Truly Adams is a 15-year-old Formula 4 athlete from the Inland Empire who has been racing since he was 4 years old. His journey in open-wheel racing has taken him to various places across the globe — including the FEED Racing Formula 4 Finals in France where he was the first American racer to earn a spot on the podium.
“I have always loved racing since a young age, just because I’ve always been around it,” Adams said. “I started at the age of 2 years old, sitting in my father’s lap, began racing at four years old and raced my first Formula 4 car at 13 in the Skip Barber series.
“I love racing because of the community — I love that I can travel all around the world and still meet people that love racing.”
The young athlete’s third place finish at the FEED Racing Final is one of many races ahead of him on his path to eventually become a Formula 1 professional. Adams said he’ll be headed back to France soon, looking forward to testing and the 2026 racing season. Formula 4 racing is an entry-level racing category for athletes ages 15 to 17, driving open-wheel, single-seater vehicles. The FEED Racing Final typically features the top six drivers, vying for championship. To prepare for upcoming races, Adams said his training typically includes using simulated racing programs, practice sessions on the track and being sure to exercise and stay fit — especially starting about two weeks before the event date. Moments before each race, Truly said he does not get nervous — hungry, he said, but never nervous. His mother, on the other hand, has a very different experience.
“I got nervous when he was racing go- karts and now, he’s in something that goes over 130 miles per hour — and he doesn’t even have a driver’s license,” Kara Adams said. “I get very nervous, but I’m not going to let my fear stand in the way of his destiny.”
One of the major challenges the young athlete said he faces in pursuing racing as a passion are the immense costs associated with the sport. His travel and housing costs typically amount to $5,000, where practice and training costs approximately $10,000 per day. In total, a full Formula 4 season in France can cost roughly $800,000. Having access to wealth or various sponsors, the racer said, is a major factor in being able to pursue the path.
“First, hope you have really, really rich parents,” Adams said with a laugh. “Second, find someone who’s really rich to support you — and then third, if you don’t have either of those two, start a GoFund- Me.
“It’s a very high-priced game that I am in, so it all just depends on how much money you have and how much money you can get to support yourself.”
With the help of his parents, Adams has started a GoFundMe page to help pay for his 2026 season. At the time of publishing, the family has raised $876 from 16 donations of its $8,000 goal. For his mother and father, Troy Adams, their goal is to ensure that money doesn’t stop their son from being able to pursue his dreams.
“For myself and for Troy, our goal is to make it so that funds aren’t the reason why he doesn’t make it,” Kara said. “I’ve seen posts where someone said, ‘if we all gave $1, he could get there’ and that’s re ally the premise of what we’re doing. “The times now are so full of turmoil and to be able to see a young person go for his dreams and bring his community
with him is so important to us.”
The community of Riverside and the
larger Inland Empire showed the Adamses its support by hosting a fundraiser for Truly. The Cars N’ Coffee event at Cable Airport was organized by two local college students, drew over 200 attendees and raised $5,000 to offset the expenses. The young athlete said he is grateful for the community’s backing.
“The community has helped a lot and I’m very thankful for that,” he said.
As he looks forward toward his future, Truly said that he is excited for the races to come and that he hopes to continue racing for a long time — and his parents are very proud of him.
“I am very, very excited for this upcoming season — a little nervous, but more excited and ready to race,” Truly said.
“He has so much belief in himself and he’s so tunnel visioned toward Formula 1 that it’s almost like it’s already happened,” Kara said. “I’m very proud of everything that Truly has done and that he’s accomplished.”
To support Truly in his endeavors, visit trulythetruth.com, find the GoFundMe page at gofund.me/9fb3b00a9 or follow the young athlete on Instagram at truly_ thetruth.