Late to Grid - Grassroots Racing
We share the stories and inspiration that will help get more people behind the wheel and on the track. Track days, HPDE, SCCA, NASA, ChampCar, LeMons, and autocrossing - we interview drivers and industry insiders that will help drivers along their motorsports journey.
The name, Late To Grid? In the past the host, Bill Snow, was always late to the track, late to get the car ready, and hence - Late To Grid. His goal with the podcast is to grow the sport and highlight the tools and resources that will help you get to the track and faster behind the wheel.
Late to Grid - Grassroots Racing
From Backyard Karting to Championship Wins: Alyssa Korecky’s Racing Journey
In this episode of Late to Grid, we welcome karting champion Alyssa Korecky to the Atomic Autosports studio to share her inspiring and relatable motorsports journey. Starting out on a homemade backyard dirt track, Alyssa evolved from riding a Power Wheels to racing full-speed LO206 karts at premier tracks like Mid-Ohio, Nelson Ledges, and Pitt Race.
We dive deep into Alyssa’s transition from casual backyard fun to competitive karting through the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) and her first nerve-wracking race experience. From spinning out in her first practice session to ultimately winning a karting championship, her journey is one of resilience, family support, and self-confidence. This episode shines a spotlight on grassroots motorsports, especially entry-level kart racing like LO206 and how it opens the door to more advanced formats like TAG karting and shifter kart racing.
Alyssa shares great advice for those looking to enter the world of karting, including the importance of respecting speed, building confidence, and learning how to navigate a competitive environment—especially as a female driver. We also explore how racing influences her work life as a professional graphic designer, where precision, performance, and consistency echo her time on the track.
Whether you're exploring how to start in karting, curious about LO206 performance, or just love a good underdog racing story, this episode has something for everyone. We even touch on the broader value of high-performance driving events (HPDE) and how karting provides the perfect platform to build racecraft.
Big shoutouts to the community at Nelson Ledges, Pitt Race, and all those supporting the next generation of racers through local karting leagues, endurance karting events, and track day programs. This is grassroots racing at its finest—family, fun, and fierce competition.
🛞 Keywords: Karting, LO206, TAG kart, Shifter Kart, SCCA, Mid-Ohio, Nelson Ledges, Pitt Race, Concession karts, Female racer, Grassroots motorsports, Motorsport career, Go-kart racing, Racing family, How to start karting, Track days, Endurance racing, HPDE, High-performance driver education, Racing confidence, Motorsports journey
Tired of funding your own racing? Learn how to secure sponsorships with Atomic Sponsorships. Join the waitlist and be the first to get the discounted sponsorship program. This proven and successful process will not only help you identify real sponsors, but also build relationships with people that will help you pay to race. Visit AtomicSponsorships.com to join the waitlist.
From simple tire swaps and brake upgrades to corner balancing and dialed in alignments, Atomic Autosports gets your car ready for the track. Whether you are an autocrossers, time trial, road racer, or track day junkie - the team at Atomic Autosports can tailor their services to your budget and your needs. Visit AtomicAutosports.com to learn more.
Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing. The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey.
Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.
Do you want to be a champion? I have karting champion. Alyssa Korecky. In the Atomic Auto Sports studio to share her motorsports journey. Plus, she talks about how perfection translates from racing to her career. Let's throw the green flag on this episode. Melissa, thanks for being here today. Thanks for having me. Excited to be here. Yeah. Always love having, someone involved in karting and racing and brings a female perspective to our audience. So, yeah, I always like to start with how you got involved in racing in motorsports. You guys had a family farm. Your dad threw you on his lap. Maybe you were three for racing around a it was a quarter mile track. Yeah yeah. Oh my gosh. So that's like a high school sized track right. Like a running track that you had the opportunity to be on. Do you remember some of those early days. Yeah. So I have some memories. Some of my best memories are from that track. I mean, my whole childhood was there. I had this little, like, power wheels, little cart thing, and it was so slow. It had a little shifter on it that was either the rabbit or the turtle. And I would drive this thing around the track, and I never wanted to get out, and my parents would sit there. It would take me forever to get around once or twice, and I just never wanted to get out. So it was such a cool, you know, place to have and to learn. Like that's where my brother and I had learned everything how to drive and, you know, all of that. And my dad had built us our first go karts from scratch. So yeah, it was just such a cool place. And yeah, it was a cool, cool childhood for sure. Yeah. Were there times that you and your brother went out there and raced up against each other? No, honestly, we should have. We definitely should have. Yeah. But yeah, it was cool. Is that farm still in the family? So we sold off, the majority of the land, but we kept a few acres, so we still have, you know, the race shop there and and all of that, so. Oh, cool. And a track. Unfortunately, we do not. Yeah. So that was a bummer. But I'm still so glad we got to have that opportunity growing up. Yeah. Not many people have that opportunity. Yeah. So what's the race shop? That's that's there. It's just a workshop that, you know, my dad teased, always working on his formula car. We've got all the cards in there, and it's just kind of his, like, hangout place. And, you know, he does little projects and and stuff like that. So that's awesome. Listen, what is it about racing in motorsports that keeps you coming back, that got you interested and kept you going? Yeah. So I think a lot of it, it's it's pushing yourself. It's such a mental game. And it's a physical game too. And I love just seeing, you know, what I'm capable of and going out there and, you know, wanting to do better and wanting to do more. And after seeing all of my dad's accomplishments, we have this room in my parents house, the trophy room. And, you know, all of his national championship trophy is all of these trophies. And it's like, I can do that. You know, and my goal now is like, I want to get into formula cars with my dad. And it's something that I want to see if I can beat him and I faster. And that's always been, you know, such a drive of just, you know, wanting to do better for yourself and, and see what you can do. Oh, yeah. You heard it here first, folks. She wants to beat her dad. Yeah. Did you ever feel any pressure to go into, you know, the family business and of racing? So that's a great question because my dad has always been of the mindset where he calls it, I don't want to be a little League dad where he doesn't want to be the dad that's yelling at you, throwing things. Being upset because you place, you know first or you know, whatever. And he's never forced my brother. I to, you know, do any of this. He was like, get into it naturally. If it's something you want to do, that's great. And if not, that's great too. And so that's such a positive influence to have, because I feel like a lot of people don't necessarily have that experience. You know, growing up in a family that's involved in racing you know. But yeah he's always been so, so great about it and so supportive. And he's like, you know what if it stops being fun that's when we stop. Oh wow. Yeah. Awesome. Yeah. It's been cool. How did you make the jump from that dirt track on the farm to getting behind, you know, into a race series? And was it a conversation you and your dad had was that he said, hey, let's go try this. How did it how did you guys make the move from that to, you know, more organized racing? Yeah. So actually, he, the track used to be dirt in the 90s, and he paved it. He got it paved over, which was nice. Well, because it would make this big dust, dirt cloud and it would travel over to the neighbor's property and they were like, okay, you know, can we, figure something out here? So, but anyway, yeah, I didn't start racing until I was in high school, actually, which is kind of a late start, I think. But, you know, it's something in me clicked where I was like, I can do this. I think we were watching Kart Life or something. Crazy. Yeah. And I was like, I can do that. I love the shoes too. So like, you know, I think I can do that. And we we had some conversations about it and he was like, you know, let's go play at our track and, you know, see how you're feeling. And he, took me to the little kart track up at pit at pit race. And, you know, we did a couple laps there and I was like, yeah, I think I want to do this. And so I had my first race at Mid-Ohio, which was it was a very interesting race weekend to race, but and that's what the Dirt Kart Club was. Yeah. So for folks that don't know, you know, you might have seen racing on a smaller sort of road course, but there's a dark car club races, full track. It's an enduro style kart, right. Lay down. No, it was the way down. Okay. Yeah. I don't want to do it. He says those guys are crazy. I feel like I want to set up the whole time, so. Right. But, yeah, I raced a low to oh six. And my first race weekend at Mid-Ohio, I think there is something that happened that I think I think back now, and I think if it hadn't had happened, I probably wouldn't be racing to this day. All right, let's hear the story. Oh, man. All right, everybody. You can tell it. Yeah. Yeah. All right. It's kind of a long story, but. So we get to the track and it's always Friday practice. And then Saturday. Sunday practice in the morning, race in the afternoon. So we get there for Friday practice. And I'm kind of looking around kind of scoping it out. There's a lot of people and this is my first time, you know, at an event. And the whole time my dad's like, just do what feels right. If you're not feeling ready, totally fine. So we get lined up for the first practice and there's a lot of karts that are about to go out. And so I get in and I'm like, well, I guess we'll figure it out as we go. And so I make it out on the track and I get to the keyhole. Immediately spin it. Yeah. So I pull the car into the grass and I'm just like, oh, man, I mess this up like I've spun out, you know? What do I do? The corner worker, he's, like, yelling at me. So. So I get out of my car and he's like, come here. So I get out and he's like, take off your helmet. Take off my helmet. He's like, oh, okay, sit down. Like, let's let's have some water. It's okay. And I'm like, okay. I'm like crying sitting in his in his, corner and and everything. And so the way it works is there's about 4 or 5 practice groups, and every few they, they bring around, I call it the trailer of shame. Everybody who's gone off, you know, they put you on the trailer and the way they bring you back, everybody sees you. Everybody sees that you're on the trailer. Yes. So luckily, my dad was buddies with the guy who ran it, and, so he he was able to come and get my card up, and we get back to the garage, and my mom's like, let's go for a walk. You know, it's just cool off. It's okay. You know all of that. So we go for a walk. I get back to the garage and my dad and his buddy, they have the cart up on the cart stand, and he comes over to me and he says, you know what? This this is all my fault. That shouldn't have happened. That's on me. And I'm sorry. And I was like, oh, okay. And he said, we're fixing it. That's never going to happen to you again. I promise. And I said, okay. And he said, now it's up to you. We can go back out or if you want to just hang out, that's fine too. No pressure. So they're working on the cart, and I'm sitting there and I'm like, well, it's not my fault, right? That wasn't me. That was him. So he's like, do you want to go back out? And I'm like, let's do it. So I get on the grid, get in the cart, I go out and I do one lap and he tells me he's like, if you do one lap and you still don't like it, just come in. So I do one lap and I'm like, yeah, I don't like this. I don't want to do this. So I'm like, cut you off. What didn't you like? So, you know, I'm out there, I don't know the track. I'm like, I need a map. I don't know where to go. There's carts whizzing past me because I think there were tags in this practice. So obviously the speed difference was. Oh, yeah. Insane. And there were just so many people. And it was like, I don't think I can do this. So I'm like, next lap around, I'm going to come in. So I go around again, can't figure out how to get off the track. I'm like, did he say the Cooper tire sign or the Honda? What did he say? So I'm like, I have to go around again. So I go around again. I'm like, this time, this time I'm going to figure it out. I can figure it out. So it ends up, I'm going around again and I'm like, I can take that turn a little faster. I could pass that guy. And before I knew it, 15 minutes were up. People are putting their hand up. They're going into the pits. And I'm like, oh, that's my go. So I come in and my dad's like, that was great. I'm like, cool. So years later, after I had won my first championship, my dad and I were talking and he was like, you know, so I do. And I said, oh about what? And he says that first race weekend. I didn't fix anything on your cart. I just wanted to give you your confidence back. Oh wow. And I said, you know, dad, I lied to you too. I didn't know how to get off the track. I didn't like it at first, and it was just one of those full circle moments where it was like. And now here we are fighting for a championship and winning. And it was just such a cool moment for us to to have that. But I'm so glad he lied to me. Oh, you know, there's a funny saying at, the Dinner Worth Racers podcast always talks about there's either a lie or a con to get people or success in motorsports. I guess that could be you guys kind of fibbing to each other. Yeah, that's a great story. You know, as you were telling it, I can't believe that they didn't have some sort of hey everyone, hop in your car and we're going to take some laps around Mid-Ohio or. Yeah, you know, watch a video. And this is the vantage point of of. Yeah. But anyway, who knows. If you if you knew where to pull off, maybe we wouldn't be talking today. Exactly. And that's why I'm like, you know what? I'm glad that I'm directionally confused. I'm glad. But I don't know where to go, you know? But, Yeah. And I think that if I would have came in and I would have stopped, I think maybe I would have gotten back into it. But I feel like, you know, maybe my confidence would have been low, but I'm sure my dad would have lied to me and found a way to give you back back into it. But so other than confidence, what are some things that the listener needs to think about getting their start in karting? What do they need to know? What do they need to think about, be aware of? I think that a lot of it. First off, I mean, confidence is such a huge thing. Confidence in your self, confidence in your equipment. And I think one of the biggest things that I've learned is respecting the speed, respecting your boundaries in your limit, and also knowing you're out there with other people, you're out there with people with different skill levels sometimes, and you need to be aware of where you are, where other people are. Stick to your line and and just yeah, respect the speed because it is a dangerous sport at the end of the day. And I think that sometimes people think that you can just get in, mash the acceleration and go and you know, you really gotta ease into it. And you know, it's it takes practice and it takes hard work. But if you keep those things in mind, I think that you can be successful. Yeah. What are some of the and that's great advice. That's awesome advice. What are some of the memories you have from racing carts that stand out? As a man, I can't believe I accomplished that or when I wish that didn't happen. Anything like that come to mind. I think that for things that I can't believe, I accomplished it. I think it was that first season where I felt like I was really fighting for the championship. It was such a tight battle between me and this other guy, and he was very cool, very respectful, on track with me. And it was realizing like, man, I'm doing this. I remember the first race of that season was at Nelson Ledges and I remember going out there and just being like, well, I'm going to do my thing. And then I remember passing the leader and I was like, wait a minute, who? What? And so did this just happen? And so when I came in, my dad was like, I think you won. And I was like, I think I won two. And instantly it just clicked where it was like, it's it's such an an interesting feeling and experience when you feel like you and whatever you're driving are so connected in mind and in body where you're just I feel like Ayrton Senna kind of always said it best, the way that he felt driving the car. And that's how I felt, you know, not driving an F1 car, but driving my tag is how it felt. And once it clicked, it was like, we're doing this. We're we're going to win this championship, I think. Oh yeah. And that was such a cool feeling. But with that, things that I, you know, wished didn't happen, you know, being a female in motorsports, sometimes, you know, people say things and people want to assume that you don't know what you're doing. And at the end of the day, when you put your helmet on and we're on track, you don't know who's who. You know, know you know anything about anybody. So it's like, we don't need to talk about it off the track. Let's just go on the track and see what we can do. Yeah. So yeah, there's been some experiences with that that maybe weren't so great, but you know, you got to let your racing do the talking. Right. It's my opinion on it. So yeah. So that that surprised you a bit that that kind of talk happened in the paddock. Yeah. And it was, it was honestly from the beginning, from that first race at Mid-Ohio where someone came up to me and said, hey, you better stay out of my way. Oh my gosh. And it's it's like, okay, you mean I'm lapping you, buddy? Yeah, I know, it's like, I'll wave when I pass you. Yeah. But obviously, you know, I don't want to be that person. I don't want to, you know, talk, talk that way to other people. And it's like, if you want to talk to me that way, then you know. Sure. But like I said, let the driving do the talking. Yeah. When my daughter race karts, one of our friends who raced, production cars. Okay. And she's still really involved in sports car racing, she gave Elizabeth a little sticker and it says, I don't chase boys, I pass them. Oh, I love that. Yeah. And it was kind of her way to say, hey, listen, you know, you're as good or better than these boys. Just lay it out there on the track. Yeah. My motto recently has been, I don't cry over boys, but I can drive faster than. So. Yeah. So what did you enjoy more? The 206, the tag. Now you got to shift your car. What? What do you enjoy? Well, we learned very quickly the 206 was too. So yeah I mean it's such a great intro to karting. You know it's such a good ride and it's so easy to learn with it. And then getting into the tag, it was like, wow, this is different. A whole new way of driving because that, you know, it's a momentum kart. So, you know, you're driving style. The 206 is the 206 and the title tag. I guess we could argue everything's momentum. Yes. But but then getting into the shifter, it was like, whoa, you know, this is a whole different beast. I mean, feeling the engine when you downshift, when you upshift, it's so different that, to be honest, it took me a couple of track days to really get that feeling, get that click again. And when it clicked, I mean, it really clicked. And everybody, you know, at the track at Nelson Ledges, they do these great karting track days, which if anybody is interested, they should definitely come check it out. But you know, you can tell you had a good laugh in the flagman on the front straight as videoing you. Oh yeah. So but yeah, I feel like last year it just really clicked for me. And and that's always such a great feeling to to really have that confidence and know that I'm in control. I again the confidence thing, that's such a big thing for me. And and switching different different types of karts and maybe going into formula cars, it's you know, it's hard at first to to try to adapt and adjust and yeah, you know, try to do well with it. So yeah you mentioned Nelson Ledges and that that's the whole reason you and I are talking. Right? Yes. Because Fred reached out to me and he said, I have the perfect guest for your podcast. And when people tell me that I, I always just kind of like, roll my eyes at first. Yeah. But sometimes they come through and they're awesome people like you. So shout out to Fred. And he called me this week and about something unrelated to our podcast. Yeah, I heard listeners come on. They said, oh yeah, man, thanks very much. Yeah. Yeah, he's a big fan of yours, no doubt about it. Yeah. I do want to give a big shout out to everybody and Allison Ledges. Those guys are so amazing. Brian Ross and of course Fred Wolff. I love having him in my corner. He is my biggest cheerleader and we love our racing family. That's our home track and we love it. There's so much so appreciate everything those guys do for us. Yeah, yeah. So when you were racing at pit, did you guys have a garage? Did you trailer. Yeah. We always, we always, had a garage, which I was very thankful for. That makes it so much easier for sure. Yeah, yeah. Before we made the transition from racing into what you do now for your career and maybe even back to racing in the future, hopefully there's some young women listening, maybe even some girls, and, like, wow, how do I get started in this? So they're they're, you know, they don't have a family farm that has a quarter mile dirt track, soon to be paved track. What advice would you give somebody that's listening? And it could be a boy too, but yeah. How do they get started in karting? Yeah. So if you want to get started, I think that's awesome. I think that there are so many great places that you can even just do concession cards and see, you know, see how you're feeling with it. Like I said, the little track at pit race, they have some great concession cards there. And it's a little sprint track. So, you know, people race on it. It's the real deal. And that's such a good place to, you know, see what you can do, see if you like it, race with other people on track and kind of get started from there. And I think that, you know, for young girls wanting to get into it, we can do anything guys can do. We're just as fast, if not faster. And so, you know, but, yeah. What what was your favorite kart track or big track you've ever been on? It's it's always a tie between those and ledges. And that race, the big track. Yeah, I was definitely spoiled with the big tracks, for sure. I don't really like sprint tracks, but. And when you're when you're running dirt, you're running north and south a pit they track. Yeah, we're just doing the big track, the full track. Okay. Full track. Wow. That's like three. It's like A5K. It's like three miles something. Yeah, yeah, it's a good ride. It's fun. Oh for sure. Yeah. Best motorsports advice you've received. So that's a good question. I think honestly, the best advice is just to have fun. That's what it's all about. And like my dad says, the moment it stops being fun, that's when you're done. It's over. And, that's such an important part. Win or lose, as long as you had fun, the karts in one piece, you're in one piece. We're such big believers in that, that, you know, when my dad has a race weekend or a track day, we are always the last to leave the track because we want to sit around, have a drink, talk and be like, you know what? Today was a good day. We had fun, we made friends, we saw old friends and you know, and everybody had a good time. Nobody got hurt. We did what we wanted to do. And I think that that's something that I love so much about having a family in motorsports is being able to take that time and be like, wow, that was cool. That was cool. That we did that. So yeah, yeah. So how do you spend your time now? What's your career, your profession? What are you doing? So right now I'm a graphic designer at a marketing and advertising agency. It's called Creative Spot in downtown Columbus. And so I do a lot of things that are I do a lot of social media for brands, email blasts, newsletters, things like that. But yeah, it's definitely cool to be able to do what I love, you know, and be paid for it. Yeah. But yeah. What was the attraction to graphic design? So actually I didn't I didn't really think I was going to end up being a graphic designer. I was always an oil painter first. Oil painting, illustration. Then I majored in illustration in college, and graphic design was kind of, well, if you want to make money, you know, you should probably go into it. But I actually ended up really liking it. I'm such a perfectionist that I just love, you know, doing layouts and, you know, making things look nice. Yeah, yeah. You mentioned being a perfectionist. When I ask you kind of, how did you learn, what did you learn from racing that you applied to business? So, you know, you need to be, sometimes when I got the helmet on, I'll hear David Hobbs say, inch perfect, I think is his saying right? As you're navigating certain apexes and to me, that's perfection. Yes. And you have to do it repeatedly. How did you apply that from motorsports into your career as a graphic designer. Yeah. So I think that it's such a huge part of the job where you know, when I'm designing something I'll kind of take all the content and I'll put it, you know, looking at a blank page that's kind of daunting. Yeah. Not knowing what you're going to do or anything. So it's a lot of taking all what I have and then just mushing it around until it starts kind of looking like something. And then you can go in and you can really nail down those details and figure out, well, this color works, but this one doesn't. This font works, but this doesn't. And that's you can relate that so much to racing and driving. Where okay, I took this corner this way. But what if I did it this way? What if I, you know, accelerated at this point? What if I braked here? And so it's really just, you know, finding a starting point and then going from that starting point and just refining it and fine tuning it and fine tuning it, and then you'll get that perfect lap or that newsletter you're trying you're trying to just the perfect message. Yes, yes. Well, since we're talking about your graphic design, I want to hold this up. Alyssa brought this into studio today. It is absolutely gorgeous. So this is an example of of some of your work. Yeah. If folks want to get get one of these or. Yeah. Or get to see some of your other stuff, how do they how do they see it? How do I get a hold of you? Yeah. So, you can add me on Facebook. It's just Alyssa Korecky. I also have an art Instagram. It's made underscore vicious. And I post all of my art there and yeah, happy to sell prints and things like that. Yeah, yeah. Where did that handle come from? Made vicious. You know, when you're in college and you think you're a little more hardcore than you are, and it's just kind of stuck? I do want to change it at some point, but, I think it's interesting. It begs the question. Yeah. Yeah, it's it's to, to band names that I stole and kind of merge them together. So. Gotcha. Yeah, yeah. So what inspired the piece? We just looked at. Yeah. So I was actually contacted, by a printer in Columbus, and they do this quarterly calendar, and, my boss had actually recommended me for it. And I am a huge formula one fan. Yeah, obviously. And thinking about it, I wanted to capture a moment that I thought was, you know, a pinnacle moment in F1. And I thought Charles Leclerc, winning Monaco, breaking his Monaco curse for the first time was such a cool moment. And so I wanted to make this calendar kind of, you know, represent that. So he's wearing his Monaco helmet and that. And in the car you can see he's he's driving at Monaco and he's wearing the helmet too. So yeah. So yeah, I just thought it was such a cool thing to capture. Oh absolutely. Yeah. I can't wait to frame it and hang it up. Yeah, it's really cool. I want to ask you, you got a tattoo on your wrist? Number 13, I do. What is that about? So that's my dad's racing number. And then when I started racing, I started using it. So. Yeah, it's it's a little family thing, I like that. Yeah, you get that question a lot. I do. Yeah, yeah. They're always like, why do you have 30 on your wrist? And I'm like, well, it all started and I'm sure that turns into like an hour long conversation. Oh wait, you're a female racer. Wait, you did this? What? You won championships? Yeah. It's always a lot of questions, but always happy to answer. So where do you want to take all this? What's the next step in your motorsports journey? So next steps. My dad here, finally, you know, is following his dream of having a formula car. That's something he's always wanted to do. And that's. I think the next steps for me is we've been looking at a P2 sports racer, and, that's kind of what I'm thinking. The shifter card is great and I want to go faster, but I would like to be in something bigger, you know, with a little more structure than a cart, because, I mean, you're inches off the ground doing 100 plus miles an hour. So I'd like to. I'd like to have some belts. Yes. You know, feel something around you. Yeah. And I also just I, I want to race on track with my dad. I just think that that would be one of the coolest things. And it would just be such a full circle moment from for us, from me sitting on his lap in a cart to racing on track with him would just be amazing. Yeah, I think it would confuse the announcers because they're gonna announce, oh, number 32. Number 30. Wait, number 30 just took back the lead. Yeah, he's, he's actually number seven now. His car is. Yeah, he's bootleg racing. And he has old number seven on it for, Jack Daniel's. Yeah, I bet that's a cool theme. Yeah, yeah. So we're recording this in 2025. You think you guys will be on track together this year? I hope so, I really do, and, you know, it's not, the guy we're talking to about getting in the car, he's still having fun with it. And I'm like, I'm not going to push you to sell. If you're still having fun, that's totally fine. Like, but when you're ready, my checkbook is ready. Yeah. So, you know, first in line, maybe you guys could rent it from him for a weekend. Yeah, and that would be great. Honestly. But, yeah, I'm so excited for the season. And to see my dad race and. Yeah, it's just going to be it's going to be cool. And, I love that he's still racing. He got back into it when I got into it because he had stopped in 2005, I believe, because it's it's dangerous. And he was like, I've got young kids, you know, and he traveled a lot. He was gone a lot. So, now seeing him back into it is just it motivates me so much more to see him, you know, still having fun with it. Yeah. So there was a time when he was standing against the fence watching you compete. Yes. Now you're standing against the fence watching him compete. How are you helping and supporting him? You know, while he's on track and in the paddock? Yeah. So, I always say. And his pit crew. Yeah. So, we have such, such a routine down when we're at the track where, when he's ready to get in for so superstitious about things, like, we have to be ready to go, like, 15 minutes beforehand, and we have to we have this whole thing that we go through, how we built a man. And, we actually, this is kind of a funny story. We have, when I was really young and he was chasing points with his shifter cart, so I was probably like, gosh, 4 or 5 maybe. And he, he was driving lot. He was leaving a lot. And, you know, I was such a daddy's girl. I still am. And so I always the artist got some like Red felt and cut it into a little heart. And I stuffed it with paper towels and sewed it together. And it's this really, like, crappy looking heart. And I gave it to him. And from that day, he always put it in his sock before he went out racing. And my first race weekend, I went in the garage and it was sitting in my seat. And so we trade this little heart back and forth. So when he has a race, I'll give it to him and he'll have it. And then when I have a track day or a race, he'll give it back to me and then I'll have it. So it's just this little thing that we kind of share and, and I love being able to have that, you know, with him. So yeah, that's really neat story. Yeah. Is there anything we haven't talked about that you wish we would have? I don't think. I mean, I feel like we've covered. We have a lot of. Yeah, yeah. So I do have one last question for you. Yeah. Have you ever been late to grid now? Well, I know that that's your thing. That's a good thing, though. Not to be. Yeah. So. So I know you mentioned how getting down to, you know, getting down the grid 15 minutes early, how your father strapped in in your karting world and your karting career, how did you make sure that you were never late to grid? So we would always keep such an eye on the schedule, even if we thought the time was changing. I'm in my suit. I'm ready. I get so antsy. And so once you're in that mode where you're like, I'm driving, you are stuck in that mode and you're like, we're ready to do this. Like, I want to get in the cart. I want to be ready to go and, you know, so we'll get to the grid so early, and I'll just sit there in my suit and my my dad was like, man, it sucks sitting in your suit when it's 100 degrees out. So we got this portable little fan that we both hold on our steering wheels to, you know, keep us cool. But yeah, we just get we just get antsy and we just want to get out there and. And that's one of our, like, superstitious things is we're always early. Does a grid. Yeah. And we never go out. The first practice session. No. Never even a new track. Well never. We will always wait because normally it's you know done in groups. Yeah. So we'll let the first round go and then we're like all right. They figured it out. Let's go. Gotcha. But it's just a weird. So you don't get to do off the track and yeah yeah that's good. Well it's been great having you on a later great podcast. I can't wait to see where your motorsports journey takes you. And, we're going to have links in the show notes to all of your social media handles and, can't wait to see you on track. Yeah. Awesome. Well, thank you so much for having me.