KAYLENE VERVILLE- #01

Kaylene Verville was born in Ellisville, Missouri and moved to Arizona, when she was just a youngster. Dad was a racer and probably stirred her yearning for speed and competition. Verville’s Mom was a big race fan and took Kaylene to the weekly shows at Manzanita.

As a teenager, Kaylene participated in a number of high school sports, playing basketball, softball, badminton and swimming. It wasn’t until Verville was seventeen, when she first entered competitive racing in Karts that Kaylene found her niche. She captured the championships both in Phoenix and Tucson in 1989.

In 1991, Verville decided to move into the Arizona Midget series, using her savings, and a loan from her Mom to purchase her first Midget. She entered a stellar field of competition, where “Cactus Jack” Yeley was the champion and youngsters J.J. Yeley and Jeremy Sherman were rookies.

Late in 1995, Verville moved up to the 360 non-wing sprints and led the 1996 ASCA points until a crash caused her to miss two races, Kaylene finished eighth in the series points that year. After two seasons, Kaylene converted to winged sprinters, running first with a 360 engine at Las Cruces, then moved to the 410 SCOA cars, from 1998 to 2001. Kaylene ran a USAC Silver Crown car at Du Quoin, Illinois in September of 1998, making her the second woman, after Cheryl Glass, to qualify for a Silver Crown feature.

For the 2002 season, Verville joined the USAC Southwest Sprint series, becoming the first woman to win a USAC Sprint feature on May 25, 2002 at Thunder Raceway in Show Low, Arizona. Kaylene finished second in season points that year. In 2003, Kaylene was voted Most Popular Driver on the USAC Southwest series and is among several women in racing to be considered by the Lyn St. James Foundation, for recognition in racing accomplishments.

In 2004, Kaylene planned to pursue the SCRA 410 schedule while campaigning a Maxim chassis, which she has run for a number of years; however; a recent altercation destroyed her car. Verville is now running a new Avenger chassis powered by a Shaver 410 engine.

Kaylene named childhood idol, Lealand McSpadden, as her racing hero. Another hero is former New York stock car champion, Al Warner. Warner is Kaylene’s car owner and employer. During the week, Verville manages several auto recycling dealerships. The crew is sparse as Kaylene and husband, Alan, do all the building and maintenance. With little spare time, leisure time is spent riding Alan’s new Harley.

Team sponsors are A&C Wrecking and Warner Motorsports. Kaylene acknowledges help from two drivers, Rick Ziehl and Rickey Hood making her a more competitive racer. Special appreciation goes to Al Warner, who has been a loyal benefactor, despite suffering some health problems. Verville is grateful for the years of support from her Mother and husband Alan.

Stop by and meet this new addition to the SCRA family as the Verville team joins the competition.