When you were a kid racing slot cars in your basement, did you imagine you were actually racing a real car in a real race on a real track? Did you also imagine you would grow up to really drive a race car for a living? Of course, you did.
But what if you saw that playtime in a different light? You imagined a career as a real racer, but still racing those miniature electric-powered slot cars? That’s what Dominykas Budrys saw. And it wasn’t that long ago. And it has become a reality for him, making him the Model Car Hall of Fame 2024 Slot Car Racer of the Year.
Come to think of it, what is more farfetched? Achieving fame in a challenging but real career where thousands before you have succeeded? Or reaching the pinnacle of a sport that many people don’t even realize has professional careers and paydays? Being a professional slot car racer might be the crazier dream as a kid.
Budrys has become world champion in 1/32 scale slot car racing, and not just once. As an engineering student at Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania, he prepared for a more “serious” career but dabbled in the fun stuff that college students do in hopes that maybe those interests could pay off. And for him, it was racing at a local slot car track.
Much like real 1/1 scale racing, the actual on-track performance is only a small part of it. His work at honing and perfecting the engineering of the car and hours of practice at Chicagoland Raceway’s tracks paved the way for success.
For keeping slot car racing for a younger generation, Dominykas Budrys is the Model Car Hall of Fame 2024 Slot Car Racer of the Year.
The Model Car Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany, on January 30, 2025. Thanks to everyone at Spielwarenmesse for having us as a part of their event.
