For Niles, his interest in racing began about six years ago when a friend and neighbor let him borrow their cart. He began racing himself soon after, with the help of his parents Jessica and Nick, along with his sister Alicyn, after they found a local kart that was for sale and decided to jump in. The name Mad Max Racing comes from Niles’s great-grandfather, who’s name was Max, with Niles’s nickname when he was younger also being Max. Niles’s racing number is 91, which the family said came from his other great-grandfather, because that was his racing number

Niles started out in a “flat kart” in 2020. He started with a 79cc Predator motor and quickly realized that he needed more speed. By mid-season he upgraded to a “red plate clone” engine. He ended the season with an overall third place in points. Bradley and his dad prepped the kart over the winter for the 2021 season, with a decision to skip “green plate” clone and race in the “purple plate” clone class, ending in second place in points for the year. His third year was 2022, which was a big change for the driver as he decided to no longer run in a flat kart, but to move to a Junior Outlaw Wing Kart. There was a lot of learning done that year and a close finish in points, but he came out with overall second place again. In 2023, Bradley ran the Junior Outlaw Wing Kart again coming out as Points Champion in his class for the year. Once again, he decided he wanted to challenge himself more and stepped up to an Intermediate Outlaw Wing Kart part way through 2023 and has continued in this class into 2024. Driving in this class has brought a new challenge because of the experience levels ranging from drivers who are his age through adult drivers.

Entering into his fifth racing season, 12-year-old Niles decided to decorate his cart to display multi-colored puzzle pieces in support of Autism Awareness. Niles will spend his season sharing the goal for the team, which is understanding and embracing people with Autism.

“As a group together we have a lot of friends and fans that have to live with autism every day,” Nick Niles, Niles’s dad, said. “We want to help people to understand autism.”

Bradley Niles races in his cart, decorated for Autism awareness.

Niles’s mom, Jessica Niles, said the theme for the year is understanding and embracing autism because there are many different levels of autism and it is not always understood. She added that people with autism are not always allowed into sports and that they wanted to bring them into the team and show that not everyone is the same.

“Bradley knows people with autism and they always brighten his day when he sees them,” Jessica Niles said. “We are also working on fundraising ideas for local organizations that focus on Autism and other developmental disabilities.”

The family will be selling t-shirts and puzzle pieces that go along with the cart, which will be available soon on their web store once they have that set up. 100% of donations will be given to a local organization who supports those with Autism and other developmental disabilities.

Mad Max Racing marketing partners this season include: Morreale Collision and Rust Repair, Little Gift Nook, Lobb’s Auto Service Center, Frew Run Property Maintenance, Frewsburger Pizza Shop, Magnum Graf-X, Brandon “BZ” Zebrowski Memorial Fund, Zoomas Photography

R&R Cleaning Co., Dell Performance Horses, Southern Tier Barbell, TCP Towing, and Warren Tire Center.

Autism awareness is something that is important for the family, not just because of the people they know but because of their fans as well.

“We have a lot of friends, fans and supporters who have Autism in their lives every day, whether that’s through their own diagnosis or a diagnosis of a friend, family member or coworker,” Jessica Niles said. “We want people to see that their lives are just as important and that they are no different. Bradley has been surrounded by people with disabilities since he was born and he doesn’t see the disability, just who the person is.”

Besides Autism awareness, Niles’s other goals for the year include conquering the track with the more challenging cart and not letting the challenges, or what he referred to as the “racing gremlins” get him.

Niles races at the Pittsfield Championship Karting Association on Route 6 in Pittsfield, PA every Friday night at 7 p.m. and has select appearances at Stateline Speedway Karts in Busti. The racing season typically runs May through September, and the family posts his schedule on their Facebook page, Mad Max Racing.

Niles has many reasons why he likes to race.

“I like racing because it’s fun,” he said. “You get to meet new people and learn about motors and drive fast.”

Jessica Niles said racing has brought out a new side to Niles, who used to have social anxiety very badly but added that when he puts on his racing suit it is like him putting on his Superman suit, then becoming more confident and interacting with fans.

Nick Niles added that Niles likes to win the checkered flag and go down victory lane, and that this year they are working towards their first win with the intermediate cart.

Both of Niles’s parents invited everyone to come and visit and watch the races, saying it is not like a typical sport. New sponsors and fans that come see the races tend to come back multiple times after, and while it is a competition, it is also a family.

“It’s a competition but when something goes wrong everyone comes to help,” Nick Niles said. “If something breaks, everyone comes and helps to get it fixed and back on the track. On the track it is a race, but during the other times we are what we call a big racing family.”