| Zach Banks-Calderín | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality: |  American | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Name: | Zachary Mitchell Banks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Racing driver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years Active: | 2012 - present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 15 December 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Place: | Miami, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma Mater: | Florida State University, B.S. 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Zachary Banks-Calderín (born December 15, 1997) is an American racing driver. Banks has recorded over 90 career race wins.
Born to Cuban immigrant mother Jacqueline and Irish-American father Jason, Banks-Calderín grew up in Miami, Florida,[1] where he attended George Washington Carver Middle School, and later Christopher Columbus High School, Immaculata-La Salle High School, and Coral Gables Senior High School, where he graduated. Banks-Calderín graduated with honors and served as president of his class during his junior year of high school. Banks-Calderín began attending Florida State University in 2016, pursuing a degree in management information systems.
Banks-Calderín competed in his first karting race in October 2012. He recorded his first win in October 2013 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in TAG Junior. His first championship came in early 2014 with International Racing,[2] shortly after turning 16.[3]
Banks-Calderín's karting career progressed to the international stage with top-10 finishes in both the Cold Stone Florida Winter Tour and the United States ROK National Championship in 2015 and 2016. He won the 2016 Florida Karting Championship Series [4] at Homestead-Miami Speedway in TAG Senior and the 2016 Florida State championship [5] in ROK Senior. Banks-Calderín began testing Le Mans sports cars in 2017 at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Daytona International Speedway. In mid-2017, Banks-Calderín took a brief hiatus from racing to further his studies at Florida State.
Banks-Calderín resumed racing in September 2018, winning his first 8 races, consecutively. Banks-Calderín followed up his championships with another championship in the Monticello Racing Series in December 2019. Banks-Calderín won 17 races in 2019.
In August 2019, Banks-Calderín became an officially licensed Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) race car driver.
In December 2020, Banks-Calderín repeated as champion at Monticello in ROK Senior with a 15-win season, shortened by the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Banks-Calderín won his 3rd consecutive championship at Monticello in 2021.[6] Banks-Calderín graduated from Florida State University in 2021 with a degree in Management Information Systems, and stopped racing at Monticello. After almost 2 years away from racing after college, Banks-Calderín moved to Charlotte, NC in May 2023 to resume his racing career - restarting his career under the name Zach Banks-Calderín, to honor his Cuban upbringing. [7] Banks-Calderín worked at Rackley WAR from May-July 2023, gaining experience before attempting to move up the ranks in oval racing. [7]
Banks-Calderín has been featured as a guest on several podcasts and interviews since September 2018.
Banks-Calderín was selected for the 2020 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Driver Recruitment Program in Fontenay-le-Comte, France. Banks-Calderín signed a letter of intent to drive for Hendriks Motorsport for the 2020 season. However, due to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the plans never materialized.
Banks-Calderín speaks Spanish, English, and Italian. Banks-Calderín has competed and placed on the podium of multiple ultramarathon races, including winning the 2020 Hellcat 50K in the male 20-24 category.[8] Banks-Calderín has also competed in several triathlons, duathlons, and other endurance events.