Local Student Races Toward His Dreams

Bellefontaine Middle School sixth grader Jerome Wickham is gearing up for a thrilling kart racing season, chasing his dream of a championship at New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana. Before the season officially kicks off on March 30, Jerome will warm up with a race at Music City Kartway in Nashville, TN, on March 22.

While many kids his age focus on traditional sports, 12-year-old Jerome has taken a different path—one fueled by speed and determination. Born on December 12, 2012 (12/12/12), his race team, 12³ Motorsports, is a nod to his unique birthdate. Jerome also lives with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), a rare genetic bone disease affecting up to 1 in 20,000 people. He proudly advocates for the XLH Network (XLH.org) and connects with others facing similar challenges.

A top student at Bellefontaine Middle School, Jerome has big dreams beyond the racetrack, aspiring to earn an engineering degree and work in aerospace or auto racing. In the off-season, he sharpens his skills by competing in VEX V5 robotics competitions.

Now entering his third season in kart racing, Jerome competes in a 9-horsepower road racing kart that reaches speeds of 60 mph. Over the past two years, he has earned multiple top-five finishes and top-10 championship placements. In the final race of 2024, he led the pack for four laps but was forced off course in the final moments, narrowly missing his first career victory.

Determined to make this season his best yet, Jerome has one goal in mind—winning.
"In my first two seasons, I had many shining moments, but this season, I plan to shine when it matters—at the checkered flag!"

The 2025 season for 12³ Motorsports includes 18 races across five states, beginning March 30 in New Castle, Indiana.

2024 sponsors included Six Hundred Downtown, Harvey Auto Group, Bearded Man Coffee, Forgeline Motorsports, Connected Technology Services, and Chicago Auto Pros. More sponsors will be announced for the upcoming season.

Keep an eye on Jerome as he speeds toward success!