
California auto racing prodigy uses car to help kids with autism
While he is 14 years old, Carraway is old enough to leave grownups in his rearview mirror.
"The fastest I've ever gone was115 miles an hour, but I know I can go even faster," he told CBS News Bay Area.
While his friends are still riding shotgun, Carraway's busy test-driving his future — on a track in Stockton.
Carraway was six when he started and never took his foot off the gas, racing in over 200 competitions and becoming California's first Black state champ -- all before he could drive to the DMV.
His coach, Eric Nascimento, said Carraway has what it takes to make it all the way to top, if he can find the funding to get him there.
"You still need that sponsorship — that core foundation that's going to back you your whole career," Nascimento said.
Which is why what Carraway did next was so unusual. Instead of selling his prime real estate on the hood of his car to the highest bidder he gave it away.
Mizpah Rich is the co-founder of
Joshua's Gift
, a nonprofit named after her son that supports families living with autism. Even though Carraway isn't on the spectrum, Rich said he is inspiring neurodivergent children to believe in themselves.
"He's an incredible role model," Rich told CBS News Bay. "We have other kids now [saying}, 'I want to be a racer driver' because they see him."
Carraway's parents, Ray and April, say watching him race can be nerve racking, but the track has taught him something far more important than speed.
"You give to give, so we try to instill that in him as parents," Ray Carraway said.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Axios
3 hours ago
- Axios
It's official: D.C. has the worst traffic in the country
Pull over, Los Angeles — D.C. ranks No. 1 for the worst traffic in the nation, per a new Consumer Affairs ranking. Why it matters: You're not imagining it. It's bad out there. Driving the news: D.C. dethroned LA for its famous congestion, topping the list of America's 50 most populous cities with the worst congestion. 🚗 By the numbers: Average daily commute: Over 33 minutes (longest in the U.S.) Average length of weekday congestion: 6 hours, 35 minutes. 😱 That's the equivalent of 71 days spent in traffic per year. Between the lines: The timing coincides with back-to-office orders for federal government employees, and many private sector organizations following suit. Threat level: Low for fatal car crashes. Perhaps a silver lining of all the gridlock: D.C. ranks in the bottom 10, with less than 6 fatal crashes per 100,000 people, according to Consumer Affairs. Yes, but: DMV drivers are still pretty risky. D.C. and Baltimore drivers have some of the shortest gaps on average between reported collisions among motorists from the 200 biggest U.S. cities, per Allstate claims data. The big picture: Allstate determined risk by analyzing how many years drivers go without a reported collision for its 2025 America's Best Drivers Report. The nationwide average is over 10 years. D.C. drivers clock a collision nearly every four years, while Baltimore runs just over four. Alexandria, Virginia, is pretty risky, too — an average six years between collisions. How it works: Allstate's report, which defines collisions as incidents resulting in property or collision damage claims, is based on 2022-2023 claims data. That means minor fender benders that go unreported — as common in city driving as potholes and work zones — aren't captured here. The intrigue: D.C. recently passed a new set of road rules designed to deter and penalize dangerous drivers, levying lawsuits and heavy fines — including on out-of-state offenders — who've racked up violations.


Axios
6 hours ago
- Axios
Citi Open stars compete for D.C. finale, plus more weekend events
Tennis is heating up at the Mubadala Citi DC Open through its finale on Sunday. Why it matters: Live out local Wimbledon vibes at the District's premium professional tennis tournament. Catch up quick: The tournament started last weekend at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, featuring stars like Naomi Osaka and Taylor Fritz and pop-up food stalls from Taco Bamba and more. Venus Williams takes on Magdalena Fręch Thursday night, while DMV star Frances Tiafoe, ranked #11 in the world, plays Flavio Cobolli for the chance to make the semifinals. Tickets are available online through Sunday, running from the low to high hundreds. More things to do this weekend: 🧒 Kids World is back at Franklin Park on Saturday and Sunday, and D.C. says it's bigger than ever. Family-friendly activities for toddlers and tweens include a kid concert, a superhero workout, storytime, a make-your-own-bear workshop, and more. Free admission 🎤 The DMV Made Festival celebrates local performers on the National Mall on Saturday, including hip-hop, go-go, soul and rock concerts and a family game zone. Free admission 🪕 Armenian folk band Armadi Tsayn is bringing a performance to Shanklin Hall on Saturday evening. Tickets $35 in advance or $40 at the door. 🎡 For suburban fun, the Loudoun County Fair's got country music, a demolition derby, and wine and beer tasting. Check the schedule; adult tickets are $16.50.


USA Today
12 hours ago
- USA Today
We hit 45 in our Raiders countdown to kickoff. Who wore it best and who's wearing it now
We've reached 45 days until the Raiders season opener at Foxboro against the Patriots, With our countdown at 45 days we take a look at who currently dons the number in Silver & Black and who has brought it the most distinction. No. 45 Who's wearing it now: LB Devin White The Raiders revamped their linebacker corps this offseason. They let Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo leave in free agency and added White, Elandon Roberts, and Germaine Pratt. White spent the first five years of his career in Tampa where he was a starting linebacker for the Bucs in their Super Bowl championship season in 2020. White made the Pro Bowl the following season. But his career has taken a sharp downward turn over the past couple seasons. The 27-year-old veteran signed a one-year deal with the Raiders and was in line to start at outside linebacker alongside Roberts, but with the addition of Pratt, we will have to wait and see what their plans are for the three of them. Pete Carroll has talked about instances in which all three would be on the field at the same time, but that's increasingly out of the ordinary in today's NFL. Who wore it best: DB Dave Grayson After four seasons with the Texans/Chiefs in which he made three Pro Bowls and one All Pro, the Oregon alum joined the Raiders. Over his six seasons in Oakland from 1965-70, Grayson made three more Pro Bowls and was thrice and All Pro. He was on the Raiders 1967 Super Bowl team as well. Honorable Mention: FB Marcel Reece Reece went undrafted in 2008 as a WR/TE out of Washington. He would switch to fullback with the Raiders and went on to make three Pro Bowls. He was a rare bright spot during some dark years for the Raiders.