KALISPELL, Mont. – A pair of 19-year-old Toyota Racing Development drivers are set to make their asphalt late model racing debuts later this year.
Buddy Kofoid and Kaylee Bryson will race pro and super late models in the Northwest this spring for Racing Dynamiks. The pair will test late models before competing in events at South Sound Speedway in Rochester, Wash., Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., and Wenatchee Valley Super Oval in East Wenatchee, Wash.
Racing Dynamiks is owned by Travis Sharpe, who served as part of the ARCA Menards Series West championship-winning program with Jesse Love and Bill McAnally Racing in 2020. In 2021, Sharpe will be the crew chief on the No. 16 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry for Love.
Bryson will pilot the No. 8 JBL Toyota Camry while Kofoid will drive the No. 12 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry.
Kofoid arrives at Racing Dynamiks after having earned four USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series victories during his career. He’s successfully raced midgets and sprint cars, recently winning a pair of 410 sprint car features during the Wild Wing Shootout in Arizona. He also won the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget opener last week.
“Ever since I can remember I’ve wanted to race on pavement and hopefully NASCAR,” Kofoid said. “This step is the first big transition from dirt to pavement. I hope to be consistent and improve every time I’m on the track. Racing anything on dirt will help with good throttle control and having to be smooth. Coming from the slick on dirt you have to roll into the throttle and finesse it.”
Bryson finished seventh in the 2020 Lucas Oil POWRi National Midget League standings.
“This opportunity means the world to me,” Bryson said. “I’ve always dreamed to make it to NASCAR. I’m super excited to see what we can do. I know we can excel if we make progress and learn every time we’re on the track. It will definitely be a change from driving for Keith Kunz in the Midget but I’m super pumped and grateful.”
Kofoid and Bryson will begin testing later this spring. They will make their asphalt late model racing debuts on April 3 at South Sound Speedway in pro late model competition.
Bryson will compete at the NASCAR-sanctioned Evergreen Speedway in pro late model competition on April 10. They will then participate in the season opener for the Northwest Super Late Model Series at the quarter-mile Wenatchee Valley Super Oval on April 24. The program continues with Bryson at South Sound on May 1, followed by Kofoid and Bryson pairing up for their final scheduled event on May 29 at South Sound.