NASCAR Driver Keith McGee Visits Little Falls Ahead of Albany-Saratoga Speedway Race

By Dave Warner

LITTLE FALLS, NY – On Thursday, NASCAR Truck Series driver Keith McGee made a special stop in Little Falls, accompanied by local extreme sports advocate Zachary Nash. The visit, a nod to Nash’s deep ties to the Mohawk Valley, allowed McGee to experience the small-town charm Nash has long championed through his organization, Lucid Reality. McGee is set to compete in a pro stock race at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta, NY, tonight, raising awareness for autism acceptance in an event organized by Mariano Motorsports.

McGee, a disabled veteran and the first Alaskan to race in NASCAR, shared his remarkable journey from military service to the racetrack during an interview in Little Falls. Born and raised in Northern California, McGee followed in his grandfather’s footsteps by enlisting in the Air Force. His enlistment date, however, coincided with one of the most pivotal moments in American history.

“I decided I was going to go sign up for the Air Force,” McGee recounted. “They let me pick what date I got to ship out. I wanted to spend the summer with friends and goofing off… So I picked the 11th of September, 2001. It was just, you know, it had to be a Tuesday.”

On that fatal day, as McGee was swearing in at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), the terrorist attacks unfolded. “We came out of the swearing in at MEPS, and they bring you into this big giant room… I saw a Marine captain standing in the doorway crying. And I was like, what’s going on? Marines don’t cry,” McGee said.

He then saw the replay of the first plane hitting the World Trade Center on a screen. Initially thinking it might be a test of mental toughness, he quickly realized the gravity of the situation.

With airspace shut down nationwide, plans changed abruptly. “They shut down all the airspace and they ended up putting us in a hotel… Later in the day they came in and said, if you live within 45 mile radius, you can go home. We’ll call you when you need to come back,” McGee explained.

Living just 46 miles away, he pleaded to be allowed home and was granted permission. On Saturday evening, he received the call to report back, shipping out the next morning. “Kind of had to say goodbye twice to my parents and my friends,” he added.

This experience marked the beginning of McGee’s military career, which was altered by the events of 9/11. “It was the first time in the history of the Air Force that our basic training was shortened because we had already sworn in,” McGee noted.

After basic training in Texas, he attended tech school in Mississippi and was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. In 2005, McGee suffered a traumatic brain injury but continued serving, eventually getting orders to Elmendorf in Alaska.

“By the grace of God, I didn’t get medically retired… I got stationed there in 2005, fell in love with Alaska and just stayed,” he said.

McGee served until 2009, then transitioned to working for the Department of Defense managing long-range radar sites in Alaska, primarily tracking Russian aircraft for NORAD.

His entry into racing came serendipitously in 2017 when an indoor electric go-kart track opened near his home. “I’ve always wanted to be a racecar driver… One night a gentleman approached me and said, hey, have you ever thought of racing a NASCAR? My entire life I’ve thought of that,” McGee recalled.

This led to opportunities in lower levels of NASCAR, culminating in his Truck Series debut in April 2021 at Richmond, where he finished 30th despite no practice or qualifying due to COVID restrictions. “My very first lap was the very first time starting the engine… I stalled it when I was rolling off,” he admitted with a laugh.

Reflecting on his racing career, McGee said, “It’s a childhood dream, right? It’s one of those where I wake up and live a ten-year-old kid’s dream. And it’s pretty incredible the people I get to meet and just the opportunities.”

Initially reluctant to highlight his veteran status, McGee embraced it upon realizing the impact he could have. “I didn’t want recognition for that. I didn’t want sympathy… But I quickly realized how many veterans go to races and how many are race fans,” he explained.

Discovering no other disabled veterans had competed in NASCAR, he became a voice for them. “Veterans feel forgotten a lot of times… I realized I had an opportunity to be that voice and say, hey, we can do anything.”

The Albany-Saratoga Speedway event, a highlight of the track’s season, is expected to draw 45 drivers, with only 32 starting the race. McGee, racing in the pro stock division—a V8-powered car resembling an asphalt late model converted for dirt—acknowledged the challenge ahead.

“I’ve got a huge target on my back because I’m a professional,” he said. “But these guys I’m racing with have way more experience in this realm. I get no practice, so I’ve got to go out there and make it happen.”

The race supports autism awareness and acceptance, a cause organized by Jordan Mariano, whose daughter has autism.

Zachary Nash, who connected McGee with the event through a mutual friend in Alaska, emphasized the significance of bringing the NASCAR driver to his hometown.

“My piece is Lucid Reality, my home, where everything started,” Nash said. “It’s really cool to bring him here, to tie it all together and show him the small-town culture I’ve told him about.”

Nash, who founded Lucid Reality to unite extreme sports enthusiasts, saw the event as a chance to highlight the underdog spirit. “It’s about putting out the story of the underdog and showing everything is attainable,” he added.

McGee praised the event’s impact, noting, “It’s pretty awesome what [Jordan] has been able to accomplish. To have 45 cars show up for just this one race is incredible. We don’t even get that big of a turnout in the Truck Series.”

He highlighted the community support, with drivers showing up even if they don’t qualify, all in support of the message.

Looking ahead, McGee remains focused on the present while aspiring to greater heights. “Right now I’m just kind of living in the moment… The ultimate goal is to run the Daytona 500 at least once,” he said.

His path involves building a racing resume, gaining approvals, and progressing through NASCAR’s levels, with notable achievements like leading a lap and finishing 10th at Talladega in 2021.

McGee’s visit to Little Falls underscores the community’s growing reputation as a hub for connection and inspiration, as championed by Nash’s Lucid Reality.

As McGee prepares for the race, he carries the support of a small town with big dreams, aiming to inspire others. “I try to use my story for inspiration and to encourage others to keep pushing, you know, do the things that other people tell you you can’t do,” McGee said.

For more information on the Albany-Saratoga Speedway event, visit https://albany-saratogaspeedway.com.

To learn more about Zachary Nash and Lucid Reality, visit lucidrealityshop.com or follow LucidReality907 on social media to learn more or get involved.