Photo by Jeff Cox Zaine Randall of Fort Dodge competes in the World Championship of Arenacross in Tunica, Mississippi during the last weekend in February.

Most kids have to wait until they’re a teenager to drive.

Zaine Randall has been doing it since he was five years old.

Randall, 11, has been on a dirtbike for six-plus years, thanks to competitions at tracks all around the state — and eventually, the country.

“I’ve been riding since I was five,” Randall said. “I like the jumps the most.”

His father, Scotty McNeil, has been by his side the whole time.

“We would go to Humboldt and County Fair races,” McNeil said. “We’ve gone to Jefferson and Woolstock as well. We would also go up and do Midwest Supercross in Brookings, South Dakota.

“He just kept getting better and better.”

Randall competed on the Nitro Arenacross Tour. In his first season, he took the tour by storm, winning the points title in the 65cc 10-11 division, the 65cc Open division and finishing second in the 85cc 7-11 division.

Randall completed another first in February, as he took part in the World Championship of Arenacross in Tunica, Mississippi. On the second day of the championships, he came away with two first place finishes in the 65cc Open, winning Moto 1 and Moto 2. On the first day, he was second and third.

In the 65cc division, he had a third, two sixths and 11th. In the 85cc, he was third, fifth, sixth and 10th.

In his first year in the series, he’s won 20 races and finished second 14 times. He has nine first place division finishes, and nine runner-up showings.

Randall was recently approved as a member of Team Green Kawasaki.

“It’s pretty cool,” Randall said. “Most kids don’t get the opportunity to ride every weekend and be with their dad — I like that.”

Randall has raced in Wisconsin, Nebraska and Kansas as well, just to name a few.

“He just likes to race,” McNeil said. “He has nine bikes altogether.”

McNeil helps his son with a some of the work on the bike, but he added, “Cody Rodenborn at Racing Unlimited does a lot for us. I do the finer things, but he does the major work.”

McNeil loves helping his son, but being able to watch him is his true enjoyment. Randall’s other big fan is his mother, Annette Andrews.

“When he’s having fun and succeeding and doing well, that’s the joy I get,” McNeil said. “I’ve always wanted him to compete and find something to keep him off the streets.

“I want him to find leadership, motivation and learn responsibility. Being responsible and being a good kid — that’s what matters most to me.”

A trip to Winterset the first week of April is the current goal for Randall, but he also has bigger plans ahead. His biggest motivation?

“To get to the Loretta Lynn championships,” Randall said.