A Roller Coaster and Autobahn Country Club

Kaylee soon went from Arizona to the Autobahn Country Club in Illinois, where she embarked on an intensive two-day course to prepare for her upcoming races. The excitement was palpable as she and her family made their way back to Illinois after honing her skills on familiar tracks.

Day One: Trials and Triumphs

Wednesday dawned with promise and challenges alike. Kaylee dove into three practice sessions, aiming to familiarize herself again with the course. Despite racing against competitors seasoned in Lucas Oil schooling, Kaylee consistently put up good times during practice, often securing P2 or P3. However, minor shifting issues crept into her sessions, causing some concern.

Qualifying brought its own set of challenges, yet Kaylee managed to put up a P3 starting position for the first race. As the green flag waved, the shifting problem intensified, leading to a critical moment where she veered off track. Adhering to Lucas Oil's rules, Kaylee had to pit quickly for a mandatory check, plummeting her to P14 upon re-entry. Kaylee, fought her way back to P7 by the race's end.

With invaluable feedback from Dan Erickson, her coach, and the mechanics, adjustments were made overnight in hopes of resolving the persistent shifting issue before the next day’s races.

Day Two: Battling Adversity

Thursday dawned with renewed determination. Qualifying for Race 2 initially seemed promising, but Kaylee encountered another setback as her car got stuck in 5th gear early on. Quick adjustments were made, swapping out the steering wheel and tweaking electronics, allowing her to secure a starting position of P5.

Race 2 proved eventful as Kaylee found herself entangled mid-corner with another driver, forcing both off track. Despite the setback, her car proved to be fine, with little livery damage. Soon after Kaylee left the pits, a double yellow flag enabled Kaylee to catch the cars infront, and going from a distant P14 to a close P14. During the remaining laps, Kaylee moved up to P7, narrowly missing the top contenders.

By Race 3, Kaylee’s resilience shone through. Starting P4 due to accumulated points from previous races and qualifying efforts, she took the green, settling into a solid P5 position. Though victory eluded her this time, Kaylee viewed the experience as invaluable—a strong foundation for her debut season in Lucas Oil.

Reflections and Future Aspirations

Kaylee’s journey at Autobahn Country Club was marked by highs and lows, each contributing to her growth as a competitive racer. Her tenacity in overcoming technical issues and on-track challenges underscores her potential in the racing world. As she continues to fine-tune her skills and gain experience, Kaylee looks forward to future races with determination and optimism, and ready for the next Lucas Oil race in Mid-Ohio.