Driver Biography

Alex comes from a family with a strong history in racing and the automotive industry. Both his paternal grandfather and father started racing go-karts at a young age and graduated to cars, winning many races along the way. His maternal grandfather was a test driver for many years. Alex's father, who is also his quarter midget handler and was NCQMA's Race Director and Tech Director, has been employed by various NASCAR Cup race teams over the past 19 years, including the last 13 years as an engine builder with Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and now Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies. In 2006, he also started his own quarter midget engine building business, appropriately names POWER by Murray Performance.

Since Alex was a toddler, he's had a keen interest in racing. At the age of three, he started honing his driving skills riding a dirtbike. Due to a desire to be competing on four wheels and the quarter midget's reputation for safety, Alex began racing quarter midgets in June of 2005 at the premiere NCQMA facility built by Bobby Labonte. He won his first race in August of 2006 just before beginning kindergarten.

2006 was a year of great accomplishment and growth for Alex. He set fast times and won races, including the Jr. Honda Carolina Cup, at NCQMA. He finished 4th in the NCQMA Summer Series, 3rd in the NCQMA Championship Series, and was voted "Best Attitude Driver" at NCQMA. He received a second car and began racing a second class, Jr. Stock.  Alex also began traveling to many different race tracks with his family. This provided him with the opportunity to experience different regions of the country, learn about rules of the highway and geography, and spend lots of quality time with his mother, father, and sister.

2007 was another year of great experience and accomplishment for Alex. He continued to travel, win races, and learn important lessons. He set fast time at the States Race, made an A Main at his first Grand National event, and won NCQMA's first-ever 75 lap Jr. Honda race. He finished 2nd in NCQMA's Summer Heat point series and Championship point series with his Jr. Honda car, as well as 2nd in the Championship series in Jr. Stock. He added a third car and class, Lt. 160, as soon as he turned eight years old. In what is usually considered the off-season, Alex won a Jr. Honda A Main at the Columbus Indoor Winternationals where the best-of-the-best from around the country are known to race.

Alex turned nine late in 2008. He added Sr. Honda, Lt. Mod, and Lt. B to his list of racing classes resulting in racing in a total of six competitive classes throughout the year. He raced January through December, and raced as far north as Connecticut for the Eastern Grands, and as far south as Florida for the Little New Smyrna 500 after Christmas. In addition to all the experience he gained on the track racing six different classes at numerous tracks, Alex also learned some tough lessons in character-building. He overcame obstacles such as a broken ankle, turning nine during the point series resulting in having no drops, and experiencing the effects of unethical behaviors of fellow competitors. These experiences solidified Alex's desire to work hard and succeed with integrity and character both on and off the track.

In 2009, Alex became a mentor to his younger sister who began racing quarter midgets. He continued running Lt. 160, Lt. Mod, and Sr. Honda. He experienced success at the Eastern Grands and won the Sr. Honda Championship at  NCQMA. He had the opportunity to learn about  balancing his interests and making choices  as he also played PopWarner football in the fall.

2010 was a year full of travel and new experiences, including racing on dirt for the first time. He continued to race Lt. 160 and added Lt. World Formula to the list of classes he has run while racing Lt. AA at a few races,  as well. Alex won his first Lt. World Formula race at NCQMA, and he went on to finish 3rd in Lt. World Formula at the Eastern Grands at Mini Indy.  

In 2011, the Murrays stayed closer to home and ran mostly at their home track, NCQMA, where Alex won both the Lt. 160 and Lt. World Formula Championships, as well as the inaugural USAC .25 National Award Series Lt. 160 Championship.

Quarter midget racing has been and will continue to be an education for Alex. Alex has had the opportunity to learn about his car and how it works. Driving has also helped him refine his eye-hand coordination and motor planning skills, as well as reinforce basic math concepts. Participation in this sport has facilitated the development of Alex's social skills because, at the track, he interacts with adults and kids of all ages. He has learned how to accept compliments and criticism. He displays sportsmanship as he handles both losing and winning gracefully (most of the time) and provides encouragement to others. He has demonstrated respect for rules and others both on and off the track, while also exhibiting a sense of responsibility and discipline as a member of NCQMA, a club that relies on its members for every aspect of maintaining the track and running the racing events. Racing quarter midgets, which requires independent decision making on the track, has already improved Alex's self-confidence.

While Alex will quickly and confidently state that his favorite activity is racing, he is a well-rounded child who enjoys riding his bike and skateboard, playing football and basketball, swimming, playing board games, baking chocolate chip cookies with his mother, listening to music on his iPod, texting his many friends from across the country, iRacing, and playing PlayStation. He continues to participate in community sports including football and basketball. Alex has been described as a model honor roll student by his teachers as he is well-behaved, achieves on or above grade level, and encourages his classmates to do their best. 

Alex with his family: Tonya, Chris, & Madeline