OUTLET: WAVY

Along with a tremendous sense of self-confidence needed by anyone in motorsports, Macy Causey is equipped with the skill to succeed on the race track. Her resume proves it, even though she’s not legal to drive yet.

At 15 years old, Causey, only a ninth-grader at York High School, was named the late model Rookie of the Year in Virginia after finishing in the top ten of the standings. “It was like, ‘Wow! Where did that come from?’ I did not see that coming,” said Causey on Tuesday.

On Friday, she’ll be at Daytona Speeedway, shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the biggest names, executives and owners in NASCAR, only two days before the biggest race of the year. The reason, she’s being honored with NASCAR’s “Young Racer Award,” given to a minority or female between 8 and 15 years old that’s overcome challenges in order to compete and succeed in motorsports.

“When I got it, I was really honored,” said Causey. “Just getting started with late-model racing, I’ve never done anything this important. So, it’s really cool.”

Her skill is not surprising, considering her family tree. Causey’s father Rette, also a racer, first got her into the sport, while her grandmother, Diane Teel, became the first female ever to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race.

“I first taught here to shift gears in here mama’s truck,” said Teel, reminiscing of when Macy Causey first started driving in the local dirt-track series.  To see what Macy has become certainly puts a smile on Teel’s face.

“To see her do something I love so much and she’s just great at it, I mean, she’s got natural ability,” said Teel.

And now, there’s a large chunk of the NASCAR community that knows it.