March 8, 2026

Rilee Nowaczyk: A Teen Racer Balances School, Travel, And High-Speed Jumps

Send a text High school sophomore Rilee Nowaczyk from Holland, Michigan is proving that snowcross racing isn’t just for the boys. Racing a 600 Polaris in the national ISOC series (streamed on International Series of Champions via FloSports), Rilee competes in the Pro Women’s class against racers twice her age. From traveling three hours to her “local” track in Mancelona, Michigan, to missing school for national races in Minnesota, Canada, and New York, Rilee shares what it takes to balance hi...

Send a text

High school sophomore Rilee Nowaczyk from Holland, Michigan is proving that snowcross racing isn’t just for the boys. Racing a 600 Polaris in the national ISOC series (streamed on International Series of Champions via FloSports), Rilee competes in the Pro Women’s class against racers twice her age.

From traveling three hours to her “local” track in Mancelona, Michigan, to missing school for national races in Minnesota, Canada, and New York, Rilee shares what it takes to balance high school and high-speed snowmobile racing.

In this episode, we talk about:

· Racing in negative 30-degree weather

· Competing against the boys — and beating them

· Family sacrifice and commitment

· Mental toughness on the starting line

· The powerful “family” atmosphere of motorsports

If you love stories of grit, resilience, and girls redefining motorsports — this episode is for you.

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00:02 - Welcome And Show Purpose

01:01 - Meet Riley: Background And Family

02:18 - First Races And Family-Run Series

03:20 - What A 120 Sled Is

03:56 - Moving To Regionals And Nationals

04:20 - Current Sled And Home Track

04:58 - Balancing School, Travel, And Points

06:10 - Classes, Points, And Competition

07:14 - Pro Women’s Field And Ages

07:44 - Streaming, Discovery, And Exposure

08:19 - Why She Races: Adrenaline And Friends

09:06 - Routines, Nutrition, And Nerves

10:24 - Race Formats, Laps, And Pace

11:38 - Fitness And Endurance For Finals

12:38 - Weekends, Schedules, And Recovery

13:14 - Pride Moments And Racing With Boys

14:04 - Handling Bad Days And Mindset

14:34 - Number 616 And Identity

15:09 - Explaining Snocross At School

16:16 - Family Crew And Wrenching Reality

17:20 - Sacrifices: School And Social Life

18:28 - Girls In Motorsports And Belonging

19:44 - Beating Her Brother And Future Plans

21:00 - Favorite Tracks And Course Design

22:03 - Sponsors, Gear, And Extreme Cold

23:32 - Lessons Learned And Quieting Doubt

25:12 - Community, Faith, And Pit Lane Help

26:42 - Local Snow Challenges And Season End

28:03 - Closing And Calls To Connect

WEBVTT

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Welcome to the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast, the show that puts the spotlight on the incredible women who fuel the world of motorsports.

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From drivers to crew members, engineers to fans, and everyone in between, we're here to celebrate the trail drivers, dreamers, and doers shaping the sport we love.

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Each episode, we share inspiring stories of females of all ages from every corner of the motorsports universe, past, present, and future.

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It's a journey through the seasons of life filled with heartfelt moments, laughter, and a whole lot of horsepower.

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So whether you're a lifelong fan, a racer yourself, or simply curious about the extraordinary women behind the wheel, settle in, relax, and enjoy a fun and uplifting ride with us.

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This is the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast, connecting and celebrating women in motorsports one story at a time.

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Let's hit the track.

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Hello everyone.

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This is Melinda Russell with the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast.

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And my guest today is Riley.

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And Riley, I'm not going to try to say your last name.

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I'm going to let you tell us because I know I would say it wrong.

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So why don't you start by sharing a little bit about yourself?

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Okay, my name is Riley Navacik, and I'm from Holland, Michigan, and I'm currently still in high school.

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I'm a sophomore.

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So I do that during the week and stuff.

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And I have a younger brother who also races with me.

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And I have a dog who I love very much.

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And I actually have an older sister who which I'm also an aunt because she has a kid too.

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So that's always fun.

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So yeah.

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That's cool.

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And does she live close?

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About 30 minutes away.

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Okay, so you get to see your.

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Did you say she has a girl or a boy?

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A boy.

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She has a little boy, so you get to see him fairly often.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Because he'll be four in May, so he's still pretty young, but yeah.

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But old enough to probably love race cars.

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Yep.

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Yeah, for sure.

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So, Riley, tell me, you're a sophomore in high school.

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We don't live probably much more than an hour apart.

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So, how did you get started in racing?

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So, when I was about probably five, there was a Craigslist ad for like a 120 race.

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And it was about 20 minutes from my house, and my dad saw it.

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So he loaded up the 120 in the back of the truck and stuff when we went to the race.

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And then pretty much from there, we've always done it.

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And then after running with that series for a few years, they stopped running it.

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And then my parents, like my family, I guess, actually picked it up and then started running it until about like 2023.

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And then now someone else runs it.

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But yeah.

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All right.

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So if somebody doesn't know what a 120 is, explain what is it that you race.

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So it's like just a small like sled.

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Basically, anyone probably like 10, 12 under can ride it.

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It's a super like it goes pretty slow.

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It's super small.

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Like it's just a lot of fun.

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Yeah.

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Lots of fun for sure.

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Yeah.

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So in 2023, your parents sold the series.

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So what do you do now?

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Are you still racing that?

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Or where do you go to race?

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Tell me your story.

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So when they sold it, they sold it to the guy that we were like, we were running the series on his property.

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So he bought it from us or whatever.

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And then we still go up there for like their whole series all winter long and stuff.

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And then we also do the national eye sock series, which goes all over the place, like Minnesota, South Dakota, Canada, Wisconsin, New York.

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So those are what we do on most of our weekends and stuff.

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But okay.

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So what are you racing now?

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What kind of a sled or what is it that you're in?

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So I currently have a 600 Polaris and stuff, and we've always been Polarises and stuff.

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So yeah.

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All right.

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And so how far is the closest track then?

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Do you you still race kind of locally, right?

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And then you do the series.

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So how how close is the what track do you go to what you'd call your home track?

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So for like the regional series, like our home track is in Mancelona, Michigan, which is around a three-hour drive from my house and stuff.

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So on the weekends we usually try and leave like Friday after school, and then the races get done Sunday about probably six o'clock, and then we get home Sunday night and then have to go back to school on Monday.

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So yeah, yeah.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Because if you have homework or any of that, yeah, lots of homework done in the car, right?

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For sure, yeah.

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And then like for the national stuff, we have to leave on Wednesday nights, so then we miss Thursday and Friday for school.

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So it definitely makes it hard to fit everything in.

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Yeah, I I'm sure it does.

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Do you play any other sports or do any other uh activities like that?

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I don't know.

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Yeah, it there's just not time to do it all, is there?

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Yeah, yeah.

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It definitely like is a full schedule.

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It is, and the fact that you drive three hours for what we would call local track, that's a long way.

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That's a big commitment.

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Yeah, yeah, for you and your parents, yeah, because then my parents aren't able to go to work or anything on those days, and so yeah, and you know, their employers and the school and everybody, they have to be kind of understanding, yeah, for sure, you know, um you have life outside of school or whatever, and sometimes that's hard for people to understand, especially if they don't understand racing.

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Yeah, because when you're in it, you're kind of just stuck in it, like you can't just stop.

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It's like especially like for like our series and stuff, it's like points.

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So, like if you miss a race, you're kind of out of the points stuff, so you have to go to all of them.

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So yeah.

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So do you run points in both your home track and the national series?

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Yes, I do.

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Okay, and how are you doing in the points?

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So for our regional, like local track or whatever, there's only like me that races really for the women's class, so I'm in first for that points.

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But okay, and then for I have to run with the boys, so I run against like my brother and stuff, and I think I'm fifth for the sport class right now.

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Okay, so that's not too bad.

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And then my n for nationals, I run the pro women's class because there's a huge turnout this year, probably about 20 girls or sometimes more.

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But I think right now I'm 12th or 13th.

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So okay, all right.

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So kind of in the middle, that's good.

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And how and so the pro women's class, that could be any age woman.

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Do they do they have a minimum age that you have to be to run that class?

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Yeah, so you like from 9 to 13, you have a throttle block sled that you run with like all the other girls, and then when you turn 14, you have to go to a full power sled, and then you just automatically are in the woman's class, and then like so, like some of the women are like 30, so it just like you can run that class forever after you turn 14.

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Yeah, and you know, those women that are in their 30s or 20s or whatever, they could have been doing this for 10 or more years, 10, 20 years, right?

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Yeah, yeah, for sure.

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Yeah, so it's you know, it gives you some really good competition for sure.

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And then the national series, that's on flow racing, right?

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Yes, it is, yeah.

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Yeah, that's where I got your name, was off of post.

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Yeah, I was I happened to be scrolling, or I watch a lot of sports, and so I was on flow and I was looking to see what there was, and when I saw that was on there, I was like, oh, this is cool.

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And I happened to catch the women, you know, just as I was on, and so that was cool because I found you and a couple other ladies that race that, and then um, so that was fun that I could connect with you.

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So, Riley, what's your favorite thing about racing?

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Honestly, I'd say like about the track and stuff, I like just the jumps and like just the adrenaline, I guess you get from it, but also like at the track, like you're friends with everyone there, so it's kind of nice.

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Like, we hang out with all of our friends during the summer, like we go to one of their cabins and like go like tubing, and like you just meet a lot of cool people and stuff, so that's another fun thing about it.

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But and those women are from all over the place, aren't they?

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Yeah, yeah, a lot of them are from like the Minnesota area.

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I think this year we have one girl from Sweden, so that's always pretty cool to just get lots more people, yeah.

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Yeah, because I think the day I watched, I think they showed the top 20 maybe women in whatever class it was that they were racing in, and it was pretty cool to see where all those women were coming from, yeah, yeah.

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So making new friends is is one of the highlights probably of being involved in the racing, in besides that you love racing, yeah, yeah.

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So do you have any superstitions or anything that you always do before the race?

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Like I always wear this shirt, or I always put my hair in braids.

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Anything like that?

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Not really.

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I mean, like I always like this, is I don't know if it's a superstition, but I always just like put my left knee brace on, then my right one.

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But I mean, like it's not like anything crazy like some people might have, but yeah, it's not really a superstition, but it is like you know, people get in the habit of always doing things the same way.

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Yeah, so that's that's kind of what what you're doing there for sure.

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So on race day, do you eat or not eat?

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I usually like because for both the series we usually race in the afternoon, afternoon and night show and stuff.

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So I usually like eat in the morning and then I just kind of like snack throughout the day because I don't know, like a big meal before a race isn't my favorite thing, but yeah, I just try and get some food though for like fuel and stuff, but exactly, yeah.

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So now I I'm learning more about you know your your racing.

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So what I know so far, and I only know enough to be dangerous, so you know you correct me if I'm wrong.

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The races are timed and then plus two laps or plus five laps or plus whatever.

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Is that right?

00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:53.039
Usually for the finals, yeah.

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But sometimes for rounds and stuff, they'll just do like four laps or something.

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It just depends.

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But yeah, usually for finals, they'll do like five minutes plus two laps or something like that.

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But yeah, okay.

00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:06.720
And about how long would you say?

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I know every track is different, but let's just, you know, just think of a a track that you go to.

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About how long does it take you to get around the track?

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So, like in Shakapee, like two or three weeks ago now, that track was a pretty big track and it was around a minute.

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So, and then I'd say like tracks that are on the smaller side are around maybe 30 seconds.

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So, really anywhere in between there they can be.

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So, it just also depends on how much snow and all that and just conditions.

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And about how fast are you going?

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I would say like probably like slower than you think, but probably pretty fast because you have to be able to like time all the jumps and everything, but I don't know like a number off the top of my head, honestly.

00:11:53.919 --> 00:12:01.440
All right, because it it might not look very fast when you're watching, but if you're behind the wheel, it's a lot faster than you think.

00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:06.799
Yeah, it definitely feels fast like when you're on the slide going through the air and stuff, and yeah.

00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:08.240
Yeah, I'm sure.

00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:10.960
So, do you work out to stay in shape?

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Because I would think that it would make your arms and your shoulders would have to be for sure in shape.

00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:22.960
Yeah, it yeah, it definitely tires you out, especially like the finals that are five minutes plus two or something like that.

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So I usually try and go to the gym like every single day after school and stuff, and on the weekends and stuff, I usually go with one of my friends and we work out for a couple hours or whatever.

00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:34.240
So yeah.

00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:42.000
Yeah, that's what I figured because I would think that if you weren't in good shape, your arms would especially ache, you know.

00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:47.360
Yeah, it definitely puts some wear on your arms and shoulders and everything, but yeah.

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Yeah.

00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:56.799
And when you go to a national race, then you would race probably Friday, Saturday, and then do they are they over on Saturday?

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You would go home on Sunday.

00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:10.639
So for the like our local truck, it's Saturdays and Sundays, and then for the all the nationals, it's like Fridays and Saturdays, which is kind of nice because then we have Sunday all day to drive home, which then I can go to school on Monday, so that kind of makes it nice.

00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:12.960
But yeah, that's what I was thinking for sure.

00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:13.759
Yeah.

00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:19.360
So what's something about racing that you're really proud of?

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Something that's happened, something that you've learned or grown, something that you're proud of.

00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:36.879
I'd say something I'm proud of is probably just like at especially at regionals, because I don't race with the boys at nationals, but like at our local track and stuff, just keeping up with the boys on like certain days and stuff.

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I mean, it doesn't happen all the time, but it just like it feels like such an accomplishment when you're right there with them and stuff, because like I'm the only girl like my age at that track, so because they're all too young to be in the woman's class.

00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:52.480
So it just feels like nice, I guess.

00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:53.440
Yeah.

00:13:54.000 --> 00:14:02.000
So when you have a bad day racing, because we know everybody has a bad day, there's nobody that escapes that.

00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:03.279
How do you handle that?

00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:05.600
What do you what do you do to get over it?

00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:10.960
Yeah, I usually just try and like not, I guess, just kind of like forget about it.

00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:14.720
I mean, like if I made a huge mistake, yeah, like think about it and learn from it.

00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:21.200
But if I like sit there and like I guess dwell on it forever, it's like not gonna help me in the long run.

00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:24.399
I mean, so I guess just try and kind of forget about it.

00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.279
Yeah.

00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:29.039
Or try to learn from it, go on, move forward.

00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:29.759
Yeah.

00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:34.559
Now, does your snowmobile have a a number on it?

00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:35.759
Have a what?

00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:36.879
Number.

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:37.840
Oh, yeah.

00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:38.320
Yep.

00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:42.000
So you have to have one on each side and then one in the front of it and stuff.

00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:43.519
And do you pick those?

00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:46.320
Are you able to pick the numbers or do they assign them?

00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:48.320
Yeah, you can pick whatever number.

00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:50.879
They're usually like three digits or two digits or something.

00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:52.879
And mine's three, it's six one six.

00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:55.679
So okay, and is that your zip code?

00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:57.279
I mean your area code.

00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.080
Yeah, it is.

00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:01.279
My dad picked that right when I first started racing, and they never changed it.

00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:03.120
So okay, all right.

00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:04.960
I figured that one out on my own.

00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:05.679
So that one.

00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:08.080
Yeah.

00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:19.759
So when you tell people that you race snowmobiles, or you, you know, I don't know, Holland's not a huge school, but big enough that maybe everybody doesn't know that you race.

00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:25.120
When somebody finds out that you race that you go to school with, what do they think about it?

00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:31.919
Honestly, like people like don't I don't know if a lot of people are even heard of like snow cross before.

00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:36.720
So they're kind of I think more confused and stuff, and like then I don't know.

00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:44.559
I just I think confusion basically, and I usually just try and like explain that it's kind of like motocross, but just basically with snowmobiles in the for the most part.

00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:49.759
Yeah, but yeah, I I think they think it's cool, it's just they don't know what it is really, right?

00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:54.000
And and unless you have flow, you really probably can't watch it.

00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:54.639
Maybe YouTube.

00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:58.000
I don't know if it's on YouTube, but I think it is, yeah.

00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:06.559
So, you know, if you said to somebody, Oh, I I do snow cross, and they look at you like, is that cross-country skiing, or what is that?

00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:14.879
Yeah, a lot of people think it's like yeah, like cross-country or like ice ovals or like something like that, but yeah, yeah, for sure.

00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:19.120
So is there is there a crew that helps you when you go to the races?

00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:20.159
I'm sure your dad.

00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:20.879
Who else?

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:30.720
Yeah, it's usually so in our trail, it's just me, me and my brother and my dad, and then my mom comes to the local track, but she's been staying home from nationals because it's just a big trip and stuff.

00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:41.200
Yeah, so it's just my dad that works on the sleds, and we try and help him out as much as possible, but we don't really have like a huge crew or anything like other people might.

00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:47.919
Yeah, I would think most of the people don't have a huge crew because that's a lot of travel stuff for people.

00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:49.600
Yeah, yeah.

00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:59.360
So when when things have to be worked on, even like at home or whatever, are you involved and help do that or does your dad take care of most of it?

00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:04.400
He takes care of most of it because I'm not the best with all that mechanic-y type of stuff.

00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:17.599
I okay, I mean, like I do my best to try and like do some of the simpler stuff, but like a lot of like just a lot of it, I don't understand, I guess, but it's it's more of a guy thing, yeah, probably for sure.

00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.960
Yeah, yeah.

00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:28.000
So you know, racing, I and just from what you've already said, you know, you'd miss school and all these different things.

00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:33.440
It's a sacrifice to be involved, you know, with racing in that.

00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:39.839
What what do you think is the biggest sacrifice as far as uh racing, you know?

00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:44.000
Do you have to miss school events, parties?

00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:47.119
What's your biggest thing that you've had to sacrifice?

00:17:48.160 --> 00:18:02.720
It's definitely just like school in general, because like I know like it's just it's so hard to miss school because like I'm actually like we're leaving for Canada tonight for a race, so I'll have to miss like Thursday and Friday for school.

00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:13.200
So that's like a huge thing, and like just like seeing my friends at school, and like I guess just missing out on things that happen at school, and I guess hanging out with friends on the weekends too.

00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:23.519
But I'd rather be racing too, because I get to see them in the summer and everything, but right, and when you go to the races, there's another set of friends, exactly.

00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:28.319
So it's yeah, yeah, it's kind of like a sacrifice, but you get a reward.

00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:30.160
So I mean that's true.

00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:31.119
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:33.599
That's very true, for sure.

00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:41.279
So, you know, a lot of people talk about racers or athletes and their brand.

00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:43.359
Do you feel like you have a brand?

00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:48.559
And if so, what what do you try to show as your brand like on social media?

00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:52.000
What do you mean, like a brand, like a sponsor of some sort?

00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:57.519
Or like you know, like Women's Motorsports Network is my brand.

00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:06.000
Okay, so like your brand, your brand might be Riley Racing or whatever, whatever it's called.

00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:16.079
And then when you post on social media, is there a certain are there certain things that you concentrate on posting, like positive things that you've done?

00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:19.519
Do you post you know, getting ready for the races?

00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:23.200
Does somebody post your race, your actual race, that kind of thing?

00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:26.160
So what are you what does your social media look like?

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:32.480
So I usually post on Instagram after most of the like after like I guess each national weekend.

00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:35.119
I don't really worry about the local weekends or anything like that.

00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:40.799
Yeah, I usually will post like how I did and stuff, and then like thank my sponsors and stuff.

00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:45.200
But yeah, mostly just posting like results and how the weekend went, I guess.

00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.559
Yeah, okay.

00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:50.000
So do you want to share who your sponsors are?

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:53.359
I'm gonna have to look at what they are quick.

00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:53.759
Hold on.

00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:55.519
Okay, all right.

00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:04.319
So we have the graphics place in Holland here that does my wrap on my sled that makes it look good and cheer.

00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:31.200
So graphics gurus, and then like FXR racing, which is the gear I wear, stud boy traction, the studs, EVS, which is like knee braces and neck braces to keep me like safe out on the track, CNA Pro Skies, Rock Speed FX, which is my hand guards, and then Northern Power Race Park, which is the track up north that is the local track, and then Nabacha Construction, which is my dad's company.

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.480
Okay, all right.

00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:33.759
So you've got a few.

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:34.319
Yeah.

00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:34.799
Yeah.

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:36.880
And it takes lots of gear, doesn't it?

00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:37.680
To race.

00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:39.359
Yeah, for sure.

00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:42.160
Safety gear, gear to keep you warm.

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:50.480
Yeah, in Shakapee, Minnesota, about two or three weeks ago or whatever, it was like negative 20, negative 30.

00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:53.039
So you had to have lots of layers on other reasons.

00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:55.440
You were freezing out there, so yeah.

00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:56.559
Yeah, absolutely.

00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:58.799
That's that's miserable.

00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:06.079
But I I would hope that they would have some kind of a place where you could get indoors where it would be warm when you're not racing.

00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:16.640
Yeah, we usually just head back to the trailer in between races, but they do have a huge like because it's at a like a horse, like a I don't know if you call it like an arena or like a okay, yeah.

00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:22.400
Horse something, but so there's a huge building inside that spectators watch from, so that's always nice.

00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:37.359
Yeah, that's good because yeah, it's been so cold this winter, I can't even imagine how cold it is, and then you're speeding along on your with you know, your snowmobile too, so that's gonna be yeah, yeah, crazy for sure.

00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:49.519
So is there anything that you think you've learned from being a part of motorsports and and the and everything that you maybe wouldn't have learned at this age?

00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:59.759
Like, you know, I I often see girls they're more mature, girls that are in racing are more mature for their age, or they speak they speak.

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:06.079
speak better or you know they learn how to deal with adversity better.

00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:12.079
What are some things that you think maybe you've learned by being involved in motorsports?

00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:19.279
I'd say just like honestly probably dealing with like bad situations because like in racing, I mean it's bound to happen.

00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.799
Stuff is gonna happen.

00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:22.559
Nothing you can really do about it.

00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:27.680
So you just kind of have to like stick with it and you can't just give up on it.

00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:32.559
So I mean I'd say just like learning to work through hard times and stuff.

00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:36.640
So yeah and that that kind of fits in with another question I have.

00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:53.440
So like you know do you do you have doubt in your head like when you get on get ready to go for a race and maybe things haven't gone as well as you wanted does that little doubt creep in and then if so how do you how do you quiet it and push that away?

00:22:53.759 --> 00:23:02.400
Yeah definitely on the line like because they usually give us a 30 second timer before the green light to like do your hot start which gets the pipes hot and stuff on the sled.

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:07.440
So it's definitely like your head's kind of going crazy right then because you're just like waiting for it to start.

00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:17.200
So it's definitely like because on the track like you're probably like you're thinking like should I hit this jump like because if you didn't hit it in practice someone else did.

00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:18.880
So should I hit it during the race?

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:22.000
Like is it gonna like I don't know just like all those types of things.

00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:29.039
So it's just you just have to kind of block it out but it's so hard too because it's just yeah.

00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:35.680
Yeah sitting there waiting but sitting there waiting it's better if you just can go and not have to think about it.

00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:47.759
Yeah especially like before my finals I usually have like in between one of my like my round two and my final I usually have like two hours and like the time in between that is like I like it forever.

00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:48.799
Yeah.

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:52.240
So I like I like when I'm more busy than just waiting around.

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.119
Yeah.

00:23:53.759 --> 00:24:19.839
So when you started racing or even you know recently have you ever felt like you didn't belong or have you always been like accepted either when you were racing the boys or you know you're younger and there's older women racing have you always felt accepted yeah I'd say so like the boys at the local tracker are usually pretty nice about like talking to me and like being nice and stuff like that.

00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:23.599
So I've never really felt like I didn't like I guess belong there.

00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:32.880
So which is good because I'm sure like it can be bad like if it they don't but yeah it's usually I think it's gone great so far.

00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:34.079
Okay that's great.

00:24:34.160 --> 00:25:37.519
I like hearing that yeah so why do you think motorsports any kind of motorsports your what you do or you know circle track whatever why why do you think it's a good sport for girls to be involved in it kind of like it I don't know how to word this like because a lot of girls don't do motorsports so it's kind of like I wouldn't say like proving a point but it's like it's being different so it just like like like I guess like it just shows what we're actually capable of doing in a way so and it's not just like every other like school sport that a girl could play it's just different and unique I guess right and there's there's skills and things that you have to learn and know that are part of motorsports that maybe are not part of other sports like you said like school sports you know you learn to play basketball from the time you're in first grade.

00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:48.160
Yeah it's kind of a natural thing whereas motorsport is not as popular and you know you have to drive three hours to a track.

00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:56.160
Yeah for sure yeah and so there's the commitment and the you have to have a passion for it or you wouldn't be doing that.

00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:59.440
You wouldn't be driving that and going on the weekend.

00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:01.119
So yeah for sure.

00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:24.640
Exactly it's like a huge commitment that you have to stick with pretty much so yeah yeah and it you know it's not cheap and so it's it's not something that you just say oh I'm gonna do I'm gonna do this and then the next week you're like yeah I don't want to go and I mean it's it's a full all in all out commitment with both your parents and and you and your brother for sure.

00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:26.079
Yeah it is for sure.

00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:37.599
Yeah so does your brother is you don't race against him because he's younger right well he just moved up to like a full power sled this year.

00:26:37.759 --> 00:27:00.400
So I do this year at regionals and stuff so that's always fun going back and forth with him and then like if I beat him he gets all mad but I mean but you are older though so yeah yeah yeah so that's always a fun one boys don't like to get beat by girls especially their sisters that's definitely something I learned with racing is boys don't like when I beat them.

00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:21.440
Yeah that's for sure so do you think this is something you want to do for the next several years do you love it enough to to keep going yeah I for sure want to do it like the rest of high school and stuff and then I don't really know what it my plans are like after high school and stuff because I mean I still have a couple years to decide that so I definitely want to continue with it.

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:24.240
It just depends I guess what my life looks like and stuff.

00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:26.960
Yeah but it's definitely something I want to continue to do.

00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:27.599
Okay.

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:31.759
So do you have a favorite track like in the national series?

00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:54.799
I would say my favorite track it's always been New York Salamanca New York and but this year the second week in a Shakapee that track was really fun so I really like that one but usually I don't but I'm looking forward because we go to Canada this week and then next week we go to Salamanca so I'm looking forward to see what kind of track they put together for that one.

00:27:55.119 --> 00:27:55.440
Okay.

00:27:56.160 --> 00:28:04.720
And are the tracks hilly and curvy and you know tell me tell me about one of your favorite tracks what does it look like?

00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:19.440
So like in Salamanca it's a casino it's in the parking lot actually which is not like usually where it's at but it's in the casino parking lot and it's pretty flat and it's kind of like an oval and sometimes they add like a dog leg in it.

00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:22.000
So it just like goes out and you come back in.

00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:39.839
But and then there's it's usually a like a pretty flat track there's not a lot of jump I mean there's some jumps but they're not huge but like in Shakapee the jumps were big and fun that's what was exciting about it and stuff because you could get big airtime but yeah so everyone is basically different.

00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:44.720
Yeah for the most part I mean the same concept but they design them different every weekend.

00:28:44.960 --> 00:29:19.279
Yeah so has anybody given you any advice whether for life or racing that's kind of stuck with you or a favorite quote anything like that I can't really think of one off the top of my head no okay that's all right that's all right yeah tell me about social media how can somebody follow you on social media so I have an Instagram account where I post all my like results at and all that and it's just my first and last name.

00:29:19.920 --> 00:31:52.240
So yeah and then my dad has a Facebook account which is like Nomatic racing but he doesn't keep that very updated so he does his best but yeah yeah Instagram is definitely the best place too okay all right sounds good so anything that we haven't talked about Riley about your racing or you that I've completely missed like your maybe success what's been your your biggest moment or your favorite memory my favorite memory I would say is probably honestly just like doing well in races and stuff I just there's a lot of times but like especially like at the regional track not necessarily even just the racing but just kind of like I guess messing around with my friends there and everything and like just stuff like on the starting line and in the pits and stuff it's just like a huge family which is another thing I really like about it and stuff but yeah yeah it really is and you know Riley I hear that more times than you can imagine when I ask somebody what's their favorite thing about being involved in motorsports and it's the family atmosphere and and making new friends and that and it's funny because you know there's a lot of sports out there but I don't necessarily hear when somebody's kid plays basketball let's say and I'll say well what do you like most about basketball and winning or making points but I don't hear it's about the family you know making new friends and family because it's a whole different a whole different situation you're racing against the same kids pretty much or women every weekend whether it be at your home track or the nationals the same whi people come weekend after weekend which makes it a different family atmosphere than playing on a school team that has kids that you go to school with it's just different isn't it yeah it's like I because I used to play like volleyball and softball and like like yeah you had teammates because they're like it was a school team and stuff so you knew all the girls and stuff but it you weren't as close as like what we are here because you figure we spend every single weekend together like even after the race they will go out to dinner with them or like you know just stuff like that.

00:31:52.400 --> 00:32:05.759
And like at the regional circuit they started a Bible study before our races so like a me and a few of like the guys that are there all like hang out before the races too so I it's just we're all so close with each other and stuff.

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:42.319
Yeah it's more of a 247 on the weekend deal than than school teams and that's hard to explain to people that haven't been involved in racing they don't really get that and you know like even if you're competitive on the track but when you're off the track you're buddies and and like if you have a rough race or something happens they they might you know want to beat you out there but when they come back into the pits they're like oh what happened what can we do to help and everybody helps each other.

00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:55.359
Yeah that's exactly it because like two weekends ago me or my brother's sled broke so there's a whole bunch of dads all gathered around trying to fix it and even though their kids are racing against my brother but everyone just wants everybody out on the track to enjoy it.

00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:59.119
You know what I mean like so everybody's just there for each other and it's super nice.

00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:34.079
Yeah that's how the world needs to be Riley we all need to be here for each other no matter what yes yeah for sure is there anything that you want to share or that I didn't ask you about now before we hang up I can't really think of anything but yeah yeah I wish you ran I know it's hard you know you just never know Kalamazoo where I live Holland where you live we're about an hour apart there could be no snow on the ground so you can't really plan any races very close to home.

00:33:34.319 --> 00:34:30.719
Yeah definitely not like we had our first year we ran the circuit there was a race at the Holland fairgrounds there that my dad ran or whatever but we had to haul trucks of snow in from like parking lots which isn't the nicest thing to do but it's the way you get a race so right so most of these locations are all way up north yeah yeah yeah so no no choice about the travel that's for sure yeah well I I hope I get to see you on flow racing again I'll be watching perfect thank you I want to wish you good luck the rest of the season how much longer will you have races I don't know exactly the number we have left but my last race is the beginning of April like that first weekend okay in Duluth Minnesota that's the last national so okay so you've got a little while yet you've got the rest of February March and all of March and then maybe a little bit of April so that's good.

00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:49.199
Yeah sounds good well Riley I'm gonna be like I said I'm gonna be watching watching for you and if I can ever do anything or or you ever have anything that you would like to share tag women's motorsports network and that way I can I can follow it easier if you do that.

00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:51.519
And I just want to wish you good luck.

00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:52.639
Thank you.

00:34:52.960 --> 00:35:11.679
All right you hang on just for a second that's it for this episode of the Women's Motorsports Network podcast we hope you've been inspired by the stories I shared today and feel more connected to the amazing community of women in motorsports.

00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:23.199
Remember whether you're behind the wheel in the pits or cheering from the stands your story matters and together we're driving change and celebrating every milestone.

00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:32.400
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00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:53.920
So until next time stay inspired stay connected and keep racing through life this is the Women's Motorsports network podcast where every woman's story is worth celebrating