K1 Speed’s 100+ locations and two K1 Circuit locations are full of employees who represent what it means to be part of the K1 family. In this edition, we recognize seven stand-out K1 employees.
Johnnie Young
GENERAL MANAGER – PHOENIX
Johnnie Young brings a rich background in hospitality, music, and even athletics to his role as general manager of K1 Speed Phoenix. A Southern California native from Moreno Valley, Johnnie’s history with K1 Speed started long before his employment; he fondly recalls visiting the Ontario location for a church group trip as a 6-year-old. His professional career took him through a diverse range of management roles, from a kitchen manager at Chipotle to an assistant general manager at Ramen Song, before going to Dave & Buster’s. He joined the K1 Speed team in January 2025, where his manager’s experience made him a natural fit.
At his core, Johnnie is driven by a deep love for people and a profound sense of duty to the customer experience. He feels personally responsible for ensuring that families who work hard and choose to spend their money at K1 Speed have “the best possible time” and leave feeling their experience was worth it. This commitment to excellence extends to his personal growth; he practices daily self-reflection for mindfulness and has a firm goal of becoming a regional manager within 5 to 10 years. Johnnie was a track athlete (triple jump and 400m) and is a lifelong musician who studied sound design. He grew up playing gospel bass and piano, learned sound engineering by age 11, and still produces jazz and lo-fi music under the name “Biiig Stretch.”
Jenna Gould
MANAGER – LITTLETON
Jenna Gould’s K1 Speed journey began long before her first day as an employee. She started racing at the Littleton location at 16, pushed by her brother to try it out. Though she was hesitant at first, she quickly got faster, earning tips and recognition from the K1 Speed staff. This passion led her to apply after turning 18, motivated by the promise of free races. Her career progressed quickly: she started as a track operator, was promoted to track supervisor within months, and after a brief 6-month stint at a car dealership, was recruited back to become a shift supervisor. After turning 21, she was promoted to manager.
For Jenna, the most rewarding part of work is seeing the “wow” factor in new customers. She loves watching their faces “just light up” when they walk in and see the track, a feeling she remembers from her first race. Her connection to car culture runs deep; her hobbies include being an avid Hot Wheels collector, drawing, and attending car shows. This genuine passion for the industry helps her connect with customers and build a strong community, which she considers a “phenomenal” part of the job. Praised by her regional manager as one of the hardest-working employees she’s ever seen, Jenna has proven herself to be a core member of the K1 Speed team.
Yuder Luis Mezerene Aldi
TRACK SUPERVISOR – BOSTON
Since joining the team in August 2024, Yuder has been recognized for his “can-do” spirit and his consistent efforts to make the track look its best. He has even taken personal responsibility for the lobby car, which he calls his “pride and joy,” ensuring it “looks as amazing as possible.” Yuder’s passion for cars is lifelong. He was born in Cuba, a place he describes as “amazing” for a car guy because it’s full of 1950s vehicles. He notes that in Cuba, “everybody is basically a mechanic” out of necessity, so he was surrounded by cars his entire life before moving to the United States in 2014.
Yuder’s main reason for applying to K1 was to be surrounded by racing. Since joining the team, he has taken advantage of the environment and seized opportunities to network with clientele who are racers themselves. As a result of these conversations, Yuder has had incredible opportunities to join their crews at major tracks in New England, including Lime Rock Park, Thompson Speedway, and Club Motorsports. He is also an active L0206 karter himself and plans to start competing next year. A multi-talented creator, Yuder’s hobbies include being a musician (piano and guitar) and a professional freelance photographer and videographer, shooting corporate work, celebrities, and even the 24 Hours of Daytona. His personal hero is his father, whom he calls the “hardest-working person” he’s ever met and the reason he strives to be resilient and continue to persevere.
Marcus Mercuri
TRACK OPERATOR – WINCHESTER
Marcus, one of the newest team members at K1 Circuit in Winchester, has already made a “lasting impact” with his sense of initiative in just over three months. A SoCal native with roots in Apple Valley and Perris, he is a proud father to a four-year-old son and an eight-month-old daughter. He joined K1 Speed in July 2025, and is grateful for the change, as it has given him “a lot more hours” and, most importantly, “more time with my family.”
Though K1 was his “first actual taste of the racing world,” Marcus embraces new challenges and is driven by a strong sense of customer service, which are perfect attributes for our Circuit track operators to embody. He says his favorite part of the job is the positive energy, seeing customers who are “happy [and] excited,” whether they are first-timers or returning regulars. Outside of work, this dedicated father is a go-getter who enjoys cooking everything from Shepherd’s Pie to ratatouille. We are delighted to showcase Marcus and his customer-first mindset.
Kristina Hinkle
TRACK OPERATOR – BEND
Kristina was nominated for maintaining excellent customer service, especially with junior racers and during understaffed shifts. A long-time Bend resident, she moved from Portland as a child and has been in the area ever since. Kristina joined the K1 Speed team in April 2025 and admits she was a little unsure on her first day, but has enjoyed her time at the track and has provided memorable experiences for guests.
Kristina’s favorite part of her day is seeing familiar faces. It’s these meaningful connections with returning individuals and families that she looks forward to the most, a quality that directly reflects the outstanding customer service her manager highlighted. Outside of work, Kristina enjoys the best of Bend’s seasons, particularly going swimming in the lakes during the summer. Her family enjoys attending the occasional car show together as well. We are happy to have Kristina on the Bend team.
Jahnavi “JJ” Manchenella
F&B SUPERVISOR – SANTA CLARA
JJ has been with K1 Speed for a little over three years. In that time, she has gone from cook/cashier to food and beverage supervisor in the Paddock Lounge. JJ’s climb up the promotional ladder isn’t stopping there – she is currently being trained to become a shift supervisor. “She has consistently driven Paddock sales to the top and made a significant impact on our team from day one,” said Santa Clara General Manager Juan Sandoval. JJ said her main inspiration and motivation comes from her father, “the hardest working man I’ve ever met in my entire life.” A natural people person, JJ excels in her customer-facing role.
When she’s not helping provide exceptional customer experiences, JJ enjoys hiking, exploring, and traveling to new countries. Most recently, JJ had the opportunity to visit the Philippines and participated in a medical mission to help improve the health of a local village. We are excited to have JJ on the Santa Clara team and look forward to seeing how her career with K1 Speed progresses.
Quentin Freitas
MANAGER – CAEN
Quentin Freitas brings a remarkably diverse background to his role as manager of K1 Speed Caen. Originally from Rouen, France, Quentin’s career path has exposed him to a range of responsibilities. He first honed his skills as a cook and pastry maker, then served for two years in the police. After the police department, Quentin managed two fruit and vegetable markets for two years. Drawn by the desire for a new challenge and his love for interacting with new people, Quentin joined K1 Speed as a track operator. His management potential was immediately recognized, and when an assistant manager position opened up just a week later, he embraced the challenge and has been successfully leading the Caen team for nearly three years.
At the heart of Quentin’s passion for his job is the human element. He thrives on customer interaction, stating his favorite part of the job is managing his team and seeing customers leave with a smile. This love for lively environments extends to his personal life, where he is an avid sports fan, particularly of basketball. An active person who “loves to move all day,” Quentin embodies a high-energy work ethic, even joking that if he’s doing nothing at home, he’ll just go to K1 Speed. He is deeply appreciative of the confidence his leadership team has placed in him and is proud to represent the K1 Speed brand in France.