Matthew Garland is 14 years old, and he has already fought harder than most people ever will. Born with Ectodermal Dysplasia — a rare genetic condition affecting skin, teeth, and tissue development — Matthew has endured more than a dozen surgeries, including bilateral cleft lip and palate reconstruction, since birth. He will manage deteriorating skin conditions his entire life.

His condition is currently managed, and rather than let his medical journey define his limits, Matthew has used it as fuel. He won the 2024 Track Championship at K1 Speed Sacramento, finished Top 10 in the California State Championship, and made a decision that speaks for itself: he and his family relocated from Sacramento, California to Huntersville, North Carolina — the heart of American motorsport — to pursue his racing dream.  

In his first year of competing in Legends Cars, Matthew has finished 2nd Overall in the national Showdown Series, qualified for 9 of 10 A Main Events in the Chargers Division of the Cook Out Summer Shootout – highlighted by a P2 start in the penultimate race, and a Runner-Up finish in Round 10 to close out the series. And in his final warm-up race before the INEX Legends Cars Asphalt Championships at Dillon Motor Speedway, he finished 10th, moving up divisions against a stacked field he will see again November 12-14 as he competes for a Young Lions Championship.