CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gray Leadbetter is prepared to go all-in on dirt open-wheel racing next year starting with the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.
Leadbetter, 17, is set to make her debut at the granddaddy of midget races on Jan. 10-15 aboard a car fielded by Marc Dailey Racing. It will be her second time in a midget after previously competing in an event at Gas City (Ind.) I-69 Speedway earlier this year.
“I’m really excited for it,” Leadbetter said about her first Chili Bowl attempt. “We’ve actually only raced the midget once before up in Gas City, Ind. We tried to go back there three times to race it, but every time it would get rained out. So eventually we just said screw that, we’re going to focus on sprint cars and we’ll just run the midget at the Chili Bowl.”
The Marc Dailey Racing program for the Chili Bowl also includes recent JR Motorsports signee Carson Kvapil and Jeff Champagne.
Leadbetter’s maiden Chili Bowl attempt is just the latest step on the ladder for the native of Morganton, N.C., who hopes to spend most of the upcoming year racing 410 and 360 sprint cars.
She made her 410 sprint car debut in November, driving a second entry fielded by Indy Race Parts owner Bernie Stuebgen during the Prelude to the Finals at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C.
She followed that up by competing in the World of Outlaws World Finals a few days later at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. After those limited outings in a 410 sprint car, Leadbetter says she has already fallen in love with the discipline.
“Anybody that I’ve ever talked to that has raced a 410 has said, ‘Yeah, that’s the funnest thing you’re ever going to drive,’” Leadbetter said. “I can’t help but say that it is.”
She hopes to be back in a 410 sprint car for several events next season, but she says her team needs to acquire a 410 sprint car engine to make that a reality. Beyond that, Leadbetter expects to race a 360 sprint car on a regular basis next season.
There is also a possibility that she could race a midget or 305 sprint car when her schedule allows. She is also working on a deal to compete in short course off-road events, a discipline she has is intimately familiar with after spending several seasons garnering experience in the off-road world.
“We’re going to focus on the 410 stuff a little bit. We’re working on getting an engine and then working with Bernie on a few World of Outlaws races,” Leadbetter said. “Away from that, we’ll just focus on 360 stuff for the most part since 410 stuff is harder to run.”
However, first she needs to complete her first Chili Bowl experience.
“My goal is basically to get to the B (Main) on my preliminary night,” Leadbetter said. “Pretty much just bring the car home in one piece.”