Loomis Teen Wins Two NASCAR Races on Same Day of High School Graduation
Updated: 11:14 pm PDT June 20, 2024
MY 58TH SUPERSTAR OF THE WEEK, KENNETH MITCHELL, IN A SPORT GENERALLY DOMINATED BY MEN, LOOMIS’ KENNETH MITCHELL HAS BEEN USING WOMEN POWER TO OUTSTAND MEN AFTER FOLLOWING IN HIS FATHER’S TIRE TRACKS. WHEN. I WAS 11 YEARS OLD. MY DAD REALLY RUN BEFORE ME AND I MODIFIED IT AND I THOUGHT, MAN, I REALLY WANT TO RUN. So when I turned 11, they gave me a mini mug and that’s where I started. HE TRIED EVERY SPORT YOU CAN IMAGINE AND HE DIDN’T REALLY FIND IT. And my husband was running around and had been asking a little bit like, you know, I want to do what dad is doing. And then we said, okay, let’s put her in a car and see what? IS. ABOUT, AND PUT IT IN A CAR. AND SHE NEVER LOOKED BACK DURING THOSE EARLY YEARS WHEN SHE NEVER LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, KENNETH. SHE ENJOYED IMMEDIATE SUCCESS RUNNING TO THE TOP AT EVERY LEVEL, INCLUDING BECOMING THE FIRST GIRL TO WIN A LATE MODEL JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. I did that for about a year, switched to bandits and thought, okay, I think it’s time for something bigger. MY DAD SAYS: Okay, we’ll put you in a late model, so put me in a late model. I STARTED AT 14 JUNIORS. MY. THE FIRST RACE WAS ON WOOD SPEEDWAY. IT WAS NOT THE FASTEST CAR OUT, BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY A WORK IN PROGRESS AND I’M 18 YEARS OLD NOW, MUCH, MUCH FASTER NOW. AND THAT’S A HEARING BECAUSE KENNETH BECAME THE FIRST GIRL AND THE YOUNGEST DRIVER TO SET A PRO LATE MODEL RECORD, HER. HE WAS ALSO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR IN WOOD SPEEDWAY AT THE END OF LAST SEASON. IT WAS A GREAT MOVE. IT WAS A BIG STEP FOR A YOUNG DRIVER. IT WAS A BIG STEP FOR A GIRL. IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS GREAT, I THINK. I DON’T THINK SHE DID NOT GET HOW IMPORTANT SHE REALLY WAS AND WON THERE. AND SHE IS ONE OF THE ONLY GIRLS WHO WON ANYTHING. THERE. AND I THINK HE IS THE ONLY ONE TO WIN A LATE MODEL RACE LIKE THAT LIKE A GREAT PROFESSIONAL. AND TO START THE 2024 RACING SEASON, KENNETH ACHIEVED THE DOUBLE BY WINNING THE WILD WEST AND PRO SERIES. LATE MODEL CAREER. THE RIDER I WAS RUNNING WITH, IT WAS THE LAST RACE THEY WERE ALL CHAMPIONS. A LOT OF RACES, ARK RACES AND ANY REASON WHY NO ONE WORKS. HE. THEY JUST DON’T GET INTO HER HEAD AND SHE REACHES HER MARKS OVER AND OVER AND DOESN’T MAKE ANY MISTAKES. AND THAT MISTAKE-FREE NIGHT RESULTED IN TAKING BOTH CHECKED FLAGS DURING OPENING NIGHT AT THE ALL AMERICAN SPEEDWAY. SHE WINS ONCE AGAIN. RELKeynoteUSASED. JUST BREATHE AND DO THIS AND GET THOSE LAST LKeynoteUSAS. MY MOM SAID I COULD NOT EVEN SEE. IT WAS TERRIFYING. AND THEN HE CROSSED THE FINISH LINE. I THOUGHT: HOLY…I JUST WON BOTH RACES AND THAT FELT GREAT. NOW, BEFORE KENNETH MITCHELL WON THE SUPER LATE MODEL AND THE PRO LATE MODEL HERE AT THE ALL AMERICAN SPEEDWAY IN ROSEVILLE, SHE GRADUATED EARLIER THAT DAY FROM GOLD HIGH SCHOOL IN LOOMIS. I’M GOING TO GO UP THERE. THEY CALL MY NAME, THEY CAN HEAR SOME KeynoteUSA CHEERING. I’m like, YOU KNOW WHAT? I really understand all that at the racetrack. SO COME HERE, THEY ANNOUNCE MY NAME HERE, THE WHOLE CROWD LEAVES. I THOUGHT, THAT’S WHAT I FEEL. So, you know, graduation was fun, but I was definitely more excited for the racetrack. BUT IT WAS ON A HOT DAY. DURING THE EARLY EARLY OF HIS RACING CAREER, HIS MOTHER KNEW THAT KENNETH WAS BORN TO RUN. THERE ARE DAYS ON THE RACE TRACK THERE ARE 105 AND THEY ARE IN FULL FIRE GEAR AND THEIR RACE SUIT AND A HELMET. THERE IS NO AIR CONDITIONING IN THOSE CARS. So they had to sit and wait in line for about 45 minutes. AND IT WAS MISERAMABLY HOT. AND SHE DIDN’T COMPLAIN EVEN ONCE. SHE NEVER ASKED TO LEAVE. SHE WAS AS HKeynoteUSAPY SITTING THERE WAITING TO GET ON THE TRACK AS SHE WAS. AND I THOUGHT, OK, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS FOR HER IN ROSEVILLE FROM THE RODGERS KCRA THREE SPORTS WITH SUCH DETERMINATION. LIKE MOST OF THE GREAT NASCAR DRIVERS, KEN WANTS TO ONE DAY END UP BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A NASCAR CUP SERIES CAR, SOMETHING ONLY FOR A FEW WOMEN
Loomis Teen Wins Two NASCAR Races on Same Day of High School Graduation
Updated: 11:14 pm PDT June 20, 2024
A young NASCAR driver from Placer County has a lot to celebrate. The day he graduated from Del Oro High School, he had an even bigger night at the track. Kenna Mitchell continues to thrive in a male-dominated sport. “She tried every sport you can imagine and hadn’t really found that, and my husband was running, and she had been asking a little bit: ‘I want to do what daddy is doing,'” her mother, Katie Mitchell, told KCRA 3. “So we said, ‘Okay, let’s put it in a cart.’ and see what it was all about, and he never looked back.”He followed in his father’s footsteps and soon rose to the top at every level.”In my first race at Madera Speedway, it wasn’t the fastest car out there, but It was definitely a work in progress. Now I’m 18 and I’m a lot faster,” Kenna said. Last year, Mitchell became the first girl to win a Jr. Late Model championship. “It was a big step for a young driver, it was a big step for a Girl, it was great. I don’t think she realized how important she was,” said her father, Michael Mitchell. Her accomplishments continued and she became the first girl and the youngest driver to set a Pro-Late Model record. She was also Rookie of the Year at Madera Speedway last season. This year has also proven fortunate for the racing star, with Mitchell winning the Wild West Deries and Pro-Late Model races, but his high school graduation day seemed to be the culmination of his career. success. That same night, Kenna took both checkered flags during opening night at All-American Speedway in Roseville. “Graduation was fun, but I was definitely more excited about the race track,” Kenna said of her career. Future goals, Kenna wants to one day end up behind the wheel of a NASCAR Cup Series car, something only a few women have done before. See more coverage of California’s top stories here | Download our app.
A young NASCAR driver from Placer County has a lot to celebrate. The day he graduated from Del Oro High School, he had an even bigger night at the track.
Kenna Mitchell continues to thrive in a sport dominated by men.
“She tried every sport you can imagine and hadn’t really found that, and my husband was running, and she had been asking a little bit: ‘I want to do what daddy is doing,'” her mother, Katie Mitchell, told KCRA. 3. “So we said, ‘Okay, let’s put her in a cart and see what it’s all about,’ and she never looked back.”
He followed in his father’s footsteps and soon reached the top at all levels.
“My first race at Madera Speedway, I wasn’t the fastest car, but it was definitely a work in progress. Now I’m 18, I’m a lot faster,” Kenna said.
Last year, Mitchell became the first girl to win a Jr. Late Model championship.
“It was a big step for a young driver, it was a big step for a girl, it was great. I don’t think she realized how important it was,” said her father, Michael Mitchell.
Her accomplishments continued and she became the first girl and youngest driver to set a Pro-Late Model record. She was also Rookie of the Year at Madera Speedway last season.
This year has also been lucky for the motorsports star. Mitchell won the Wild West Deries and Pro-Late Model races.
But his high school graduation day seemed to be the culmination of his success. That same night, Kenna took both checkered flags during opening night at All-American Speedway in Roseville.
“Graduation was fun, but I was definitely more excited about the race track,” Kenna said.
As for her future goals, Kenna wants to one day end up behind the wheel of a NASCAR Cup car, something only a few women have done before.
See more coverage of California’s top stories here | Download our application.
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