Chasing The Thrill - Breanna Pfanstiel
“Are the tow straps on the car tight? Check. Tools loaded? Check. Safety bag packed and in the truck? Check. Does Ole Dougy have his ridiculous Otter Hawaiian shirt on?... Also check.” With all the essentials ready to go, it’s time to head to the track!
After a short haul we arrive at our destination, and I can already feel the adrenaline starting to slowly drip into my veins. It’s here and it’s real. Everything my younger self had only seen in her dreams. Raceday.
We start off by getting our pit bands and signing in. Next stop is our pit stall where we will remain for the majority of the night while not on the track. Luckily for us, we are usually surrounded by friends and if not, we have a tendency to make friends with strangers.
Dad, aka “Ole Dougy,” throws on his straw hat, and we hop back out of the truck. The first thing on our agenda once parked, is to unload the car so we can start prepping for hot laps. After unlatching the tow straps, releasing the winch, and pushing the car down the ramps, I make my way over to the tech shack to check in and grab my transponder. During this time Ole Dougy will take off the rear filler panel and spray the car down with a specific chemical to help keep the mud from sticking to the car. Once I get back to the car, I do a rough tire pressure set and start getting my safety equipment set out.
Once I hear “Sport Mods, line up for hot laps,” it feels like someone opened my IV drip and the adrenaline has been allowed to rush through my body. I hop into the car, strap myself in, throw my helmet on, and fire the engine up. Once given the “all clear” to back up, I’ll head over to the staging lanes and await the signal to enter the track. Hot laps consist of about 3 or 4 practice laps on the track just to shake the car down and help prep the race surface. While not a full-blown race at top speed, I can still feel my blood pumping.
After all our pre-race prep is over with, we move on to the heat race where we try to finish high enough to be able to make it into the main event without having to race additional preliminary races. We have 8 laps. 8 laps to hit our marks, 8 laps to be consistent with our footwork, and 8 laps to determine how the rest of our night is going to go.
“Sport Mod, Heat 1, line up!” This is when the adrenaline gets maxed out and I can feel my veins pulsing, my heart racing, and my mind wondering. I get in the car, say a prayer, and start taking deep breaths. Adrenaline can be a good tool, or it can hurt you. I’ve been on both sides of it and try to focus my energy all on one place.
I shift the car into 3rd gear, the yellow light goes out, and I am searching for the starting mark coming out of turn 4. Once my bumper is lined up with that marker, I’m off the brake and mashing the gas pedal preparing for how I want to enter the first corner. The green flag has dropped and it’s time to determine the fate of the rest of the night for our team. Being out front and not seeing what others around you are doing can be a blessing and a curse. On the bright side, you don’t have to worry about anyone else and can run your own line. However, on the flip side, that also means if the track conditions are changing you need to be able to figure that out before the people behind you figure it out. Sometimes what you think is going to be tacky and a better surface ends up being slick and dry.
Some races we must run a B-feature and try to transfer into the A-feature and other times we transfer directly out of the heat race. It all comes down to how fast and consistent you can be compared to those around you. Regardless of it being a heat race or a feature race, the steps are the same. Strap in, pray, breathe, and focus. At the end of it all, regardless of where we finish, it’s important to be thankful and appreciative of the opportunity we’ve been given. We are in a race car... and racecars are pretty fun if you ask me!
Before we call it a night, when the last checkered flag drops, fans of all ages and backgrounds will head to the pits to meet with their favorite drivers. We take pictures with the kids sitting in the car, hand out hero cards, sell t-shirts and window decals, and get to visit with some of the most amazing supporters of this sport. One of the things that makes racing worth all the late nights in the garage and money spent, is the people you meet and surround yourself with.