PCRA Graduate Kaylee Countryman Gets First Open Wheel Racing Win

Arizona teenager Kaylee Countryman won her first open-wheel Formula Junior race April 24 at Mid-Ohio, passing another milestone on her path to becoming a professional race car driver at the highest level of motorsports.

She’s 15 years old, in only her fourth year of racing, after discovering karting when she was 12 and immediately showing talent, desire, and discipline. Class wins more often than not fueled her need to advance to faster, full size equipment, which resulted in a move up to RUSH SR racing at the age of 14.

Kaylee and her family had heard good things about the RUSH spec racer, bought one through the Podium Club dealer/distributor in Casa Grande, and then Kaylee began training at the Podium Club Racing Academy.  Capably coached by PCRA Chief Instructor Tim Rose and Podium Club managing partner/instructor Dan Erickson, she got up to speed quickly, finishing third in her second race, after starting P19 out of 20, less than a month after stepping inside the car for the very first time. 

Now, only one year later, she’s become a winner in an FRP (Formula Race Promotions) Atlantic USF Juniors event, and clearly getting faster and better in USF Juniors, running F2000 cars in a series owned by Andersen Promotions and sanctioned by USAC (United States Auto Club).

Asked about how her first victory felt, she said it was, “Exhilarating.  We always strive for greatness, because second place just doesn’t feel good to us. You don’t know much work and time we have dedicated to getting where we are.”

Kaylee races for Exclusive Autosport, one of the top amateur open wheel racing teams that also participates in USF Pro, USF Pro 2000, and USF 2000 championship events, formerly part of the Road to Indy ladder system.

“Exclusive Autosport is one of the best teams in the series, especially for the USF Juniors,” she said. “They work so hard on the cars, and this isn’t a ride and drive program; they’re a real, professional racing team.”

Capably guided by EA driver coach/engineer Braden Eves and engineer Zach Leedy, Kaylee still welcomes input from her PCRA instructors, and a lot of support from the PCRA staff and many Podium Club members.

“I have to thank Dan, and Tim, and Jens Plougmann of Hammerhead Racing, who engineers and maintains any car I'm driving when I'm at the Podium Club, for their continued support,” she said. “Tim is always there for me, Dan and Jens are open to a call anytime. They're all there to give me advice, and I appreciate it so much.“ 

Kaylee has come such a long way in the past year. From racing her RUSH SR, and competing in both national and international karting events, and in the Lucas Oil Formula Junior series, to now running in the USF Pro Championship series, she's learning the pro racing ropes. 

And what about next year?  “This is a learning series,’ she said. “USF Juniors are on the outskirts, right at the beginning of Pro Racing.  You are the future. You’re in a development series, and this is only my second year in cars. I have to learn the cars and the environment, and get better every time I’m on track.  Finishing races gets you a long look. That’s what I want to do, and the rest will take care of itself.”

Current IndyCar drivers Pato O’Ward, Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Rasmussen, Felix Rosenqvist, Rinus VeeKay and David Malukas are USF Pro graduates.

Kaylee Countryman is following their path.