AAMU Junior Balances Engineering, Marching Maroon & White and a Rising Career in Formula 4 Racing

                                                                                                                                                 By Adyson Saunders

For Alabama A&M University junior Jahan Davis, racing is more than a sport — it is a lifelong passion, a family connection and a dream he is determined to turn into a career.

The 20-year-old mechanical engineering major from New Orleans, Louisiana, has been fascinated by racing since he was a child. As a young kid, racing on television could capture his attention like nothing else.

“I have always been interested in racing since I was a baby,” Davis said. “I was a very hyperactive kid because of my ADHD. Racing used to come on the TV and it would be the only thing I could focus on.”

His passion for cars also grew through his grandfather, who built cars and taught Davis how to work on them. Those early experiences helped create an interest that would eventually take Davis from watching races on television to competing behind the wheel himself.

Davis began karting in 2021 after seeing a commercial for NXG Racing while watching a NASCAR race on ESPN. The organization, founded by Rod Reid, provided Davis with an opportunity to see a pathway into professional racing.

From there, he began building his résumé through sprint karting competitions. Davis competed in events and series including SKUSA, TSRS, Daytona KartWeek, NOLA Motorsports, WKA, CKNA and Route 66. Along the way, he collected multiple podium finishes and top-10 results.

His development continued in 2024 when he completed both the three-day Formula Racing School and two-day Advanced Racing School at Skip Barber Racing School. He also continued training on professional racing simulators while pursuing opportunities to move into open-wheel racing.

That work eventually helped him secure a seat with Kiwi Motorsports, where he now competes as a professional Formula 4 driver in the Formula 4 U.S. Championship.

For those unfamiliar with the sport, Davis describes Formula 4 as the starting point for drivers pursuing open-wheel racing.

“Formula 4 is the entry level to open-wheel racing,” Davis explained. “Formula 1, in simple terms, is ‘the NFL of racing’ — the highest level of the sport.”

And Davis is already building an impressive record. His racing résumé includes five wins, 19 top-three finishes and 15 top-10 finishes, along with five top-15 finishes in national races. He has also earned the Most Positions Gained Award twice, including one race featuring more than 40 drivers.

His journey has also placed him in a unique position as a Black driver pursuing a sport where representation remains a major part of the conversation. Davis describes himself as the second Black racing driver to attend an HBCU in history, making his presence at Alabama A&M part of a story bigger than himself.

He also received sponsorship from NXG Racers to attend Skip Barber Racing School and obtained his professional racing license.

While Davis has his eyes on the future of professional racing, he still finds time to follow some of the sport's biggest names. His favorite driver is Lewis Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari in Formula 1.

Davis also enjoyed the recent “F1” movie, calling it “truly phenomenal.” He said the film captured many of the realities drivers experience both on and off the track, while also emphasizing the importance of teamwork through adversity.

When he is not racing, Davis can often be found making noise on The Hill.

A member of the Alabama A&M Marching Maroon and White, Davis plays bass drum in the percussion section. He has been playing since he was 6 years old, giving him 14 years of experience.

His choice of instrument was about more than simply picking up a drum.

“I was drawn to the bass drum because it was the biggest, loudest drum in the line and I was one of the smallest kids playing it,” Davis said. “I always wanted to prove I could carry something that size and be the strongest out there.”

Before coming to Alabama A&M, Davis attended St. Augustine High School, where he spent two years in the band. He also received a band scholarship at AAMU.

Music isn't Davis' only activity outside of racing and academics. He has played golf his entire life and competed on his high school golf team, where he was the team's highest scorer. He continues to play recreationally and hopes to one day have the opportunity to play for Alabama A&M.

Balancing everything requires discipline. Between mechanical engineering classes, band responsibilities and racing, Davis has developed a schedule that keeps him moving.

“I attend class every day and handle assignments during the day, work hard as section leader in the band at night, and racing is usually reserved for weekends,” he said.

His decision to attend Alabama A&M came down to something he felt almost immediately: a sense of community.

“The welcoming feeling AAMU provided,” Davis said. “I felt I was going to make a change with the support of a village when I accepted my offer to A&M.”

That village has helped make his time on The Hill memorable.

“Beautiful, I've made lifelong connections,” Davis said when reflecting on his AAMU experience.

Although Davis has already accomplished a great deal, he isn't slowing down. He is expected to graduate in May 2028, but his plans extend far beyond earning a degree.

His immediate goal is to become a signed professional IndyCar driver.

But Davis' ultimate dream is even bigger.

He wants to own his own predominantly Black race team, racing school and track, creating the type of opportunity he hopes more young Black racers can access.

The vision is personal. Davis wants to create a space where young people can experience racing even when they may not have the financial resources, connections or support system traditionally needed to enter the sport.

His goal is to become part of the “village” for someone else.

For Davis, racing is not simply about crossing the finish line first. It is about creating a lane for the next generation and eventually opening that lane for others to follow.

From the bass drum on The Hill to the driver's seat on the racetrack, Jahan Davis is proving that his dreams have no single starting point and no finish line in sight.

Adyson Saunders is a member of Crew 75, Alabama A&M University’s student creative content team.