A solid bounce back for fast rising Western Canadian young lady racer…..

During last weekend’s season-opening NHRA Amalie Oil Gatornationals, Alberta’s McKenna Bold did suffer a rather uncharacteristic early round exit from eliminations.

But the sophomore Red Deer-based driver was quickly able to put that disappointment in perspective with a convincing victory during this weekend’s “Baby Gators” event – also hosted at Gainesville Raceway in Florida.

Competing within that NHRA Southeast Division Two race, McKenna racked up her second career win at NHRA’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series level, when she stopped an 8-car field entered.  

McKenna Bold was a winner at NHRA’s LODRS Regional race level – this past weekend.  That’s now two NHRA regional event wins and 1 nationals event title for the sophomore!

After qualifying her Diezel Excavating-presented Randy Meyer Racing injected nitro car #7, McKenna’s team put together a series of excellent runs.

After defeating Jamie Noonan and Jackie Fricke in the first two rounds, she did benefit from a red-light start in the final by James Stevens to claim the event title and with that grab one of NHRA’s highly prestigious 75th Anniversary season Diamond edition Wallys.

“The Baby Gators was awesome and a great redemption after our Gatornationals,” she said. “Randy gave me a fast race car, and I was really locked in behind the wheel and nailing the tree this time. The bump to qualify was a 5.28, so I knew myself and my entire crew needed to be at the top of our game to win, and we did just that.”

“When your car is running good and has Randy Meyer tuning it, and as I driver doing my job — it’s a great recipe for success,” she added.

McKenna admitted that she and her team are now focused on getting a “Big Diamond Wally” available at the NHRA’s national event level races. She will have that chance at her next scheduled race — @ Apr 24-26 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Concord NC.

Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos by Dave DeAngelis @ Courtesy of RMR