Student Racing Duo
By Jillian Childress
Photo of Alyanna and Kainan’s race cars taken by George Cruz
From Owasso to the race track to the podium, family duo Alyanna and Kainan Baker take off-road racing to the next level. As siblings who share this interest, they exemplify teamwork and dedication through every track they conquer. Growing up in Oklahoma, they started driving at the state park “Little Sahara,” located in Waynoka, Oklahoma. There, they practiced on sand dunes and in side-by-side vehicles. The Baker siblings, who have been competing since the ages of 11 and 12, don’t plan on hitting the brakes any time soon.
Kainan Baker reflected on his early beginnings, saying, “When I was six years old, I would go to Little Sahara with my dad.”
Kainan Baker described how his father noticed serious potential in him and saw competitive racing as a solid opportunity for his son to excel.
As Kainan Baker entered the racing scene, his older sister Alyanna Baker was inspired to start racing with him, and she quickly developed a love for the sport. Kainan’s chosen racing number, 21, was his lucky number during childhood, and it still remains special to him now. Pulling inspiration from her little brother, Alyanna inversely decided upon the number 12 for herself.
Photo of Alyanna and Kainan taken by George Cruz
They have also raced with inverted car colors, similar to their numbers, during the 2021 competition season. During this period, they intentionally painted their cars purple and blue, representing suicide prevention. Suicide prevention is an important cause to them; the siblings partnered with The Youth Alliance by placing the organization's logo on their cars for that season. As the siblings gain a larger audience, they admirably use their platforms to bring attention to other causes.
When asking the duo about their favorite parts of racing, Alyanna Baker happily described how she loved the feeling while competing, saying, “I love the adrenaline rush of racing…I just love driving.”
She further explained how she thoroughly enjoys meeting people after the race, signing autographs and taking pictures. Kainan agreed and continued, saying how amazing it has been to meet such cool people like Dana White, the owner of UFC and the Nitrocross series (one of the racing series that they have competed in.)
Both siblings are competitive, and Kainan Baker said, “The hardest part of racing is keeping your cool after a wreck.”
He described how he holds himself to a high standard and how he struggles to keep his composure. As a racer, Kainan reminds himself that he has large amounts of eyes on him. This leads him to proceed in hard situations with a good attitude and a level head. Kainan Baker undoubtedly prides himself on sportsmanship and being his best self.
Competing recently in Las Vegas, Kainan Baker accomplished the largest win of his career. He placed first in the Pro Side-by-Side division. With over a million eyes on him, this race proved Kainan’s favorite.
Alyanna Baker earned her biggest win so far in the 2022 season. She placed 1st in The Expert N/A Class at the Mid America Outdoors track in Jay, Oklahoma, which she says is also her favorite track to race on.
As the two continue to grow in their passion, they show gratitude to all of their sponsors, including Bacco Tree Service, Yokohama Tire and Can-Am. Alyanna Baker specifically spotlighted her father, Jd Baker and Ian Zavala individually, recognizing their constant support and dedication.
Through the highs and lows of racing, Alyanna and Kainan Baker continue to show strength and perseverance on and off the track. Putting in countless hours of preparation, learning and sharpening their skills, these two racers refuse to hit the brakes of success.
Photo of Alyanna and Kainan taken by George Cruz