For 33 years, Cook Out Summer Shootout has showcased some of the nation's top grassroots racing talent while helping launch the careers of future motorsports stars. Along the way, the summer series has also become home to inspiring stories of determination, perseverance and the unique journeys that bring competitors to America's Home for Racing.
Among those stories this summer is 14-year-old Matthew Garland, making his Cook Out Summer Shootout debut in the Chargers division after relocating across the country to pursue a career in motorsports.
Garland was born with ectodermal dysplasia, a rare genetic condition that affects the development of the skin, hair, nails, teeth and sweat glands. While he manages a milder case, he says he has never allowed it to stand in the way of his dreams.
While the condition never slowed his passion for racing, it does present unique challenges behind the wheel. Ectodermal dysplasia limits the body’s ability to regulate temperature, making North Carolina’s summer heat especially difficult while in the car.
“It’s just a lot of sweat. I’ll just sweat a lot in the car,” Garland said. “It’s uncomfortable having the helmet and firesuit on when you’re sitting on the grid and it’s really hot.”
Garland’s racing journey began in karting in 2020, where he found success, winning the 2024 K1 Speed Sacramento Track Championship and earning a top-10 finish in the California State Championship that same year.
As his racing ambitions grew, Garland and his family relocated from Sacramento, California to Huntersville, North Carolina last year to pursue opportunities in the heart of NASCAR country. While California’s cooler coastal climate helped manage his condition, the move brought him closer to one of the nation’s premier grassroots racing scenes.
After attending Cook Out Summer Shootout as spectators shortly after moving, Garland made his Legend Car debut during Winter Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway in January 2026, collecting three top-10 finishes before launching his rookie Summer Shootout campaign.
“It’s very surreal,” said Matthew’s mother, Lesley. “Every time he comes through that tunnel it's amazing to think that a year ago he was on a kart track and this was all just a dream, but now it's a reality.”
Between practice and race runs, it’s a family affair in the garage as Garland’s family helps him cool down with ice packs, fans and water, ensuring he is comfortable before climbing back into the cockpit for another lap.
While chasing his racing dreams, Garland is also using his platform to raise awareness for causes close to his heart. In June, his Legend Car carried information on the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasia (NFED), a nonprofit that has supported his family throughout his life while helping raise awareness for others living with the condition. Through the partnership, Garland helped raise awareness and funds for families impacted.
“It means a lot to be out here and have all of the sponsors like NFED on my car,” Garland said. “It’s an uphill battle sometimes, but we're working through it and by the end of the year we're looking forward to having one or two wins here.”
For July, Garland’s car will bring awareness to Operation Motorsport, a nonprofit that supports military veterans diagnosed with PTSD through recovery and rehabilitation opportunities within motorsports.
As Garland continues his journey in Legend Cars, he remains focused on earning his first Cook Out Summer Shootout victory while building toward a future in motorsports. Each week he spends time in the garage studying lap times and performance data, then climbs back into the car, fully immersed in every part of the experience.
Whether the future leads him behind the wheel or into engineering and data analysis—an area he has already begun exploring—Garland is embracing the journey one lap at a time, and with every lap at Cook Out Summer Shootout he continues proving that determination, resilience and a passion can overcome obstacles while inspiring others to chase their own dreams.
