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What happens when you finally say "yes" to the thing you've been avoiding? For Caylee Kjos, one reluctant agreement to race "just once" completely transformed her life trajectory.

Caylee never imagined herself as a race car driver. In fact, she actively resisted her stepdad Quinn's persistent encouragement, dismissing racing as "boring" and claiming cars "just go in circles." Her only interest at the track was watching one particular driver compete. Everything changed during that final race of the 2017 season when she finally caved to pressure and climbed behind the wheel of a hobby stock car at Fountain City.

Despite knowing only the basics about racing flags (and hilariously getting black-flagged when her muffler fell off), something unexpected happened—she fell in love with the sport instantly. "I could not wait to get back out there," Caylee reveals, describing how that single experience ignited a passion she never knew existed.

Now racing both late models and eco mods at tracks around Winona, Caylee balances her motorsports career with work at OZ Lifting Products and studying radiology at Southeast Technical College. Her racing style reflects her personality—starting calm and becoming increasingly aggressive as races progress. Unlike many drivers, she prefers starting from the back, embracing the challenge of working forward through the field.

The heart of Caylee's story lies in the special relationship developed with her stepdad, who recognized her potential during family snowmobile trips long before she saw it herself. Now serving as her crew chief, they spend nearly every evening working on her cars together, creating memories and sharing a bond forged through their mutual passion for racing.

For women considering motorsports but hesitating due to fear, Caylee offers simple but powerful advice: "Face your fears and don't be scared... once you get on the track, it's not scary, you're just ready to go." Follow Caylee's continuing journey toward her first win on Facebook as she proves what can happen when you finally say yes to the unexpected opportunities that might just change everything.

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