LOWER LAKE ? Kayla Mincey, 17, of Lower Lake, has received a return invitation to attend the second phase of the Lyn St. James Driver Academy in Arizona. Mincey attended the first session in November and received notification earlier this month inviting her to attend the second phase of the three phase program.
The Lyn St. James Driver Academy is an invitation-only experience extended to women who aspire to the professional levels of motorsports. Mincey is one of 16 women from around the world to be accepted to this year”s program.
Mincey said the return invitation has boosted her confidence.
“Being invited back gives me more confidence in my skills as a driver. It means that I did well in the first phase and I”m looking forward to returning,” she said. “They are really supportive up there and they give us a lot of information to help make us better drivers.”
The first phase of the program focused on physical and mental preparation. Mincey said the experience helped her increase her level of patience and learn how to control her aggression on the track. She said activities also taught her how to become more aware of her surroundings on the track.
“There was another activity called Mind Shaper. It was like a game and it measured our reaction time and our memory skills,” she said.
According to her crew chief and brother Justin Mincey, Kayla Mincey finished the first phase of the program among the top eight percent of all participants in the history of the program.
“She is right up there rubbing elbows with Danica Patrick and Melanie Troxell, who are the top female racers in the nation and Lyn St. James alumni,” her father Gene Mincey said.
The second phase of the program will focus on business seminars and media training. “This round we will be learning interview skills and the business of racing,” Mincey said.
“The only part I”m nervous about is talking in front of a lot of people. That”s the only thing I have trouble with. I hope I do well in this phase so I can make it to Phase III where we get to drive the Corvettes.”
Mincey said she made some lasting friendships during her first visit to Arizona and is looking forward to strengthening those friendships.
“I met a girl from New Hampshire named Sierra McCoy and her dad Dale. I”m looking forward to seeing them again,” she said. “There were a lot of girls that I met with all sorts of different cars.”
Mincey competes in the Outlaw Go-Karting of Lakeport Speedway winter series where she set fast time six consecutive races. She aspires to be a professional sprint car driver in the “World of Outlaws.”
“Kayla is one of those kids who sets her mind on what she wants and works really hard to get it,” her mother Sheri Mincey said. “Never in my life did I think my daughter would be the race car driver. She retired both of her brothers. She knew what she wanted when she was eight and we just gave her the tools she needed. She”s taken it to heights we never imagined.”
Mincey”s career is supported through sponsorships. Recently, while researching possible copyrighting infringements, she found a new sponsor with No Wimps, a sportswear company owned by Robert Driml.
Other sponsors include Leroy and Phyllis Hicks of P&L Body Shop in Clearlake; Maynard Albertson of Konocti Motor Company in Lower Lake; and the owner of the nationally-acclaimed hot rod “Blue Velvet,” Jack Kiley.
A chili feed and raffle will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 20 at Lower Lake Community Park to help fund Mincey”s trip to Arizona.
For more information about donating to this educational opportunity, contact Gene or Sheri Mincey at 994-7938 or send donations directly to PO Box 1213, Lower Lake, Calif. 95457.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
