful than anticipated.
“We won every race, which we were pretty surprised about,” he admitted.
His father said Jaxston also is supported throughout the season by other family members including his grandmother and some uncles and he does have several business sponsors and is always looking for more. He can also be found on Instagram at @bozo.714
As far as the ‘downtime’ in between seasons, Jaxston said he will probably watch some educational racing videos and “relax a little bit” before gearing back up for the new season in late spring.
