Catching My Breath
Catching My Breath
Catching My Breath
I can’t believe we are already one race weekend into the 2013 race season, and the start of my second year racing in the Pro 4 class. Wasn’t it just yesterday that I was wondering what I would be doing, and if we would be able to continue racing in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series after they moved the UTV classes to the Regional series?
Destiny. I think that is why we are where we are right now.....I have felt, for a couple of years, now, that what we are doing right now - what we have done to get here - was meant to be. After starting my second season in Pro 4, and seeing how every piece to a very complicated puzzle fell into place to get me here again, I can’t help but feel it more than ever. I feel with every bone in my body that this is what I was meant to do. Why? I have no idea.....but I feel it’s important for some reason. It just feels right.
So, here we are again....only this year it’s different. This year, I am a truck owner. We are running our own team. Thanks to Carl Renezeder and his crew and support all last season, we have learned so much about this class and what it takes to run a program. We still have a lot to learn, but I have a very capable crew chief, who has a talent for taking these machines and making them easy to go fast. And as dysfunctional as our husband/wife, crew chief/driver, competitor/competitor relationship can be sometimes - somehow we make it work.......and when it works, we are a potent combination.
The Tilted Kilt, who’s faith in me has been amazing, is back with us again, making sure we can stay in this class that I love so much. And with the co-support of my newest sponsor, Optima Batteries, we were able to buy the truck and bring it in-house, where we can personalize it to my driving style and make me even more comfortable in it. Optima has opened their arms and made me feel so welcome.....there is so much potential wrapped up in this new season! Maxxis is back....man, they have been good to me!! Such an amazing tire, and again, another company who makes me feel like part of the family! We picked up AIRAID as an associate sponsor - and they have been amazing to work with so far. And LoanMart - those guys are awesome!! They have been more instrumental in getting us here than anyone knows.....and it’s a pleasure having them back onboard this year as an associate. Eclipse RV, who let us use that amazing Attitude toyhauler last season, is also back to support our program this year! I have so many companies who are so excited to work with us.....AZ Driveshafts and AAMCO (Hillkiller Transmissions, to be exact) here in Mesa have been instrumental in getting us up and running for our first race! So many companies that I could go on for pages.....I just can’t thank everyone enough, and it’s overwhelming when I think about the support we have gotten and continue to get!!
Our first race - man, what a whirlwind. 5 weeks of 14 hour days, 7 days a week, a test session, and getting everything in order for our first race weekend on our own. I think I have found my stress limit, after those 5 weeks!! But we did it - and we did it so well!! Our pits were awesome...the truck was awesome....our weekend was packed with support and friends and help and FANS!! We finished top 5 on Saturday, and despite completely losing the rear drive due to a part that was about 5 years old, we still finished 8th on Sunday. WITH all of my bodies in tact - that is no easy feat in this class - haha!
Vegas is next, and I’m ready. The truck and the crew will be ready. In the weeks between now and then, I will be busy doing all of those things that need to be done to keep a program running: e-mailing sponsors, social media, videos, photos, working in the shop, getting bruises and scratches and probably ripping another nail off (no, I can’t give up my nails....!), ordering parts, sending out parts, coordinating crews, making reservations, being a mom, working out, and doing the normal stuff just to run my personal life. And every second of that work - every bit of blood, sweat and tears, will be worth it when I’m sitting on that starting line waiting for whatever my destiny is going to bring.
This is truly living the dream......
March 22, 2013