Filipino-American karting champion Arion Crosby is taking an unexpected turn off the racetrack and into show business.

The 17-year-old is entering show business with a long-term goal of building a career in acting. 

Known for his success in competitive karting, Crosby has already won multiple titles and established himself as one of the rising talents in his category. While a future in Formula One remains the ultimate sporting ambition, he is now focusing on his new pursuit.

According to his manager Neil de Guia, the decision did not come easily.

“Matagal ang back and forth namin, almost a year din,” de Guia, who also helped introduce actor Jake Cuenca to the industry, recalled. 

“Eventually nakinig sa ina,” de Guia said with a laugh.

For Crosby, the motivation is deeply personal.

“She’s been telling me I got what it takes, and for the longest time, I just want to make her happy and proud,” he said.

Crosby admits he has little background in entertainment.

“I actually don’t know much about show business, particularly local show business,” he said. “But I’ve done workshops when I was younger and a photo shoot internationally.”

He believes his experience in sports will help him adapt to a new discipline.

“I think my exposure in sport will help me in this new direction. I will give it the same drive, passion, and discipline.”

Crosby is currently working on improving his Filipino and attending acting workshops as part of his gradual transition into the industry.

His management team is taking a careful, step-by-step approach, with no major acting projects lined up yet.

“May mga nagtatanong na studios and networks pero ayoko biglain, hinay-hinay lang. Gusto ko mag-commercials muna siya habang nagwo-workshops,” de Guia said.

Crosby cites Leonardo DiCaprio as his acting inspiration, pointing to “The Wolf of Wall Street” as a standout influence.

He is also open to exploring music and modeling, noting he can sing and play guitar and follows artists like James Reid.

Crosby says the mental discipline he developed in karting will carry over into acting, especially when dealing with pressure and criticism.

“That’s what I learned doing sports from an early age—to keep my focus and ignore negativity.”

It is still too early to tell how far Crosby can go in acting, but his discipline, work ethic, and grounded mindset, more than anything else, bode well for his future in a new field.