LAKEPORT ? Kayla Mincey, 18, of Lower Lake was crowned the 2009 Delbert”s Memorial Raceway champion in Lakeport last weekend. Mincey tallied 1,094 season points to earn the title.
Mincey has spent half her life on the racetrack and currently runs in the 500cc Outlaw Mini Sprints division. The championship is something she”s had her sights set on since she first sat in the driver”s seat at 9 years old.
“Ever since I started racing I”ve always wanted to be that person ? the champion,” Mincey said. “There have been so many competitions throughout my racing career, it”s been hard; but, I was never one to give up on what I wanted. When the 2008 season ended and I was on stage giving my speech for my fourth place finish last year, I told everyone that I was coming for the championship. And, in 2009 I reached my goal.”
Mincey said gaining the championship was no easy task. “I had 1,094 points all together but Chase Johnson was only seven points behind me,” she said. “It all came down to me and him in the last two races. We both wanted the championship and neither one of us wanted to give that up.”
Mincey”s brother and pit crew leader Justin Mincey attributes his sister”s success to what she”s accomplished mentally this year. “Kayla has improved in a number of areas; however, she has improved in one area the most, which contributed to this year”s success,” he said. “She has learned to stay mentally focused. She is able to not let pressure and tough situations on the track affect her mentally, which allows her to make faster and more accurate decisions behind the wheel. Staying focused also allows her to be more patient, which has helped her avoid trouble on the track such as avoiding accident, making passes and using more of the track to find speed.”
Justin Mincey continued, “I knew how much she wanted this championship and every week she went out and worked a little harder than the week previous.”
Mincey has been moving up in divisions from the very beginning. Usually, she by season”s end all she wants is a bigger, faster race car. This year, she”s put aside her wants for her family.
“For now we don”t have enough money for a sprint car, which is the next race car I would want to move into. It”s just way more expensive than what I race now and has a lot more power,” she said.
“I would love to race a sprint car but I”d rather see us get a new house before a sprint car because we”ve been spending so much on my race car we can”t get a new house. I”d rather be patient and race my 500 for a couple more years.”
Mincey continued, “I love racing my 500 but is something comes to me I would race a sprint car in a heartbeat!”
Mincey”s parents said their daughter”s commitment and talent has taken her to this point. “Kayla races against some really great competitors that stand out in their own right,” Gene and Sheri Mincey said. “But for us, Kayla stands out because of her very competitive nature, her commitment to her racing, her determination to do her best and the ability to drive and pass cars anywhere on the track. She can squeeze that car of hers in between other cars where you”d never believe it would fit.”
Mincey”s opportunities come with the support of her family as well as several sponsors.
Some major sponsors include No Wimps, K&N Filters, Go Girl energy drinks and Conrad”s Hydroponics.
Mincey will be defending her Danny Rose Memorial Race title in a two-day event this weekend in Lakeport.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
