My Racing Roots Run Deep

My love of racing literally goes back further than, well, I guess my entire life really. My mom was born and raised in Knoxville, Iowa. If you're a racing fan, you know how big of a deal Knoxville is for racing. My mom and my uncle Mike both raced growing up. They raced go-karts, midgets and just about anything that would move! The left picture, third row down, is a picture of one of my mom's many race cars through the years.

Way back in 1981, my mom gave birth to a legend. Well, that's a joke, it was just me! But anyway... motherhood didn't slow her down. She returned to do some go-kart racing herself off and on, but mainly we spent most every weekend at a racetrack. I've been to every Knoxville Nationals, except for the one time it didn't run (damn Covid). The tradition of going to the Nationals parade is still something we carry on even though my mom isn't with us to attend anymore.

When I was about 10 years old, I decided that I wanted to give racing a chance. My mom sold her beloved AMX Javelin and bought me a kart of my own. We traveled all over Iowa and raced. It was some of the best times of my life. My friends came along, got hit in the head by karts stands, or just learned to eat nachos with some dirt in them. #dirttrackracing Along the way, I've met some very amazing people and developed some incredible friendships.

Sammy Swindell has been my favorite sprint car driver my entire life. The first picture up there is me and Sammy after his Knoxville Nationals win! Below that is Sammy meeting Clauson and my daughters! My mom was a friend of Kenny Weld's and also a fan of the entire Swindell family. She introduced me and the rest was history. She loved Kevin Swindell like he was one of her own kids and was so proud to see him in all of his ventures and I can't imagine what she'd say today seeing Swindell Speedlab and what he and Jordan have built! She would be so proud! The night Kevin was injured, we were listening to the Nationals on the radio since she was too weak to attend. I think she wore a path in my hardwood floors pacing as much as she did. Sammy won the 360 Nationals three months after my mom passed away and damn, what I wouldn't have given to have her here to see that together.

Our paths crossed along the way with McKenna Haase. If you haven't heard of her, look her up. Seriously, she is the most amazing person you might ever meet. She heard of my mom's cancer battle and her love of racing and when my mom was too sick to go to the races and sit in the stands, she put us in a suite for her last race she'd ever attend in person. My mom told me over and over back then, "Watch that girl. She's going places." Once again, if she could just see her now....

Clauson has a unique name. He needed a strong, racing name and that's just what he got. Bryan Clauson was one of our favorite drivers and died in a racing accident shortly after my mom passed. Everyone knows 1,589 guys named Bryan, so Clauson it was. (PSA, Ayrton was a strong contender because I adored Ayrton Senna).

So far my kids haven't seriously asked to race and financially, I'm glad for that. However, Clauson is a spitting image of my mother and a LOVER of all things that GOOOOOO. He loves "Spreent Cars", his Kenna (McKenna), Sammyyyyyy, Kebin/Jo (one entity lol), Kyle Busch (IDK why) and Gio (Scelzi). In reality, he loves every damn person who straps in a race car, but these are his all time faves. I'm sure we'll be selling shit to buy a go-kart soon enough for him. In the meantime, I'll keep a little bit of what sanity I have left since my own heart isn't out on a track right now. For now, you'll hear us cheering in the stands, visiting our friends in the pits and keeping our love of racing going. Since it's Nationals week.... GO SAMMY #stillwinning GO DARYN (God I love that Swindell Speelab Car) and GO McKENNA (what a good qualifying run). Let's go racing!!!