Nikky Saxon Finds Positives Despite Short Race Weekend
Next Race set for September 6th at Owosso Speedway (Special from Nikky Saxon Racing)
August 14, 2014
New Palestine, Indiana (August 14, 2014) – Nikky Saxon's race weekend was cut short
due to engine issues, but she still had a topnotch practice for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars
Tour race last weekend at Auto City Speedway in Clio, Michigan.
Saxon was in the middle of what was shaping up to be her best weekend in her No. 56
Saxon Racing/J&J Financial Late Model when engine problems led her to miss the
remainder of the weekend.
"My initial reaction was that I was bummed," Saxon said. "I was doing really well and was
excited to race, but things happen. It's just one of those things that's out of your control."
In Friday's practice, Saxon was running 15.8-second laps on the 0.437-mile asphalt oval.
It was a confidence boost for Saxon, 20, as it was her first time on the track.
"The other tracks I've run at this year I've had a practice day before the race weekend,"
Saxon said. "I wasn't able to do that this time, but I was still able to do well in practice,
which was exciting."
Auto City Speedway quickly became one of Saxon's favorite tracks on the All-Stars Tour.
"There are such smooth transitions," Saxon said. "It's fun to drive. A couple of the other drivers gave me some tips and helped with what to do in the corners. So, in the Friday practice I was able to get my times down quickly."
In Saturday's practice, Saxon dropped her times close to her previous Friday best within five laps. However, during the practice before qualifying Saxon felt a loss of power and could hear something wasn't right with the engine. The crew determined the problem was a broken value.
While disappointing for Saxon, she took some positives from the weekend.
"This was the smoothest I've felt in the car," Saxon said. "During our time off we've made a few changes on the car, but it's really the whole combination of me getting used to the setup and feeling more comfortable in the car."
Saxon is racing a partial season in the series this year and has dealt with car problems in three of her four events. She thinks she hasn't yet reached her potential, but her confidence continues to build.
"I'm going to keep the feeling I had in the car last weekend and take it forward," Saxon said. "It gives me a lot more confidence in myself and the car."
Saxon Racing will get the engine rebuilt and be ready for the next race on the schedule for Nikky, Sept. 6 for the Big 'O' Classic 100 at Owosso Speedway in Ovid, Michigan.
For the latest news about Nikky Saxon and Saxon Racing, like the team on Facebook and visit its website at racingwithnikky.com
About Nikky Saxon:
Nicole "Nikky" Saxon has been racing since she was 8 years old, with the goal of becoming the first female NASCAR champion. Nikky gained racing experience through various series throughout her younger years. Originally from Las Vegas, Nikky and her family moved to Indianapolis. They moved Saxon Racing to continue to support Nikky and her jump to compete in her No. 56 Late Model in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour presented by Chevrolet Performance in 2014. Two years ago, Nikky developed Colitis along with acute Rhuematoid Arthritis and continues to battle the diseases, trying to never let it interfere with achieving her racing goals. Nikky balances her racing with work in the classroom as a third-year, full-time student at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), majoring in Motorsports Engineering.
