A motorsports driver without hands must be a concept unimaginable to the most of us, and understandably so. But that’s a reality for Joseph Renfro. Born without both arms, even learning how to ride a bike was a task near impossible for him. But he adapted. That, too, to the point where he won his first race in 2023 and eventually caught the attention of some of NASCAR drivers. 

That ability to adapt began long before he ever sat inside a race car. Balance was difficult, and traditional methods simply didn’t work for him. But during his time at Shriners Children’s in Salt Lake City, Renfro began experimenting with a different approach that shaped the rest of his racing journey.

“They had a tricycle, and I was able to steer with my left foot and pedal with my right foot,” Renfro recalled.

That moment proved bigger than it might sound. It gave him a working blueprint that he carried into motorsports.

When Renfro eventually transitioned from bicycles to cars, his father stepped in to help modify a four-cylinder Ford Tempo so he could drive independently. Much like he had done earlier on the tricycle, Renfro used the sole of one foot to steer while controlling the pedals with the other. The setup allowed him to operate the vehicle confidently despite being born without both arms and with one leg nearly two feet shorter than the other. His race cars today still include pedal extensions tailored to fit his frame and driving style.

“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to race,” Renfro told ABC4.com.

That childhood ambition began turning into something tangible in 2023, when he competed against his brothers and a full field of drivers and secured his first race victory. The moment marked an important step forward in his grassroots racing career and even brought unexpected recognition from within the NASCAR community.

Veteran driver Ken Schrader later nominated Renfro for the Real Racer of the Year Award, an honor that took him and his family to Indianapolis for the ceremony.

Today, as he continues pursuing his degree at the University of Wyoming, Renfro remains committed to racing whenever opportunities arise. At the same time, he has become increasingly aware that his story carries weight beyond the track.

“Just put your mind to it, and if you tell yourself that you can do it, you can,” he said.

More recently, Renfro’s journey reached an even wider audience when it was discussed on the Happy Hour podcast hosted by Kevin Harvick, where Harvick and co-hosts Kaitlyn Vincie and Mamba Smith reacted to footage of the young driver competing on dirt while steering entirely with his feet. The clip showed Renfro racing at Phillips County Raceway in Holyoke, where he started a main event from the front row after winning his heat race earlier in the night.

“That’s unbelievable,” Harvick said while watching the footage. “I love seeing stuff like that, and doing stuff like this just makes me happy.”

Smith echoed the sentiment while reflecting on what Renfro’s effort represents to viewers watching from outside the sport.

“Every time I see something like that, I’m like, OK, I’m not gonna complain about it. Why can I not, right? When you see someone that’s overcoming so much stuff like that? Yeah, you just got to lock in.”

Renfro’s feature race that night did not end the way he hoped after contact with the wall ended his charge from the front row. Still, he remained focused on the bigger picture afterward, taking time to thank the partners supporting his effort and continuing to build momentum in a career that has already begun drawing attention far beyond the local dirt-track circuit.

His story is one of focus, commitment, and sheer will… something to remind you of Alex Zanardi. 

Alex Zanardi’s inspiring story

Zanardi had always been a promising driver. Beginning his journey in the 1980s, he found his way into the F3000 series. Later, he even made his way to Formula 1, racing for Minardi, Lotus, and even Williams. At the same time, he was winning titles in the CART (now the IndyCar) Series. He seemed to be at the peak of his career, but life had other plans.

In a horrific 2001 crash during a race at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz, Alex Zanardi lost both his legs. It was thought to be a miracle that he managed to survive, as there had been a massive blood loss after the crash. Many thought that this was the end of his career, but Zanardi refused to give up. He returned to racing just two years later, backed by BMW. He began racing with prosthetics and even won races. But that wasn’t where he took a break.

He took up handcycling and eventually became a Paralympian. In fact, at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, he won the gold medal in the men’s road time trial H4. This was a massive achievement for him.

Although Zanardi was never really a stock car driver or decided to move to NASCAR, his story is rather inspiring. At the same time, it gives more hope and faith to Joseph Renfro, who continues racing in his modified cars.