Join us in welcoming Kasey Duncan an Official member of Car Chix. Kasey Duncan placed in the top 12 of the 2018 Women of Motorsports Contest (Read: Car Chix Celebrates Another Successful Women of Motorsports Contest), earning her spot as Ms. February in the Mild 2 Wild Custom Fab sponsored month of the 2019 Car Chix Calendar.
KASEY DUNCAN BIO
PROFESSION: College Student
YOUR VEHICLES (in photo): 1968 Chevelle (The White Whale)
MOTOR/SPECS: For this past season, The Whale had a 555 big block. In the upcoming seasons, she’ll be getting a 498 big block. Both naturally aspirated, running on alcohol, with a powerglide transmission.
RACING CLASS/TEAM/DIVISION: NHRA Division 3 Pro Class
HOMETOWN: Boody, IL
HOMETRACK: Coles County Dragway
PERSONAL WEBSITE/FANPAGE: M2Wmotorsports.wordpress.com
CLUBS/AFFLIATIONS/SPONSORS: Mild 2 Wild Custom Fab, RJA Racing, RZA Racing, NCP Speed and Machine
ACCOMPLISHMENTS/ACHIEVEMENTS: 2007 Rookie of the Year
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Won the most money we ever have, as a team (Spent the most too). Attended several big dollar races with some of the best and went rounds. Survived a season from hell and had a blast.
FAVORITE QUOTE/SAYING: Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among stars.
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH AUTOMOBILES/MOTORSPORTS: I’m a third generation driver. My grandfather started racing in 1980 and passed the sport down to my father. Who, in turn, passed it down to me.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED WITH AUTOMOBILES/MOTORSPORTS:
I grew up at the racetrack so I’ve been involved for over 20 years. But I started driving at the age of 10 in a junior dragster, about 11 years ago. I started driving the White Whale at the age of 16, 5 years ago. But I’ve always been involved in some way. My dad owns a fabrication shop and there are pictures of me as a baby, laying on a blanket on the floor, while he works on car next to me. My mom used to sell 50/50 at our local track for DRAW and I would go around the pits with her and sell tickets to the racers. Then I would be the one to pull the winning ticket from the bucket. The memories go on and on.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT AUTOMOBILES/MOTORSPORTS:
I love the competition, but the camaraderie. Drag racers are quick to end your day of racing, but just as quick to lend a hand in cases of emergencies. Those people are my enemies on the track, but my friends in life. I also love the adrenaline rush and the strategy that goes into winning a bracket race.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST CAR/RACING/MOTORSPORTS RELATED MEMORY:
I lost my first final in the big car. I red lit my chances away. But I was racing one of the best in the division, in my opinion. He didn’t cut me any slack. However, even though I lost, the entire track celebrated my first final with me. Fellow racers and fans clapped as I drove down the return road, hollering and waving. The man who beat me told me we’d redo that in the future, implying that he knew I’d be in another final. His girlfriend rode up on their four-wheeler and dumped a celebratory can of beer down my back while hugging me. So even though I lost, I learned a lot and had one of the best days of my life.
WHAT IS YOUR WORST CAR/RACING/MOTORSPORTS RELATED MEMORY:
Oh, there are many. Blew up my grandfather’s motor at half-track, slid in my own oil (don’t really recall how I didn’t stuff in in the wall – thanks adrenaline rush). Had a junior dragster competitor wreck in front of me, my first time traveling for a race. Had the throttle get stuck, not once, but twice, in my first year of junior dragsters – once I drove through a cornfield, the second time through an E-Z Up. That’s probably my worst memory.
It was my second pass in the junior ever. I was 10 years old. The pass went phenomenal – slow, but amazing. But I was young, and inexperienced. It never crossed my mind that I was going too fast. I made the turn off at full-throttle and tore through the pits directly across from that turn. Nearly hit a couple of kids throwing a football, destroyed the E-Z Up before I was finally able to hit the kill switch. Bawling my eyes out, my family finally got down to me. I swore up and down, left and right, that I never wanted anything to do with drag racing ever again. I was done. It’s the worst memory for me, because I was young and that fear sits at the base of my throat every time I think about it.
Luckily, my dad refused to let me quit based on my poor experiences. He said that I had to make a full, solid pass; if, after that, I wanted to quit, he’d sell the car. He often jokes that he missed his chance. The next weekend, I made my full pass and I have never thought about quitting again. He gave up driving in his car for nearly 10 years to dedicate all of his time and money to my driving.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR NEXT SEASON:
Put her in the winner’s circle; win a wally; win a happy Gilmore check; Get sponsorship
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR REACHING YOUR GOALS:
Lack of seat time has always been a struggle for me in comparison to other drivers. Due to being away at school, my season starts about a month later than the rest of my competition. This past season we battled the worst luck in mechanical failures. But I’m young, passionate, and dedicated, so I know these goals are just a race away.
ANY BIG MODS OR BUILDS GOING ON DURING THE OFF SEASON:
The biggest mod, The White Whale is undergoing this winter will be a motor swap. We had a really rough 2018 season, which resulted in my stealing of my father’s 555 big block to keep the Whale going. But he’s taking that back and I’m getting a 498.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER HOBBIES OR PASSIONS:
I love to write. I’m currently working on a fiction piece about racing. I also love to watch John Force get interviewed; he has such an interesting mindset and is always revved up and entertaining.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP SONGS FOR WHEN YOU ARE DOING CARS THINGS / RACING:
Anything PJ North, but I also love Carrie Underwood’s The Champion, Fall Out Boy’s The Phoenix, and Walk on Water by Thirty Seconds to Mars
IF YOU GOT A MILLION DOLLARS TOMORROW, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT?
I would pay off all my student loans. Then get the Chevelle painted, exactly as I like. What’s left of that money goes into the racing/business fund to make the needed updates to both the cars and the shop.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BLOGS< WEBSITES OR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES THAT YOU FOLLOW?
The Eighth-Mile Email sent out weekly by Luke Bogacki is probably one of my favorites. But I also enjoy his podcast with Jed Pennington, The Sportsman Drag Racing Podcast. TED Talks are also super inspiring and help me learn things that I can apply in my racing career, even if they aren’t drag racing oriented.
ADVICE TO OTHER WOMEN IN MOTORSPORTS OR WOMEN INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED IN MOTORSPORTS:
If you want to do something, work for it. Do you want to get involved? Get involved, go to the track, meet racers, make friends. Want to race? Take that street car to the strip and get your feet wet, build up your experience. Want to win, get a sponsorship, develop your name, etc.? Do what it takes to do those things. Another favorite quote: To be the best, outwork the rest.
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PHOTO CREDITS FOR SUBMITTED PHOTOS: Studio E+3 (for the calendar shot)
