Roundup Record Tribune & Winnett Times -

An unlikely sport for a girl from Musselshell county, Kayla Lynn Pelissier has started a career in stock car racing. She is sixteen years old, and has been racing now for two seasons. This year she has gained the title of "Rookie of the Year". Beginning to race in 2020, she was not able to qualify nationally as a Rookie till 2021 because of the Covid shut downs. However, she did race at the Big Sky Raceway in 2020 and was given "Rookie of the Year" there, along with Jaylin Hurd from Billings.

Watching the races with her dad, Cody, she told him that is what she wanted to do, and like a great dad, he helped her get started to pursue her dream. Neither her or her father had ever been involved in the sport previously. Cody explains, "You don't have to be rich to get into this sport.". They found an older street car, a '78 Monte Carlo. "Probably the oldest car on the track." Exclaims Cody. They worked on the car till it passed all the rules for the stock car class. All cars have to meet the same standards, and have safety specks and procedures. This takes some modifications and work. Then Kayla had to register and get a "race card", which she must have to compete in any race. She uses her race card to check into each race and get a number, which becomes her position to start the race. Races are based on times, not necessarily speed. They accumulate points in each race, and then whoever has the most points by the end of the season takes 1st. The tracks also put money to a purse that they chase to win.

Her father proudly tells me of Kayla's success this year. "She is running with twenty-thousand-dollar cars with her old beater." She is also competing with more experienced racers. He is also very proud that while racing, Kayla has also been working and staying on the honor roll at school. He says that "It is educational for her to learn how to win, and learn how to lose."

Kaylas has so much support, her father who is her "Pit Boss", her mom, Kayla's boyfriend Wil Peters, who watches all her races, and Carver Adams, a friend who would love to get into racing as well. Both Wil and Carver help as pit crew. She also has sponsors for which she would like to particularly thank including; Total Rental, Chris Mitchell's Performance, and DRW Performance from Shepherd who has had parts when they have needed them.

Her father is such a good "Pit Boss" that during one race, last year in the middle of the season, Kayla was in the top five and got clipped in the front and rear end and did a 360 going 60 mph down the track. She broke a tie rod, a ball joints, the rim, and her fender rapped around radiator and water pump. The wreck was so bad that they had to cut the side of the car off to get it on the trailer. In spite of all the damage, her dad got the car fixed so she was able to make it to the race the next night. She ran for the parts and Cody fixed the car. Her dad is clearly great at repairing cars, and other racers have noticed.

He fixed another racers car, and the guy then went on to win the race. Kayla decided she can't share him. Kayla can't help but learn a bit about mechanics as she goes.

Kayla has been racing for as long as she has had her driver's license. She says that she doesn't get scared but does get anxious about her races. She says her most doubtful days were when she blew her motor, but with the help of her sponsor and her dad, they had the car fixed in 48 hours. The most memorable moment for her so far was pulling up on the scale and finding out she had finished fifth. One time she finished a race with a shock dragging on the ground. One night she had two blow outs. She says when your car breaks it throws a lot of sparks. She had eleven races last year. This year she has had eleven races of which ten were in the top ten and one in the top five. She usually competes with twelve to eighteen racers. She is holding 4th place overall track points out of 29. In state points Kayla has gained positions moving up to 10th out of 64, and in national Rookie points moving up to 18th out of 66. There are two more point races left in the season for Kayla to keep moving up or down. August 7th and 21st.

Kayla has other racers in New York and California who follow her racing and points and send her encouraging messages. She says that the racing world is pretty small and you get to know everyone that is out there. There are 64 drivers in Montana and she is now in the top 10. There are only a hand full of tracks in Montana where stock cars race, and Kayla is hoping to race in Belgrade one day. If she can find more sponsors and get an enclosed trailer, her racing can go farther including out of state racing. "You get out of it what you put into it" her dad says.

Lura Pitman

Kayla says she only races with three other females. Dusty and Jaylin have both raced with Kayla at the Big Sky Speedway. Cody explains that if someone is serious about getting into races, they can contact a racer, and they will direct you about where to find a car. He says it isn't too difficult to get into the competition, but there are a million variables that can happen in the sport. Points are cumulated throughout the season, so one bad race may not ruin your chances overall.

Hopefully Kayla will continue with great success in this sport. She could even put Roundup on the map for stock car racing. You can follow Kayla's racing points and record on Wissota.com. Here's wishing Kayla the best of luck in all her upcoming races.