Ever since he was a toddler growing up in Patterson, New York, Matt Ferris has had a passion for things with wheels. That’s really not so unusual for most American youngsters. But what is unusual is that Matt outgrew his interest in playing with toy cars by age six, and got behind the wheel for the first time just one year later. With his parents’ encouragement, he began competing in motorized go-kart races at age nine.     Matt soon started competing at a regional track in nearby Poughkeepsie, New York, where he participated in the World Karting Association’s Speedway Pavement Series and won two national championships. He then moved on to the Formula Race Car of America Series and the Skip Barber Southern Regional Championship Series, where he won numerous prizes and began to attract attention from fans and some notable racing veterans. Matt’s exceptional driving technique and his knack for keeping cool under pressure soon earned him the nickname “Iceman” from his peers.     In 2007, Matt competed in the prestigious Formula BMW USA Series in Utah and Connecticut driving the BMW FB2. His transition to stock car racing took place with his arrival on the Sports Car Club of America’s regional racing circuit, where he competed in their Grand Touring (GT) category driving a Chevy Monte Carlo. In 2008, Matt will continue building on his impressive track record by competing in additional SCCA regional races. He’ll also be broadening his vehicle experience by making his debut in New England’s AllStar Race Truck series, driving a Chevy Silverado (see schedule page for details).