While some sports fans may be buzzing about their local baseball team’s playoff run or their football team’s first snaps on the gridiron in a preseason setting this week, 21-year-old Reagan May of De Pere, WI has been preparing for Championship Night at Golden Sands Speedway in the super late model division.
Coming into tonight’s event at this 1/3 mile asphalt arena, May has a win to accompany her solid results of seventh, second, and fourth. To say the least, this Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP) racer is ready as can be for the battle ahead with the championship on the line and with winning the race but also has respect for her two title rivals.
“I’m feeling pretty confident going into the race,” May said. “I feel, as a driver, that I have a good handle of the track and I am confident that I have a race winning car. But don’t get me wrong, the competition is strong.
Jim Sauter Jr. is leading points and coming off the win from two weeks ago. Anytime there is a Sauter there, they are hard to beat. Then Brandon Selle is sitting in third, a past champion, will be strong as well.”
May enters tonight’s race just nine markers behind Sauter, putting her within striking distance to apply some pressure on that number one spot. Similar to the man who she takes inspiration to in the late Alan Kulwicki, it’s about focusing on an all-out effort and not necessarily “scoreboard watching” as said in the sports world.
May is ready to take on the 1/3-mile Golden Sands Speedway. (Photo Courtesy of Reagan May Racing)
“I think the important part is not to get caught up in points racing,” May said. “Every race is a new race, go out and give it your all and if it’s meant to be, it will work out.”
It’s been a very solid year for this young racer with six wins as well as being one of the select drivers with the KDDP. Pointing out that there’s always room for improvement and how this year could lead to an even more successful effort come next season, there’s plenty of good moments to reflect on with 2015 as well as a solid team who stand by her with her racing efforts.
May has enjoyed a great year which she attributes to her solid team. (Photo Courtesy of Reagan May Racing)
“Being chosen as one of the seven drivers for the KDDP is definitely up there,” May said. “It’s been an honor to be able to represent Alan Kulwicki and everyone on the board is great to work with. But overall, it has been a great season. Dalton Zehr, everyone at Coleman Racing Products, and my entire crew has been a huge part of my season. They volunteer their time for me to do what I love. We have a good time every where we go, whether we win or don’t, we are racing to have fun.”
This Midwest racer has certainly had a lot of fun on the track, often taking the time to meet and talk with racing fans at the track, smiling often and also chasing after her dreams while pursuing a solid education at Michigan Technical University as a Mechanical Engineering student. Hands on with the cars at the shop with her savvy and fueled by passion when she’s on the track, she’ll be keeping quite busy with this race tonight and with future events on the horizon.
“School is quickly approaching, but I plan to make it over to Statepark a few times, possibly Marshfield and Norway before I return to Michigan Tech,” May said. “On Labor Day, I will return to Golden Sands Speedway with the TUNDRA Series. Nothing is set it stone but I want to race as much as I can.
As for Friday, I’m not sure I really I have a motto but I will give it my all. The team and I have worked so hard this year, I will be proud regardless of the results.”
Look for that No. 33 car to definitely make a strong case for not only a super late model championship at this venerable Midwestern track but for a win as well. If and when that next winning moment comes for May, she will do it with the class and humility shown by this solid young gun racer in tribute to a racer who still inspires the future with an enduring legacy on and off the track.
Author’s Notes : All of the photos in this article are courtesy of Reagan May Racing – if you’d like to learn more about her, “Follow” her on Twitter and “Like” her Facebook page right now!
