My name is Lainey Reinard, I’m from Brookville, Pennsylvania and I’m 26 years old. I have a full time job with an industrial manufacturing company as a senior account rep… it’s a stressful job. I also tend bar at a charming little pub on Main Street one night a week to counteract the madness of the daily grind. I had a great childhood, I grew up with a loving family… and every weekend we went dirt track racing--which is probably where the story behind this blog begins.
My uncle raced all the way up through the support classes and eventually competed in late models and on pavement. Every weekend, my grandparents would take me and my younger sister to a local dirt track to watch him race. It was there that I made some of my best friends growing up. The scene was just as you would imagine: a bunch of little redneck kids, playing on a hillside by the grandstands, covered in dirt with our hands curled around the metal of a chain link fence, our eyes locked on the track. And it’s where the dream begins for people like us. Race people.
That continued throughout my entire childhood. Fast forward through my college years where Uncle Gerry basically retired his racing dreams. He hung up his fire suit, and bought a motorcycle shop and tickets to the world finals every year. I graduated with a bachelor of arts in fabrics and textiles and moved to Bedford, PA to work for a website catering to the auctioneers of the world. While in Bedford, I never once went to the dirt track at their county fairgrounds—but I kept my ear to the ground and listened for rumblings of the racing world. A short two years later, I moved back home to Brookville because I’d fallen in love with a late model. We nurtured our little race program, and I managed our team for one educational season which was cut short by a head-on collision with a wall outside of turn 2 during the biggest race of the summer. The car was totaled. The love affair was over.
Through the course of managing a race team, I had made friends in some of the most elite series known to dirt, and had also made some friends in NASCAR. I’d rubbed elbows with everyone from Red Farmer to Austin Dillon. But most notably, I had made a best friend: our crew chief’s girlfriend became my right-hand-man. Over the course of one short season, she picked up on some of the most intimate tribal knowledge that comes along with owning and maintaining a race team. More importantly, she became like a sister to me. 2 years later, even without a dirt car race team, we’re completely inseparable and I can’t imagine what I’d do without her. I could not be more grateful for the friends I’ve made. I am truly blessed. And that’s what happens to people like us. Race people.
Last November I went to Charlotte with Kayt (hereafter known as "the bestie") for the World Finals for the first time and I was blown away. That weekend, after seeing Katie Todorow crowning around in victory lane, I committed myself to competing in the 2014 Ms. Motorsports pageant in Philadelphia, PA with hopes of being crowned Miss Motorsports. That day came and went just a few short weeks ago in January. Against 14 other talented girls, and green as could be, I placed second—and earned the title of Miss Area Auto Racing News 2014. I also earned top marks for best interview score. Two trophies, flowers, and a title?? Not bad, says I. :)
So here I am! I’ve crammed a lot of life into my years, and the year upcoming is slated to be one of the best. I can’t wait to see what this season holds! I know one thing for sure: it’s going to be very reminiscent of every racing season past—fingers curled around a chain link fence, eyes glued to the track. The only things that have changed are my height and my age. Oh yeah, and my crown and sash. :)
See you this summer, peeps.
<3 Miss AARN
