Zach Banks-Calderín
Zachary Banks-Calderín is an American racing driver. Banks has recorded over 90 career race wins.
Early life and education
Born to Cuban immigrant mother Jacqueline and Irish-American father Jason, Banks-Calderín grew up in Miami, Florida, where he attended George Washington Carver Middle School, and later Christopher [Columbus High School (Miami-Dade County, Florida)|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.Racing career
2012 - 2014
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, shortly after turning 16.2015 - present
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 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in TAG Senior and the 2016 Florida State championship in ROK Senior. Banks-Calderín began testing Chevrolet Corvette (C7)#2015 [Corvette Z06.2C Z07 performance package.282015-.29|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 and International Motor Sports Association 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. 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. Banks-Calderín worked at Rackley WAR from May-July 2023, gaining experience before attempting to move up the ranks in oval racing.
Banks-Calderín has been featured as a guest on several podcasts and interviews since September 2018.