It is fairly common in the racing world to witness two brothers making it to the tracks together. However, to witness the same thing from a set of twin sisters is quite a rare sight. Recently, Laela Eisenschenk and Amelia Eisenchenk, the twin sisters, have made it to the dirt racing grounds and they are already turning heads! 

The sisters come with some racing heritage in their lineage. Their uncle, Donny Schatz, is a legendary sprint car driver. Currently driving the #15 for Tony Stewart Racing, Schatz is a 10-time World of Outlaws champion, winning the Knoxville Nationals for TSR in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2022. A prolific driver with nieces who are on the path to making history. But what do we know about the Eisenschenk sisters so far? Here’s an insight into their lives and the careers they have thrived on so far.

Who are Donny Schatz’s nieces, Laela and Amelia Eisenschenk?

 Laela and Amelia Eisenschenk hail from West Fargo, North Dakota. The twins got into racing at a very young age and currently, they are building a stance as sprint car drivers. At the age of 14, Amelia made history, becoming the youngest event winner in track history at the Spielman Excavating IMCA Sprint Cars.

The two sisters started their racing journey with go-karts and have had a history of racing against each other. Speaking of the competitive mindset they have, Amelia said, “It’s pretty cool to have someone with you at all times. Racing against each other you try and help each other out a lot. It’s just pretty cool to be able to race with your sister every day. We both are very competitive, and it’s hard when you know we’re racing for a win with each other. But, you know, we’ve dealt with it the last five years in go karts, and it’s just kind of been more fun when we get to race each other now for a win.” While Laela and Amelia are only 16 years old, their grip on the cars is getting stronger with every passing day.

How did the twin sisters make their headway into the world of racing?

The racing saga of twin sisters Laela and Amelia started at the tender age of 5. This is when they started their endeavor with the world of go-kart racing. The sisters have taken their first steps onto the racing scene with a passion that runs in their blood—and a resolve to carve out a legacy of their own. Laela completed her freshman year from Kindred High School in 2023 and soon after that, she had rolled into River Cities Speedway with a sprint car powered by a 305 cubic-inch engine. Unlike most drivers in the Northern Outlaw Sprint Association (NOSA), who race with the more powerful 410 cubic-inch engines, Laela was armed only with determination.  

While the expectation from her was to secure a position in the Top 10 only, it turned out that she has much more potential than one would imagine. She finished 5th in the standing. This remarkable achievement etched her name in NOSA’s history books, as only two other women—Amber Balcaen and Natalie Sather—have posted better results. Speaking of the journey she had, Laela said, “I thought it was great. It was especially cool because we know Natalie Sather. Maybe one day when I get a 410, I can take that one from her”.

Meanwhile, Amelia turned to Late Model Racing and has thrived there. In June 2024, she became the first female driver to lead a lap in Northern Late Model Racing series history. In 2023, in just her fourth late model race at River Cities Speedway, she climbed as high as sixth during the feature race and she ended the race with an 11th finish following a late caution. Given the complexities associated with this model of racing, Amelia said, “The late model field is really tough. Most of these guys have been doing it a long time”. Like her sister, Amelia was also into sprint cars, but since the twins have just one sprint motor, Amelia switched to late models.

Trending

1

NASCAR Penalty: Brad Keselowski & Co. Slammed With $75,000 Fine & Points Deduction After Kansas Scandal

2

FOX Broadcasting & Danica Patrick Face Brutal Backlash as America Props Up to Tony Stewart for Indy500

3

Richard Childress Unhappy With NASCAR Driver After Explicit Rant on His Partner of 18 Years

4

FOX Broadcaster Gets Teary Eyed, Publicly Disclosing Emotional Moment as Call Mounts Against Jamie Little

5

Massive Wreck at NASCAR’s New Short Track Grabs Major Media Attention

Laela Eisenschenk makes her debut in the Tulsa Shootout

Laela Eisenschenk made her entry into the 40th Tulsa Shootout in 2025 as she raced for A-Class Winged, Stock Non-Wing, and Outlaw Non-Wing. Her schedule looked packed, and none other than Uncle Donny Schatz guided her. This is the very first time that she took up the steering of the micro cars and it has been a complicated affair indeed. 

Speaking of her debut journey in this world, Laela said, “We wanna race more this winter. My sister Amelia did the dome in St. Louis and you know I wanted to do the dome but I have a brand new car so we settled for this at the Tulsa Shootout and I’m happy I got an opportunity to come here for sixfour motorsports. I’ve had a blast. I have never raced a non-wing care or a micro for that matter”.

Will Laela and Amelia Eisenschenk be able to foray into the elite tracks of NASCAR?

Given how NASCAR drivers like Christopher Bell or even Kyle Larson have deep-rooted dirt racing history, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the sisters venture into NASCAR as well. The two girls have also been quite perseverant when it comes to breaking stereotypes, given that this is a highly “male-dominated” sport. They have drawn inspiration from similar racers, Kate Taves and Kelsi Pederson. Speaking of the same, Amelia said, “Everyone always says it’s not for girls, this and that. But we don’t look at it that way. We race them just like they race us. It’s pretty cool when girls can compete with the guys”.

Diving into the world of NASCAR is a dream for all drivers and yet very few can make it work. The Eisenschenk sisters come from a family deeply rooted in racing. Their uncle, Donny Schatz, is a famed sprint car driver, and that legacy carries weight. But the twins are proving they’re more than capable of forging their paths. Currently, both the sisters are making their grounds strong on the dirt tracks.

Will the Eisenschenk twins be able to follow in the footsteps of their uncle Donny Schatz?

It would not be wrong to say that Donny Schatz is a legend in the world of racing and currently he is one of the most coveted drivers for Tony Stewart Racing. It was in 2024 that Schatz made it to his 500th sprint car feature win at Volusia Speedway Park. Schatz burst onto the WoO scene in 1997, earning the Rookie of the Year award and making an early impression as a rising star. By 1998, he had claimed his first A-feature win, signaling the beginning of what would become a storied career. It was in the middle of the 2000s that Schatz peaked. 

In 2006, he clinched his first WoO championship. Following the same, Schatz has been able to claim the trophy for the years 2007, 2008, and 2009. This incredible streak made him only the second driver in WoO history, alongside the legendary Steve Kinser, to win four consecutive championships. In 2008, Schatz took a pivotal step in his career, moving to Tony Stewart Racing and since then he has been driving for the same team. Given his legacy, he is indeed the best mentor for the Eisenschenk sisters.

Speaking of how they would want to be mentored by Uncle Donny and their ultimate goals, the sisters said, “We want to be on tour with the Outlaws. It doesn’t matter if it’s late models or sprint cars. It doesn’t matter if it’s late models or sprint cars”. Schatz’s outlaw legacy has certainly left a mark on the sisters as they want to follow in his WoO footsteps. This comes with little surprise as the twins were in Knoxville, Iowa in 2015, watching their uncle win the Knoxville Nationals for the ninth time in ten years.

With their unyielding determination, and the guidance of their legendary uncle, Donny Schatz, Laela and Amelia Eisenschenk are poised to redefine boundaries in the world of motorsports. Although the path in front looks challenging, the twin sisters do have an indomitable spirit to motivate them to reach the pinnacle of motorsports.