NOT BORN TO FOLLOW: KAYLEE BRYSON RETURNS TO THE SPRINGFIELD MILE
By: Pat Sullivan – USAC Media
Springfield, Illinois (August 18, 2023)………Auto racing produces any number of seminal moments that will live on as long as there is interest in the sport. We are fortunate when these fleeting instances are preserved by talented photographers who have the uncanny ability to sense when something special is unfolding before our eyes.
Not long after the 2022 Bettenhausen 100 had ended, the picture told the story. As the race settled in, many experienced drivers glued their mounts to the bottom of the racetrack and kept an eye on the foe in front of them. Yet, as the resulting images revealed, there was an exception to this strategy. One car and one car only elected to ride the rim. It turns out Kaylee Bryson wasn’t born to follow. There she was attacking the cushion as fans sat both transfixed, elated, and even a bit concerned.
No matter how evocative a photo can be, it can never capture the entire experience. On this afternoon, the unfathomable occurred. When the big cars lumber down the long Illinois State Fairgrounds mile, the full-throated sound of powerful engines rebound off the roof of the old, covered grandstand. It is impossible to hear the person sitting right next to you. Yet, on this day, as Bryson got to the top spot, the roar of the crowd was the loudest thing to be heard. They were watching something special, and they knew it. In the end, she lost a cylinder and dropped to fifth.
Disappointing? Perhaps. However, if one event could elevate the status of a driver in the eyes of even casual fans, this was it.
There is little question that many will return to the venerable mile anxious to see if Bryson can offer a repeat performance during this Saturday’s 60th running of the Bettenhausen 100 Presented by Hunt Brothers Pizza at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. For her part, she expects to compete for the win.
“I am really excited about going back,” she says, “because I know what to expect. Last year, I got thrown to the wolves a bit and jumped right into the race. To be able to go back with some experience makes me a lot more comfortable.”
She has every reason to feel confident. Coming into Springfield, she is sitting third in USAC Silver Crown standings and has undoubtedly surprised a lot of people. Maybe she has even surprised herself.
“It’s cool because our goal was to be Rookie of the Year,” she notes. “So, we are really happy with our results thus far.”
As a newcomer to pavement racing, Kaylee’s ability to adapt to the hardtop has turned some heads. She benefits from the guidance offered by veteran Aaron Pierce who has had success in a plethora of racecars from a range of disciplines.
“He has so much experience,” she says, “and it really helps me when he races too. When we both raced at Winchester Speedway, we could go back and forth about what the cars were doing and that just helped me out a lot.”
One of Bryson’s attributes is a willingness to take on new challenges and draw upon the wisdom of those on her team. She has already done some endurance racing and has received rave reviews from her camp. Nonetheless, this weekend, she is on familiar turf and thrilled to be back to her racing roots.
“I am really excited to get back on the dirt,” she admits, “because it seems like all I have done lately is pavement. There might be a little bit of a learning curve as I try to get my rhythm back.”
On her return to Springfield, will Kaylee have us on the edge of our seats once more? Don’t bet against it. At the last Silver Crown date at Toledo Speedway, while her peers were slugging it out on the bottom once again, she explored the outer contours of the oval. It is hard to argue with her rationale.
“You can race a lot harder on pavement than people think,” she says, “and our car was a little bit tight on the bottom.”
It turns out there was another reason she carved her own path.
“You can’t pass cars when they are all on the bottom in front of you,” she says with a laugh, “so it actually worked out.”
Kaylee Bryson has a big future and who knows where the road will take her. For now, all she can do is concentrate on the task in front of her. Luckily, she considers racing in the Silver Crown series a labor of love.
“So far, I think it is the most fun car I have driven,” she says, “because you get to go from dirt to pavement and from half miles to full miles. We go to so many different tracks, so it isn’t repetitive at all.”
To succeed in Silver Crown racing, a driver must be versatile. To date, Bryson has passed every test in front of her.
RACE DETAILS
On Saturday in Springfield, pits and registration open at 7am Central with the ticket office and grandstands opening at 9am, the drivers meeting at 9:30am, practice from 10am-11:10am, Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying at 11:30am, followed by the qualifying race, pre-race ceremonies and the 100-lap main event at 2pm.
Tickets will be available on race day or by calling the State Fair office at 217-782-1979. Info and tickets can also be obtained by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.
Advance tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children 11 and under. At the gate on race day, adults are $30 and $10 for children 11 and under. Infield tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for children 11 and under. Pit passes are $35 for USAC members and $40 for non-members. Infield parking is $5 for those parking in the infield with no infield or pit passes.
Every lap of Saturday’s Bettenhausen 100 will be aired live on FloRacing at https://flosports.link/3AMU46z.
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2023 BETTENHAUSEN 100 ENTRY LIST: (44 CARS)
07 (R) JOHN TOSTI/High Ridge, MO (John Tosti)
08 KYLE STEFFENS/St. Charles, MO (Gordon Steffens)
2 PATRICK LAWSON/Edwardsville, IL (Patrick Lawson)
3 (R) TIM SIMMONS/Cabot, AR (Tim Simmons)
5 (R) MATT MITCHELL/Yorba Linda, CA (DMW Motorsports)
6 C.J. LEARY/Greenfield, IN (Klatt Enterprises)
8 DAVEY RAY/Davenport, IA (Cornell Racing Stables)
9 SHANE COTTLE/Kansas, IL (Chris Dyson Racing)
10 JAKE SWANSON/Anaheim, CA (DMW Motorsports)
11 (R) TREY BURKE/Alvin, TX (Davey Hamilton Racing/SRG)
12 (R) WAYNE JOHNSON/Tuttle, OK (Two C Racing)
14 STEVEN RUSSELL/Rochester, IL (McQuinn Motorsports)
15 CHRIS FETTER/Troy, MO (Chris Fetter)
18 TRAVIS WELPOTT/Pendleton, IN (Welpott Racing)
20 (R) EMERSON AXSOM/Franklin, IN (Nolen Racing)
22 LOGAN SEAVEY/Sutter, CA (Rice Motorsports)
24 JERRY COONS JR./Tucson, AZ (John Haggenbottom)
25 CASEY BUCKMAN/Chandler, AZ (C-Buck Motorsports)
26 (R) KAYLEE BRYSON/Muskogee, OK (Sam Pierce)
31 DAVE BERKHEIMER/Mechanicsburg, PA (Berkheimer Racing)
32 GREGG CORY/Shelbyville, IN (Williams Racing)
34 (R) GARY DUNKLE/Lincoln, NE (Gary Dunkle)
44 DANNY LONG/Bonne Terre, MO (Danny Long)
51 RUSS GAMESTER/Peru, IN (Gamester Racing)
52 CARMEN PERIGO/Stoystown, PA (John Stehman)
53 A.J. FIKE/Galesburg, IL (Five Three Motorsports)
69 CHASE STOCKON/Fort Branch, IN (Pink 69 Racing)
71 SHANE COCKRUM/Benton, IL (BLS Motorsports)
77 CHRIS URISH/Elkhart, IL (Chris Urish)
81 MATT WESTFALL/Pleasant Hill, OH (BCR Group)
86 (R) CHASE DIETZ/York, PA (Bruce Lee)
91 JUSTIN GRANT/Ione, CA (Hemelgarn Racing)
92 MARIO CLOUSER/Auburn, IL (Kazmark Motorsports)
95 PATRICK BRUNS/Champaign, IL (Full Throttle Racing)
97 (R) MITCHEL MOLES/Raisin City, CA (Hans Lein)
99 KOREY WEYANT/Springfield, IL (Scott Weyant)
107 JACOB WILSON/Crawfordsville, IN (Wilson Brothers Racing)
110 (R) CARY OLIVER/Buncombe, IL (Cary Oliver)
111 TOM PATERSON/Argos, IN (Tom Paterson)
118 (R) RYAN THOMAS/Indianapolis, IN (Wingo Brothers Racing)
126 AARON PIERCE/Muncie, IN (Sam Pierce)
177 KODY SWANSON/Kingsburg, CA (Doran-Binks Racing)
555 TAYLOR FERNS/Shelby Township, MI (Taylor Ferns Racing)
777 (R) DAVE PEPERAK/Clinton, IN (Dave Peperak Motorsports)
(R) represents a USAC Silver Crown Rookie of the Year contender