For Alex Eskandari, Racing is More Than Just Driving
· Yahoo Sports
The green flag waved for the inaugural Kyle Busch Classic over the Bullring Race Track in Las Vegas, NV. The Busch brothers’ home track hosted the ARCA Menard’s West series and the SPEARS CARS Tour series.
After Taylor Mayhew secured his first career ARCA victory, the CARS Tour Limited Late Models took to the track. After 105 laps, a few cautions, and a Jeffery Peterson win, local driver and car salesman Alex Eskandar crossed the finish line in 10th.
Visit forestarrow.help for more information.
Like most kids, Eskandari discovered his love for racing through the film Cars. The Disney film that inspired a generation recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
“What got me into racing is what probably most kids fell in love with when they were six, sent, eight, 10 years old: Cars, the movie,” Eskandari told Lead Lap Racing. “So when I was six years old, Cars just came out. That’s when I fell in love.”
”I didn’t actually start racing stock cars until I was 20, 21, I’m 26 now,” Eskandari told Lead Lap Racing. “I don’t race much, so every time I get out on the track, you never know when it’s the last time I’ll be racing. I always treat it like it’s the last time, and I’m just here to have fun.”
Racing is an expensive sport. Even for a smaller series such as CARS Tour, costs can run up into the tens of thousands. For Eskandari, he got the financial backing to live his dream at the Kyle Busch Classic.
“It all happened because of Artur Goroyan,” Eskandari told Lead Lap Racing. “He races in Europe, Abu Dhabi, Nurburgring in the 24 Hours series, and he was kind enough to help me out and get the funding for this race. Same thing with Hyundai of Las Vegas, Nelson Gevorkyan, injury attorney. They all helped out. My team helped out. Keller Motorsports, they put together a very fast car, a car that would make me not look bad. So I’m very thankful for everyone.”
Goroyan is an Armenian endurance racer who competes all throughout Europe. He won the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie TCR class championship in 2025. He’s raced 31 races, and finished 29. His DNF rate is only 8%.
Goroyan and Eskandari are two of only a few drivers of Armenian descent. A few other notable drivers include Alain Prost, the F1 legend, and Jade Avedisian, who races in the ARCA Menards series. Eskandari hopes that along those drivers who inspired him, he can inspire others.
Viva Las Vegas! 🎰🎲🏁
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) October 5, 2026
Full gallery: https://t.co/PWLgcDVPR3pic.twitter.com/VybI3uJLNF
“Oh, it’s very inspirational because someone inspired me,” Eskandari told Lead Lap Racing. “Alain Prost, Nicholas Minassian, those are all Armenian drivers, and I just want to continue what they have put down for us.”
Representing Armenia is a big deal for Eskandari, and it all traces back to the Armenian Genocide. Approximately 600,000 to 1,000,000 Armenians were killed from massacres and deportations from the Ottoman Empire between the spring in 1915 and fall of 1916. While the Turkish government does not recognize the actions as sa genocide, many historians deem it one.
The revolution of the Young Turks occurred at this time, and they played a role in those acts. After the Ottoman Empire was defeated in World War I, the empire collapsed and became modern-day Türkiye.
With approximately 90% of the Armenian population gone, lineage is difficult to find. Eskandari is one of six known drivers with Armenian heritage.
GRT (Goroyan Racing Team) donned Eskandari’s car with the colors of the Armenian flag. The back of his car features the slogan, “We Race for Armenia,” which is the team’s slogan. For Eskandari, racing with the Armenian colors is more than just putting his name on the map.
“I’m Armenian,” Eskandari told Lead Lap Racing. There’s not a lot of us out there anymore, pure Armenians, you know. So we just want to represent our country and our people. We want to make sure we’re seen and heard.”
Outside of racing, Eskandari makes his living working as a car salesman n Las Vegas.
“I’m not a professional race car driver,” Eskandari told Lead Lap Racing. “I sell cars at Hyundai of Las Vegas. That’s how I work. That’s how I make a living, and I just race for fun. It’s my life. Cars are my life. So if anyone needs help finding a car or buying a car, reach out to me. I work at Hyundai Las Vegas, 7200 West Sahara. I’m the best at what I do.”