Written by Mary Lendzion
Photos by NMCA and courtesy of Audrey Baize
Audrey Baize works hard to improve her impressive racing program at each event she attends.
Whether she is going over data or a to-do list, she is determined, and her approach is paying off.
The racer from Hodgenville, Kentucky, who races alongside her boyfriend, Jacob Weigl, in NMCA Erson Cams Nostalgia Muscle, has already accomplished some of the goals she set at the beginning of 2023, and the racing season is not over yet.
For the first time in her racing career, Baize led qualifying with an 11.75 on an 11.75 index at the 18th Annual NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Muscle Car Drag Racing in May at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois.
She then ran right on her 12.00 index, with a 0, to lead qualifying at the TorqStorm Superchargers NMRA/NMCA Power Festival presented by Paul’s High Performance in July at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan.
With a desire to do some more driving, she headed to the 43rd Annual King of the Bluegrass on Aug. 12 at Kentucky Dragway, where she stood out in her 1969 Dart powered by a 360 cubic-inch engine which she works on with her father, Junior, and Dale Meers Racing Engines.
“When we found out about this race, we decided to drive a couple hours from our house to take part in it,” said Baize. “We’re glad we did.”
Baize entered the Dale Meers Racing Engines Nostalgia Combo, as well as the Sportsman class. She pulled off the win in the Dale Meers Racing Engines Nostalgia Combo with a 12.044 on a 12.00 index over Terry Priest, and she won three rounds in the Sportsman category. The feat was her first win.
“I have been runner-up a bunch of times, and I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been in the semifinal, so to pull off the win meant a lot,” said Baize. “As soon as I saw my win light come on, I started celebrating in my head, and when I got out of my car after the pass, I started celebrating with my dad and Jacob. I will admit that I also shed a few tears because it felt so good to finally get over that hump.”
With a shot of confidence, Baize will head to the 22nd Annual Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals presented by Sick the Mag, August 25-27 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. As the fifth of six races on this year’s NMCA tour, she hopes to go rounds and gain points.
“I would really like to keep it going and finish in the top-ten in Nostalgia Muscle,” said Baize, who is currently in the thirteenth spot in points.“Jacob is doing really well in Nostalgia Muscle, and my goal is to do well in points, too.”
Photos by NMCA and courtesy of Audrey Baize
Audrey Baize works hard to improve her impressive racing program at each event she attends.
Whether she is going over data or a to-do list, she is determined, and her approach is paying off.
The racer from Hodgenville, Kentucky, who races alongside her boyfriend, Jacob Weigl, in NMCA Erson Cams Nostalgia Muscle, has already accomplished some of the goals she set at the beginning of 2023, and the racing season is not over yet.
For the first time in her racing career, Baize led qualifying with an 11.75 on an 11.75 index at the 18th Annual NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Muscle Car Drag Racing in May at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois.
She then ran right on her 12.00 index, with a 0, to lead qualifying at the TorqStorm Superchargers NMRA/NMCA Power Festival presented by Paul’s High Performance in July at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan.
With a desire to do some more driving, she headed to the 43rd Annual King of the Bluegrass on Aug. 12 at Kentucky Dragway, where she stood out in her 1969 Dart powered by a 360 cubic-inch engine which she works on with her father, Junior, and Dale Meers Racing Engines.
“When we found out about this race, we decided to drive a couple hours from our house to take part in it,” said Baize. “We’re glad we did.”
Baize entered the Dale Meers Racing Engines Nostalgia Combo, as well as the Sportsman class. She pulled off the win in the Dale Meers Racing Engines Nostalgia Combo with a 12.044 on a 12.00 index over Terry Priest, and she won three rounds in the Sportsman category. The feat was her first win.
“I have been runner-up a bunch of times, and I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been in the semifinal, so to pull off the win meant a lot,” said Baize. “As soon as I saw my win light come on, I started celebrating in my head, and when I got out of my car after the pass, I started celebrating with my dad and Jacob. I will admit that I also shed a few tears because it felt so good to finally get over that hump.”
With a shot of confidence, Baize will head to the 22nd Annual Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals presented by Sick the Mag, August 25-27 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. As the fifth of six races on this year’s NMCA tour, she hopes to go rounds and gain points.
“I would really like to keep it going and finish in the top-ten in Nostalgia Muscle,” said Baize, who is currently in the thirteenth spot in points.“Jacob is doing really well in Nostalgia Muscle, and my goal is to do well in points, too.”