At just 13, Dustin Pendry is already showing the discipline and drive needed to compete in one of Australia’s toughest junior motorsport pathways, with a clear goal in mind, to keep improving every time he hits the track.
Karting first clicked for Dustin when his brother Aden and his dad took him to Fast Karts hire karts with Johnnie Grother. He first jumped into a kart at around eight years old and says he was “hooked straight away”.
For Dustin, it is the thrill of speed, the challenge of improving lap by lap, and racing against other kids his own age that keeps him coming back.
“I always want to be better than I was last weekend,” he said.
This year, Dustin is racing in Junior KA100 and continuing to build on strong performances at both club and major events. Last year he won club champion for the fourth year in a row, along with top eight finishes at the Northern Territory State Championships and Queensland State Championships.
One of the highlights of his season came at the State Cup in Bundaberg, where he set the fastest time on track in a heat and later fought back from 16th to finish sixth in the final after early bad luck.
But Dustin’s toughest challenges haven’t always been on the track. Last year he lost his big sister Trinity, his best friend and biggest supporter. Racing has helped him and his family through the grief, giving him a sense of calm.
“I get in my kart and I find peace.”
He races in her memory, using his journey to inspire hope, resilience and open conversations for other families facing loss.
Dustin shared setbacks like wet weather, mechanical issues, or races not going to plan also having taught him that keeping a clear head matters just as much as raw pace.
“I’ve learned that staying calm and focused is just as important as speed and to never give up.”
Behind the scenes, his biggest support comes from family. He says his dad takes on the role of coach, driver and mechanic, while his mum supports him with food, fitness and data. He also values the family and friends who cheer him on from the sidelines each weekend.
This year, Dustin has joined Tecno Kart Australia for national events and says he is looking forward to being part of a team for the first time.
The next challenge is the Australian Karting Championships, with five rounds across four states. Dustin’s focus is building his racecraft and consistency, with a goal to make the finals.
Away from the track, Dustin says karting requires serious time, effort and preparation, and the difference between winning and losing can come down to tenths of a second. The cost of equipment, tyres, engines, travel and safety gear add up quickly, and last year he raced second and third-hand karts.
To help fund his racing, Dustin collects cans and does odd jobs, with the aim to keep improving and compete at the highest level he can.
Dustin is now seeking sponsorship support to help cover the costs of racing and create more opportunities to compete at a higher level, including travel to major events and racing against some of the best junior drivers in Australia. Sponsorship support would include business branding on his kart, trailer and race gear, along with promotion through his social media and professional representation at the track. Reach out to @ The Coalface if you are interested in supporting Dustin’s karting journey.
And for other kids around Mackay who might be thinking about giving motorsport a try, Dustin says karting offers more than just racing.
“It teaches you discipline, confidence and how to keep pushing even when things are hard.”
