Chasing the Checkered Flag: ASU Prep Digital 8th Grader Jensen Mechelke’s Journey from Class to the Cockpit

That focus has paid off. Jensen’s journey started on an Xbox at age three, progressed to karts at nine and exploded into professional car racing. Just this past February, on his 14th birthday, Jensen received his IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) professional license, a massive milestone in the racing world.

“I started playing car racing games on an Xbox when I was 3 years old,” Jensen said. “At 9 years old, I drove an indoor kart for the first time. I loved it so my parents bought me a kart for the race track with a gas engine as a surprise. I practiced about three times per week at a local track in Arizona and raced in our local club races every couple weeks.”

Jensen said when he was 10 years old, he travelled to Utah with his dad and competed in his first national kart race. He then spent the next couple years racing in different national races around the country.

“When I was 12 years old we bought a Mazda Miata and I started practicing at different tracks in Arizona,” he said. “Just after my 13th birthday I earned my NASA (National Auto Sport Association) Competition License, which meant I could start competitively racing the Mazda. I’ve been racing the Mazda about once per month in Arizona and California for the last year and we are now leading the championship in Southern California and second place in Arizona.”

Last year the family bought its first professional race car, and Jensen has been practicing in Georgia, Florida, Arizona and California. Now, with his IMSA professional license, Jensen plans to compete in three IMSA professional races this year and a full season in 2027.

He said, “I really like the excitement of being behind the wheel of my race car, especially on race weekends, and I wish I could drive every day.”

For a student-athlete competing at a national level, a traditional 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. public school schedule isn’t just difficult, it’s impossible. Jensen initially heard about ASU Prep Digital from a fellow kart racer who faced the same scheduling conflicts.

“A normal school would never allow me the ability to rearrange my schedule so that I can leave town whenever I need to for races or practice days,” Jensen said.

Now, Jensen manages his own pace. Whether he’s practicing on his simulator at home or traveling across state lines for a championship race, his education travels with him. This is something many online school environments are designed to support.

For Ryan, the choice to move his son to ASU Prep Digital was about more than just convenience; it was about finding a community that valued Jensen’s professional goals as much as his academic goals.

“I love how supportive ASU Prep is of Jensen’s path in racing,” Ryan said. “There are several weekdays every single month where Jensen is either travelling to practice or a race, and without the flexibility of ASU Prep Digital, racing at this level just wouldn’t be possible for us. I know his teachers really care about him. It just reassures me that we made the right decision for Jensen’s education.”

This kind of flexibility is especially valuable for self-paced learners balancing demanding schedules and for families exploring alternatives to traditional schooling, including homeschooling and other forms of online learning.

Behind every successful student is a support system, like our Learning Success Coaches, that understand their unique path. For the Mechelke family, that support comes from dedicated staff who “rock,” specifically, Learning Success Coach (LSC) Sarah Newsom, who earned a glowing shoutout from both Jensen and Ryan for her support.

The feeling is mutual.

“The Mechelke family is absolutely amazing and being their LSC is an honor and privilege,” Ms. Newsom said. “I am incredibly impressed with this family’s ability to work together to make Jensen’s dreams of professional level racing come true at an incredibly early age in his life. This family is passionate about pursuing dreams and making things happen!”

Ms. Newsom said Jensen, on top of being an immaculate racer, is a top notch student and excels academically in all areas of ASU Prep’s Digital platforms. She said he stays on top of his school work regularly and maintains high marks across the board, all while competing with formula one level, professional race car drivers on well known tracks. This level of support helps learners thrive at every stage, from middle school through the transition into high school and beyond.

As a parent of an active student, Ryan has also figured out how best to support Jensen’s dreams.

“I think over the years of working with Jensen while he’s behind the wheel, I realized that when he comes off the track, he needs someone to really listen to his frustrations, whether it be about problems with the car or issues with other drivers, and then take them seriously in order to offer him practical advice,” he said. “It sets him up with a positive mindset for the next session on track.”

Jensen isn’t just focused on his own career; he has advice for other students who may be interested in pursuing non-traditional dreams: Start networking early.

“I would tell them to meet and talk to as many people as possible,” Jensen said. “Don’t be afraid to walk up to people, shake their hand and introduce yourself. A career in racing wouldn’t be possible without the help of so many people we’ve met along the way.”

Ryan’s advice for fellow parents/guardians to help support their scholar are:

1. Be 100% committed to whatever path you and your child have chosen.
2. Never stop meeting as many people as possible.
3. Don’t forget to let your kid be a kid!

Jensen’s goals are as ambitious as his driving. After high school, he plans to attend ASU (of course!) while continuing his professional driving career. 

“I think it would be awesome to race in Japan one day in the World Endurance Championship or Super GT, since my mom is from Tokyo,” he said. “My dream some day is to compete at the Circuit De Le Sarthe in the 24 hours of Le Mans.”

His dad said, “At this point, Jensen is definitely on the path for a career in motorsports, which has been his goal since he was old enough to say so!”

With the flexibility of ASU Prep Digital fueling his education, Jensen is well on his way to making those dreams a reality.

Follow Jensen’s journey:

• Instagram: @Mechelkeracing
• Next stop: Keep an eye out for Jensen in the IMSA professional circuit later this year!