Most of us can only imagine the feeling of racing a vehicle on a competitive track, reaching speeds of up to 120 miles per hour, our adrenaline pumping as we listen to the buzz of our car zooming around corners, feeling the thrill of passing our competitors just before crossing the finish line. For local Wilson High School senior Kassidy Kreitz, though, it’s entirely normal.
“Racing has always been my passion,” says Kassidy, who was gifted her first go-kart at the age of nine. It was soon after that she began racing her father and his friends for fun. These moments sparked her love for the sport and have ultimately led to the success she has today.
After beginning to race a Junior Slingshot at age 12, she was chosen as a nominee for “Rookie of the Year.” By the time Kassidy was a freshman in high school, she was ready to move beyond racing kids her own age. In an All-Star Slingshot, she raced on one of the most famous small car tracks on the east coast, Action Track USA in Kutztown. She placed 10th nationally in points in her second year, as well as 6th in her home track points. Her competition? Mostly grown men.
Although Kassidy is a solo competitor in her races, she still thinks of it as a team sport. “There might be just one person behind the wheel, but it’s so much more than that,” she explains. With both her father and her grandfather having a history in racing, the help for her to succeed comes from many family members and friends who understand Kassidy’s skill and passion.
Since 2016, Kassidy has moved on to race 305 Racesaver Sprint Cars, which have an average horsepower of 500. This is a big jump from her previous cars, boasting 35-40 horsepower, tops. In her rookie season, she acquired a win at a B-main event, one in a series of races before the featured event. She continues to race 305 Racesaver Sprint Cars in the current 2017 season.
As she finishes high school this year, it’s hard for Kassidy to imagine doing anything other than racing as a career. She leaves Wilson with a strong appreciation for her classes; they have already proved to be so useful to her in areas of math, financial data, and building a website.
She’s inspired by racers like Kasey Kahne, who has moved from racing sprint cars on dirt tracks to racing for NASCAR. Kassidy herself would love to someday be a part of NASCAR or the World of Outlaws, the biggest sprint car series in the world.
As an experienced racer at the young age of 17, Kassidy is excited to consider a future career in racing and is grateful to have already received so much support from her family and the community.
Her tip to fellow racers? “To go faster, sometimes you have to learn to slow down. Take it easy on that throttle.”
To keep up with Kassidy, visit kassidykreitzracing.com.
