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Kaylee Bryson

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Kaylee Bryson
Bryson at the 2022 Chili Bowl
NationalityAmerican
Born (2001-03-11) March 11, 2001 (age 23)
Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S.
Trans-Am Series (SGT Class) career
Debut season2023
Current teamSam Pierce Racing
Car number02
EngineChevrolet
Starts11
Championships1
Wins3
Best finish1st in 2024
Championship titles
2024SGT Class Champion
USAC Silver Crown Series career
Debut season2022
Current teamSam Pierce Racing
Car number26
EngineChevrolet
Starts25
Wins1
Best finish5th in 2023
Finished last season5th
Awards
2023Rookie of the Year
Last updated on: October 8, 2024.

Kaylee Rae Bryson (born March 11, 2001)[1] is an American racing driver. She competes full-time for Sam Pierce Racing in both the Trans-Am Series and USAC Silver Crown Series, driving the Nos. 02 and 26 Chevrolets respectively.[2] Bryson is best known for being the first female driver to advance to the A-Main feature race at the Chili Bowl Nationals, as well as the first woman to win a USAC National Series feature race. In 2024, Bryson won the Trans-Am SGT class championship, becoming the second female driver to win the series title in SGT.

Racing career

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USAC

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Bryson made her first attempt in the USAC National Midget Championship with Dave Mac Motorsports in 2019.[3] She then signed with Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) in 2020, driving with sponsorship from JBL and backing from Toyota Racing Development (TRD).[4] Bryson advanced to the main event in 22 of her 23 season starts, finishing 11th in the standings and leading Racer's Robin Miller to call her "the best shot at a woman dirt racer ever making it to the big time."[5]

Bryson with her car at the 2022 Chili Bowl

In 2021, Bryson became the first female driver to qualify on pole at the Turkey Night Grand Prix, leading the first 17 laps and finishing fifth, the highest-ever finish for a woman in the event's history.[6] Bryson spent a total of three seasons with KKM, the best of which came in 2022, where she picked up additional sponsorship from Yahoo! for 18 races.[7] Bryson finished seventh in USAC National Midget points and was named the series' Most Improved Driver.[8] Bryson also made headlines at the 2022 Chili Bowl Nationals by winning her B-Main feature race, making her the first female driver to advance to the A-Main, where she finished 18th.[9]

Bryson made her USAC Silver Crown Series debut with Sam Pierce Racing (SPR) on June 18, 2022.[10] On December 8, 2022, she signed with SPR to compete full-time in Silver Crown in 2023.[11] Bryson's final start with KKM came at the 2023 Chili Bowl Nationals,[12] where she again advanced to the A-Main feature and finished 22nd,[13] after which she departed from the TRD program. Bryson later admitted that Toyota "didn't have enough to offer me and I really wanted to do something more with my career than midgets and late models...I thought going my own route would be better in the long run."[14] She ultimately finished fifth in the USAC Silver Crown standings for SPR, becoming the first female driver to earn Rookie of the Year honors in series history.[15]

In 2024, Bryson returned to the Chili Bowl with Sammy Swindell's team, Swindell-Bertrand Motorsports.[16][17] Her preliminary result forced her to start from an F-Main race, leaving her unable to advance farther than the E-Main.[18] Bryson then returned to Sam Pierce Racing for another full Silver Crown season.[2] On May 18, she won her first Silver Crown race at the Belleville High Banks from pole position, making her both the first woman to qualify on pole and win a USAC National Series feature race.[19]

Trans-Am

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Bryson made her Trans-Am Series debut in the 2023 season-opening race at Sebring.[20] In 2024, she began competing full-time in the series' SGT class to gain road course experience before pursuing opportunities in IndyCar or NASCAR.[2] In her fourth career series start, Bryson won her first race on April 14, 2024, at NOLA Motorsports Park, leading every lap from pole position and winning with a 29-second margin of victory.[21] She then earned a second class win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on August 31.[22] With Bryson's third win at Virginia International Raceway in October, she clinched the series championship in the SGT class,[23] becoming the second female driver in history to do so and third overall to win a Trans-Am title of any kind.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Kaylee Rae Bryson". Toyota Racing. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Kaylee Bryson to Compete for USAC and Trans Am Championships" (Press release). Sam Pierce Racing. December 8, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  3. ^ Seelman, Jacob (March 7, 2019). "Dave Mac Motorsports Adds Second Car for Bryson". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Seelman, Jacob (January 30, 2020). "KKM adds Kaylee Bryson to Midget Roster". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  5. ^ Miller, Robin (November 30, 2020). "Miller: Has dirt track racing found its next female star?". Racer. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "Logan Seavey Completes Sweep Of All Three USAC Finales". FloSports. November 28, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  7. ^ Long, Dustin (April 6, 2022). "Yahoo, Toyota Racing Development announce multi-year agreement". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  8. ^ Sullivan, Pat (May 7, 2023). "Bryson: A New Direction". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  9. ^ Barnes, Joey (January 17, 2022). "Bryson makes history at Chili Bowl". Racer. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  10. ^ "Kaylee Bryson Will Make USAC Silver Crown Debut At Port Royal". FloSports. May 4, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  11. ^ Staff Report (December 8, 2022). "Bryson to Take on Full USAC Silver Crown Schedule". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  12. ^ "Bryson Poised to Double Down on Chili Bowl Feature History". RacingAmerica.com. January 11, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  13. ^ Paul, Brandon (January 14, 2023). "Live From Tulsa: 2023 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Saturday Updates". FloSports. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  14. ^ Sullivan, Pat (May 7, 2023). "Bryson: A New Direction (Page 2)". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  15. ^ Murray, Richie (October 20, 2023). "Bryson Is USAC Silver Crown Racing's Top Rookie". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  16. ^ Staff Report (December 6, 2023). "Bryson Enters Chili Bowl with Swindell-Bertran". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  17. ^ Weaver, Matt (January 3, 2024). "2024 is winning season for Kaylee Bryson". Sportsnaut. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  18. ^ Woelbing, Grace (January 13, 2024). "Despite Early Chili Bowl Exit, Bryson is Revved Up for Remaining Season". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  19. ^ Paul, Brandon (May 18, 2024). "Kaylee Bryson Makes History As First Woman To Win USAC National Race". FloSports. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  20. ^ "Kaylee Bryson to go Winged Sprint Car Racing Prior to Trans Am Debut". GoTransAm.com. January 31, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  21. ^ "Kaylee Bryson Dominates in Career-First Trans Am Win at NOLA Motorsports Park". GoTransAm.com. April 14, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  22. ^ Trans Am (August 31, 2024). "Menard and Matos both score fifth wins of Trans Am season at CTMP". Racer. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  23. ^ "Bryson Wins at VIR, Is Trans Am SGT Series National Champion". GoTransAm.com. October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  24. ^ "Menard Earns Sixth TA Victory of 2024, Heartbreak for Dyson at VIR". GoTransAm.com. October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
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