Taking the Leap Into Real Racing

On August 5th, I officially announced on my social media that I had joined the racing world as a Spec Miata driver with Lead Foot Racing for the remainder of the 2026 season.

Getting to that announcement was not something I expected to happen the way it did.

At first, my plan was to buy a Spec Miata car of my own and figure everything out from there. I was searching for a car, looking at different opportunities, and trying to figure out how I could make racing actually happen for me. That’s when I came across Lead Foot Racing.

What started with a few messages back and forth slowly turned into something much bigger. The more I learned about the team and the opportunity, the more I realized that joining them as a driver was the right decision for me. Instead of trying to figure out this entire world on my own, I had the chance to learn from people who were already in it.

And honestly, that was something I needed.

The unknown has always been a challenge for me. I like to prepare, research, and have some idea of what I’m walking into. Racing has been the complete opposite of that. There is only so much you can prepare for when you’re stepping into something you’ve never done before.

Joining Lead Foot Racing has helped make that transition a lot easier. I’ve been introduced to a completely new environment, new people, new tracks, new responsibilities, and a side of motorsports I had only seen as a spectator and volunteer. I’ve learned so much in a short amount of time, and I know there is still so much more for me to learn.

I will always be grateful for this opportunity. Every dollar I’ve put into this season has been worth it because of what I’ve gained from the experience. The lessons, the mistakes, the small victories, and even the moments where I questioned myself have all been part of the process.

But I’m also proud of myself for saying yes.

There were plenty of moments when fear and doubt could have convinced me not to do it. Walking into a competitive racing environment as a rookie is intimidating. I knew I would have a lot to learn, and I knew I wasn’t going to be the fastest person on the track right away. But I decided that being scared of failing couldn’t be a reason to never try.

Since making my racing debut, I’ve experienced different kinds of success. That has meant being invited onto a podcast, getting invited to automotive events, and meeting people who have been willing to help me along the way. None of these things were necessarily what I imagined when I first started racing, but each one has been meaningful to me.

What has meant the most, though, has been seeing how much support has come from my hometown of Montrose. It reminds me that this support isn’t just about me. I genuinely believe that if it were someone else from my community chasing this dream, people would still show up and support them.

That makes me proud to be from Montrose. It may be a small community, but it is a strong one, and there is something special about seeing people come together to support someone chasing something bigger than themselves.

I’m still at the beginning of this journey, and I have a lot left to learn. But when I look back at where I started and everything that has happened since, I’m proud that I didn’t let the fear and uncertainty stop me.

I don’t know exactly where this road will take me yet, and honestly, that’s part of what makes it exciting. For now, I’m grateful for every person who has supported me, every opportunity that has come from saying yes, and every lesson I’ve picked up along the way.

Most of all, I’m grateful I took the chance on myself.

And I’m thankful to Lead Foot Racing for giving me the opportunity to take those first steps into the racing world with them.