Toddler Tricycle Nationals will be an epic battle for the (early) ages in Charlotte

They’re older, they’re bolder, and this week they’re back on track. Riding a wave of popularity born of their successful competitive debut in 2022, the "mini-me" stars of the Baby Walker Nationals return this week to the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing tour, where they will confront new challenges in a companion event to the 13th Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at ZMax Dragway.

The Toddler Tricycle Nationals, which will be contested before the final round of nitro qualifying on Saturday, places the offspring of elite Pro drivers astride upgraded vehicles for a highly anticipated sequel featuring five-across racing for the first time in drag racing history. That's right. Count ‘em, 1-2-3-4-5. Five two-year-olds racing in a relatively straight line to a finish line approximately 50 feet away.

It's Tykes on Trikes, a special event created and produced by Natalie Torrence of Innovative Creation Experts and sponsored by Mark Beatty and the folks at Red Line Synthetic Motor Oil.

The combatants are familiar ones.

On the red trike will be Haven Charli Torrence of Kilgore, Texas, last year's zMax winner and the daughter of Natalie and four-time Top Fuel world champion Steve. She trains on mac-and-cheese and plots strategy on her Cra-z-Art Magna Doodle magnetic drawing board.

Racing on the blue Trike, from Maidens, Va., will be Olivia Gladstone, daughter of Joey Gladstone, runner-up for the 2022 Pro Stock Motorcycle championship, and his wife, Nicole. She likes her cheese without mac and spends her free time playing in her own custom sandbox.

Not unexpectedly, racing in JEG’S yellow will be Aubrey Coughlin of Ostrander, Ohio, daughter of Troy Coughlin Jr., the Pro Stock winner at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals in Florida, and his wife, Brenna. Aubrey loves Cheez-Its, her Baby Shark toy, and pool time.

In the green livery, from Ocala, Fla., will be Helen Hart, daughter of 2023 Pep Boys NHRA All-Star Callout winner Josh Hart and his wife, Brittanie. Although she’ll race on return road asphalt at ZMax, Helen's fondness for playing in dirt may indicate a racing career outside the dragstrip. Like Olivia, she also swears by the natural cheese diet.

Finally, racing in good guy white will be James Alexander, the son of Funny Car driver Blake Alexander and his wife, Leah, who, as a Charlotte resident, may have the home-field advantage. James stays lean-and-mean by snacking on berries and, when he's not watching Daniel Tiger on TV, keeps fit with walks in the park.

Another round of the Toddler Tricycle Nationals will take place June 24 during the 16th Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Norwalk, Ohio, with the finale scheduled during the 38th annual Texas Fall Nationals in Dallas, Oct. 13-15. "Last year's event was a big hit not only with the fans but with everyone at Red Line Oil," said Beatty, brand director for the racing oil used by Steve Torrence and other prominent professionals. "Red Line Oil is all about family, and we are thrilled to see the next generation of racers being raised at the track. What we do is so much more than a job; it's a passion, and it's the families with whom we are involved that make it so rewarding."

THEY’RE BACK! They’re older, they’re bolder and this week they’re back on track. This time these "mini-mes" will race tricycles beginning this weekend at the #4WideNats in Charlotte, thanks to our awesome partners at @redlineoil. @joshharttf • @BLAKE_FC • @troycoughlinjr pic.twitter.com/0WxFuMsvUL