Drive A Car At Magic Valley Speedway AND Ride In The Pace Car...

When I began working at the airport, I often heard talk of co-workers who had gone to the race track a mile away to watch other co-workers compete.  I always thought it would be fun but never thought I'd be able to try it.  However, one friend and co-worker made that possible!

I went outside one day to find that he had located a car for us to work together on and turn into a race car for me to compete.   I was ecstatic!  It was a red Honda Prelude, but soon turned into the yellow #59 Queen Bee to race at Magic Valley Speedway. 

The very first race day came and I was so nervous.  My boss was also racing the same type of car but in a different class.  We both had driven during practices that day, but his car gave out so I told him he could drive my car in the main event for his race.

I don't remember the order of the races that day, but before I knew it our heat race was up.  My fingers were sweating as I clung to the steering wheel.  After being given the go ahead to drive onto the track, our swarm of ladies driving yellow cars headed out for a few warm up laps.  I swerved the car slightly back and forth to warm up the tires in order to help them stick to the track.  A voice came over the race frequency earbud and told us we had one lap to go.  As we neared the flag stand the next time, he let that green flag fly.

We were off!  I jammed my foot on the gas pedal and quickly shifted into second gear where I stayed the whole race.  My concentration was intense and before I knew it I was passing cars.  One, then another, then another...and I was in the lead.  We were given the flag signal for one lap to go and I held the lead for the remaining lap to cross the finish line first under the waving checkered flag.

My excitement couldn't be contained.  I guided the car back into my parking spot in the pits and was met by my excited friend.  This meant that I would have the pole position in the main event....first spot!

When the main event came around, I secured myself into the seat with the racing harness, installed my earpiece and tuned into the race frequency, then strapped on my helmet and gripped the wheel.  I was ushered first into the line and waited while the current race finished.  My heart was pounding and the adrenaline was flowing.

The main event finally started...and it was much like the heat race.  I took the lead and held it....and won!  My first race and I won!!!  The voice in my earpiece told me to head to the winner's circle so I made one final cool down lap and drove my car onto the grass and into the winner's circle.  The announcer interviewed me and I had time to thank my family, friends and sponsors.  My family and co-workers cheered excitedly for me....I think I had the most supporters there and I felt so proud! 

Before I knew it, my boss was climbing into my car in the winner's circle.  His race was up next so he had been driven to the winner's circle in the pace car.  (If you look closely at the picture you can see my boss strapping into the car!)  Instead of driving my own car to the pits it would be raced again and so I was given a ride back to the pits in the pace car.  Two goals completed in one night! 

Mr. M and I were just dating then and he was in North Dakota at the time, so I called him from the pits as I exited the car and screamed into the phone that I had won!  My family was so supportive in attending all my races and they were excited to congratulate me as I came back to the stands.

I ended up winning that season and claiming the title of 2005 Queen Bee Champion at Magic Valley Speedway.  I raced the following year in the Hornets division but didn't appreciate some of the dirty driving tactics that went unchecked by officials...and so I decided it was time to resign.  It was a short but awesome race career and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity.