Most professional race car drivers fit a specific mold, mainly in terms of how they look, their gender and even sexual orientations, with most of them marrying women, having children and growing old with their spouses. There’s always an exception to this rule, however, as Michael Klein, who’s a proud LGBTQ+ driver and advocate, walks in his truth while showing true grit and determination behind the wheel, in the lower ranks of stock car racing.
“I’ve always been into racing and can’t pinpoint the exact moment where I knew that this is what I want to do. I’ve always loved NASCAR since I was a kid and the passion started when my Dad had a race on back in the day. The beginning of my involvement came when I became a volunteer at the Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, and that was the beginning of my involvement in racing. Since then, I’ve began building connections, which led me to opportunities to race go-karts for a few years, prior to moving on to run midgets and I’m now expecting to compete in late models.”
Klein is a fast learner who always adapts to any change that comes his way, learning and growing in the process. If anybody wants longevity in this sport that’s molded into a business, drivers have to be okay with sacrifices, meeting new people by networking and accepting that anything can change at any time throughout the duration of their careers. The wins always happen behind the scene before manifesting as first-place finishes at the track.
“My biggest accomplishment was getting my first-career win at Lawrenceburg (Speedway) in a go-kart years ago. Knowing what my family came from and having an understanding of how hard they worked was very overwhelming and special for me.” Klein recalls of this special day. “In the upcoming months, you can expect me to make my late model debut, and I’m still putting this deal together. I’ve recently began a partnership with streamer Kōri-Oujo, making her the first streamer to be involved in a racing partnership. I’m very excited to brining her onboard and I can’t wait to see where we go with this and we’re hoping to use this to climb the ranks of racing, whether it’s with ARCA or ASA.
As stated prior, Michael Klein embraces his identity proudly, as the world is more accepting of those who are different. Being an LGBTQ+ race car driver is unique and Klein fully embraces the challenges he faces during his journey.
“I want everyone who’s considering this path to know that there’ll be tough moments. I wish I could say everything is going to be fine and everyone is accepting, but unfortunately, I’ve learned that’s not the truth. However, I have come to realize that there is a big group of people who’ll back you no matter what, regardless of where you come from in the world. I would advise those who are different to keep working at it, find your tribe, find the people who support you and hold onto those relationships, because they will definitely help you.”
Outside of being a racer, Klein is an avid voice actor outside of being a racer, is into anime and enjoys collecting vinyl records, specifically pop and alternative music. All of this shapes Micheal Klein into one of the most unique drivers in the field and if he continues to work hard, live in his truth and keep up the good work, we can possibly see a lot more success from this dedicated young man who’s not afraid of a challenge. Keep an eye out for him, as an exciting announcement from him is on the way in the coming months.
Every Man on Every Crew, LLC. 
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