I may be a racecar driver and love to make my own laps around the track, but that doesn't mean that I don't equally love to go with friends and family to watch other drivers put on a good show.

This past Sunday I was able to go to the Carolina Nationals, which was the first NHRA event held at the new ZMAX Dragway in my hometown, Concord , NC . It was only the second drag-racing event that I had ever been to, the last one having been when I was seven years old. I went with my mom, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, and cousin. Unfortunately my dad had to be at the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in New Hampshire that day, so he couldn't come with us. When we first got there, a good family friend, Jason Kaplan, was able to introduce me to several drivers. One of them was Ashley Force, a Funny Car Driver, who I admire for being so successful as a female in the racing world and making the way for other girl drivers like myself.

Watching the drivers make it down that track at breath-taking speed in a matter of seconds was incredible, but there wasn't anything more overwhelming than the noise. Nothing in oval track racing could have prepared me for the sound of those dragsters taking off at the starting line. It made your rib-cage shake violently along with ground you were standing on, but I enjoyed every second of it.

I now have something else to look forward to. I will be racing my #51 ChevStang, which is sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings of Concord, in the four-race playoffs in the Pro Challenge series. The first one will be at Hickory Motor Speedway this Saturday. I have never raced at this track before, but it is where I had my first test session in a Pro Challenge Chevy Silverado. I really like Hickory and I am looking forward to working toward my goal of Rookie of the Year. Come out and cheer me on!