Meet Austin Riley, PEAK Performer

For Austin Riley, everyday life is far too slow. He chases speed every chance he gets. 

As a decorated racecar driver with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Austin Riley is blazing the trail for people with disabilities, and blowing his competition out of the water along the way. 

In 2022, Austin Riley’s historic win at the Blue Marble Radical Cup North American Series made him the first Canadian driver to take home the victory — and the first neurodivergent driver to dominate a major racing championship. 

Austin’s journey to success wasn’t always easy, but with help from his dad, Jason Riley, and a close-knit pit crew, Austin is spreading autism awareness with every lap. 

Discovering a Passion for Racing

When a young Austin went to school with a backpack filled with Hot Wheels, his parents never imagined that it would lead to a life in the fast lane. 

In his early years at school, Austin’s teachers noticed that he was different, and he struggled for years with misdiagnoses and medications. It wasn’t until Austin was 12 years old that a devoted teacher suggested that he be tested for autism. Finally, Austin and his family had answers. 

Around the same time as his autism diagnosis, Austin discovered racing. As he struggled in school, Jason Riley knew that Austin needed an outlet, trying everything from soccer to ice skating. One day, Jason came across a flyer for a go-kart racing program at a local track, and it all clicked. Austin loved cars — surely he’d love driving them too. Austin wasn’t so convinced. 

“He had convinced himself that he would never be good at anything, so why even try it,” says Jason. “Unfortunately for him, his dad’s pretty stubborn.” Austin agreed to go to the track, but only for one lap. 

That one lap turned into destiny. Austin kept driving around the track, even after the other kids had pulled over. And when Jason finally intervened to stop him, all he could see was his son beaming from behind his helmet. 

Since that day, it’s been full speed ahead for Austin Riley. The year that Austin was formally diagnosed with ASD was also a banner year for his go kart racing career, and the family was inspired to share their story with the world.

Austin’s Rising Racing Star 

As Austin graduated from go karts to Radical cars, he’s become a force to be reckoned with on the scene. 

He had his doubters in the beginning. Many racing governing bodies misunderstood Austin’s abilities, and he had to undergo psychological assessments to prove that it was safe for him to drive 450-horsepower racecars — in spite of his impeccable safety record. 

He’s since proven his naysayers wrong, earning one of the best safety records in the Nissan Micra Cup. After two years, he was the only driver still in the same car he started with, where the others went through up to six cars. 

With visits to the podium behind him, there’s no question about Austin’s driving prowess these days. He now travels the US and Canada, following races and picking up high-profile partners (like PEAK!) 

Support from the Pit 

Austin is supported by his small pit crew of five, who work within Austin’s abilities to help him succeed. 

In Austin’s early career, his family played a major role in running the crew and supporting Austin’s needs, but Jason was determined to make sure that Austin could keep his racing dream alive, even without help from his family. So Jason took a step back and put together a crew that Austin could work with independently. Now all Dad has to do is drive the trailer. 

While Austin may not give the pit crew feedback on the car, they’re always hard at work helping Austin hit top speeds. Using sensors, they can track performance and engine vitals to ensure the car is always at max capacity, making adjustments and improvements as needed. 

“Whatever car we give him, he’s going to max it out,” says Steffen Rilli, racing engineer. 

Racing with Autism

Like many other people with autism, Austin often struggles with anxiety and sensory issues, but that all fades away when he sits down in the driver’s seat.

“Outside of the car, I feel anxious and nervous and don’t think I can fit in the world. But inside a race car, everything disappears and everything stops,” says Austin. “My brain moves as fast as a race car, so when I’m driving at that speed, it’s calming.”

Now, he’s inspiring other people with autism to chase their own dreams.  As Austin’s racing profile grew, he and his family built Racing with Autism, an organization dedicated to sharing Austin’s story and empowering other neurodiverse people to follow their passions. Together, they present at schools and groups to spread ASD awareness.

“It’s a much bigger picture here than trophies and race tracks,” says Jason. “It’s about helping people through their struggles.”

PEAK is proud to partner with Austin and Racing with Autism, and we can’t wait to see what record he breaks next. To learn more about Austin Riley, check out Racing with Autism or catch him at the track soon!