Kaylee Bryson has a talent for creating history.
She had already become the first woman to qualify for the Chili Bowl Midget National A Feature in 2022 and 2023. This past Saturday night, Bryson made history again by winning the USAC Silver Crown Huncovsky Classic at the Belleville High Banks.
This victory marked the first time a woman has won a USAC national championship race in the 69-year history of the organization sanctioning touring divisions for IndyCar, Silver Crown, Sprint Car, and Midget championships.
Earlier in the evening, Bryson also made history by posting the fastest time in qualifying for a USAC national championship event, another first for a woman. However, Brady Bacon, a four-time National Sprint Car champion, had a significant lead until his engine failed with 15 laps remaining, allowing Bryson to take the lead.
Despite a strong challenge from 2019 Sprint Car National Champion CJ Leary, Bryson managed to hold him off and secure her historic victory.
Bryson, a 21-year-old from Oklahoma, moved to Sam Pierce Racing last year after being a Toyota Racing Development prospect. She competes in both Silver Crown and Sports Cars with the ultimate goal of pursuing a NASCAR career.
After her win, Bryson expressed gratitude to her team and sponsors, acknowledging their role in her success. Her grandfather, Mike Ross, the owner of Sawyer Chassis, was also present to witness her victory.
Leary praised Bryson for her strategic driving, acknowledging her skill in maintaining her position despite his attempts to overtake her.
For more details on this historic race, visit this link.
Matt Weaver is a Motorsports Insider for Sportsnaut. Follow him on Twitter.
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