Manes started his career in the now-defunct Arena Racing Series in Richmond, Va. – competing on a one-tenth-mile indoor oval in Mini Cup-style race cars – where he grew up turning sub-eight second laps and won three straight championships from 2013 to 2015.

“That was a fun time and it was a great way for me to get started in racing,” said Manes. “If you think this (Legend Car racing) is crazy … in there, you’re just bouncing off people’s doors and hoping to keep the wheels straight.”

Arena Racing was almost as chaotic as what Manes endured during his most recent Shootout start on June 26, when he struggled with a broken steering rack on a wet race track after afternoon rain showers drenched the Charlotte area.

“I left the pits to go on track for the feature and immediately noticed the steering was stiff,” noted Manes. “I told myself it was probably the rubber at first, because we were running on uncut tires because of the rain, and I thought I could drive it because it really didn’t seem that bad at that point. Then I got out there and they dropped the (green) flag, and I couldn’t turn the wheel in the center (of the corners) to save my life!

“I went backwards so quickly, and then I spun out and couldn’t save it because I couldn’t turn the wheel quick enough … and when it happened a couple more times I really got a little frustrated on the radio,” Manes added. “There was just nothing I could do to prevent it and none of us really understood why until we got the car back to the garage and started looking at it. It was what it was … just frustrating.”

In addition to fighting for sponsorship off the track and positions on it, Manes has also battled – and continues to overcome – the effects of autism in his daily life.

Diagnosed on the autism spectrum at the age of three, Manes has fought hard day in and day out to get to where he currently is on the racing ladder.

“For me, my experience with autism has always been a social issue,” explained Manes. “I had a hard time making friends growing up, but I have been extremely fortunate to have made some really good ones within the racing world as I’ve advanced my career. I struggled for a long time finding the right way to communicate what I needed correctly, but I’ve coped with it in the best way I can and really feel like I’ve started to unlock that puzzle and figure out how to deal with it a lot easier.

“The success and attention that racing allows me to reach other families that face the same challenges of autism that I’ve faced. It gives me a chance to make a real difference for them. I want to give autistic families around the world a racing team to cheer for that they can relate to.”

Manes’ mission in spreading awareness for those with autism was part of what spurred him to step up to the Pro class this season, in addition to wanting to prove that even drivers with smaller programs can still contend for wins at the Shootout.

“The whole reason behind me moving up to the Pro division this year is that even though we’ve always had the struggles of working with a tight budget, I want to be down here, I want to be able to show that I can race with the best of the best and I want to prove that I have the talent to be able to move up the racing ladder,” said Manes, who scored an emotional win in the Semi-Pro class last summer.

“It’s a dream come true to even be down here and I want to keep it going.”