Most kids at a young age are asked the question, “What do you want to do when you grow up?”

A fireman, a police officer or a Major League baseball player usually role off the lips of the youngsters.

But ask 8-year-old Cole Glasson that same question.

“I am already doing what I want to do when I grow up,” he said.

What would that be?

“Race.”

Glasson, who is from Corinth, is one of the best go-kart drivers in the country. The son of Tim and Wendy Glasson has won two national titles and is ranked in the top 25 in every region in the United States.

“I think I am the best,” he said. “I don’t like to lose.”

Glasson fell in love with racing when the family took a trip to watch the Indianapolis 500 in 2004.

It was all green lights from there.

“We watched the race and he told me he wanted to do that,” Tim Glasson said. “We soon bought him a car and it has evolved from there.”

At age 5 he began racing kid karts. He won his first race when he was 6 years old and now he competes in the top level Rotax class against drivers who are three to five years older than him.

Glasson has totaled 69 wins on the track and will go for another checkered flag beginning today when qualifying rounds for the SWRC Regional begin at the North Texas Kartway in Denton.

“There are other kids who are as good as he is,” Tim Glasson said. “But not a lot of 8-year olds can say they have two national titles.”

His kart races up to 80 miles per hour on straight-aways and on turns speeds reach up to 60-70 mph.

“He isn’t scared out there,” Tim Glasson said. “Off the track he is a little reserved, and kind of quiet. But on the track he is a little different. He is pretty aggressive.”

Enter Cole.

“I love being competitive and going fast,” he said. “I would go faster if I could.”

Cole wins about one out of every four races he drives in and 68-percent of the time he places in the top 3.

“He is on the podium a lot,” Tim Glasson said. “But we have our share of bad luck too. We are in the back of the field sometimes. But that is racing. The fastest or the best don’t always win.”

His personal coach, DJ Ortiz, said Cole is a top driver because of his desire to win and compete.

“It is the simple fact that he really loves to race,” Ortiz said. “Some kids don’t have the enthusiasm like Cole. Cole really, really wants it.”

Ortiz said a lot of kids hit the brakes in this career because they get tired.

“It is a pretty tiring sport,” Ortiz said. “And you can tell they get worn out and look like they need to pass out. But I have never heard Cole say he is tired and that he doesn’t want to do it anymore.”

Cole’s goal is to race professionally as a Formula One driver.

When he turns 14 years old he will get to drive an F1 car.

“The next six years we will see if he gets a real shot,” Tim Glasson said. “From the age of 14 to 16 is the magic age. That is when they progress quickly.”

The one thing Cole said he doesn’t enjoy too much about his current lifestyle is the traveling aspect of it.

“I don’t like sitting in a car for that long,” he said.

But to race with the best Cole and his parents along with sisters Courtney and Alexa have to travel.

During the last year they have been to Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, Indiana, Colorado, California and will also be in Wisconsin and New Jersey in a few months. He also will be racing in Canada in August.

“He has raced on close to 20 tracks,” Tim Glasson said. “We travel a lot. But it is worth it.”

He spends most of the time on the road playing video games and doing homework.

The sport is also pricey. He has help from multiple sponsors, but the bulk of the budget comes out of the pocket of the Glasson family.

“We spend a lot to race,” Tim Glasson said. “But it is worth it.”

To race at the club level, or local level, it costs about $3,000 annually.

To race regionally, it costs about $15,000.

To compete nationally, what Cole does, it is about $50,000.

There are a couple of races where he has won money. But it is not much.

“He has saved it all,” Tim Glasson said. “He has about $800 saved up just from racing wins. Not many 8-year olds have that kind of money.”

Not many 8-year olds are like Cole Glasson.

MATTHEW MUENCH can be reached at 940-566-6869. His e-mail address is mmuench@dentonrc.com.