MAYCE McCREERY

and a winning drag racer . She began racing three years ago , first sharing a Junior Dragster with her brother as the pair got their “ lead feet ” wet and their father , Pat McCreery of Nyes Racing Engines , tested their need for speed and ensured they would share his passion for the sport before investing in two dragsters . That first year , Mayce walked away with her first win .

In her sophomore season , Mayce became better friends with the Moser family . Pat builds engines for several of the Moser cars , and the progressive friendship between the families grew as Mayce got on track . “ They ’ re family to me ,” Mayce said of the Moser family and team . “ I really love them . We made a deal in my second year , and I drive their car now . This will be my third year in that car .”

It was last season that was truly Mayce ’ s breakout season . She went to eight finals , winning five and securing the Muncie Dragway points championship . “ Last year was when it really just boomed ,” she said energetically . “ I got into a Drag Illustrated article last year . It was at that point I began to realize that maybe I could make a career out of this .”

As a fourth-generation racer , the need for speed was all but bred into McCreery . She admits , though , getting behind the wheel didn ’ t come without some hesitation . “ I grew up around it , so I just felt like it was my way of life . I ’ ve been around racing since I was a week old . Literally , I was born and a week later I was at the track . But I have to admit that when I got in a Junior for my first actual pass down the track , I was bawling my eyes out , completely nervous . But when I left the line , I immediately started smiling and everything was fine . I don ’ t know what rushed through me , but tears were instantly gone . Right when I left the line , I could just see my future . It felt like this is what I was meant to do .”

Now , McCreery says racing is “ cemented ” in her life . No longer a hobby passed down through the generations , it ’ s truly a passion she owns . She credits much of her success to Moser Engineering and the Moser family , as well as her father . “ My dad is a great coach . He doesn ’ t crack under

pressure . He ’ s so calm , cool and collected . He ’ s so focused and excited for me to race . He ’ s definitely taught me a lot of things , especially on the sportsmanship side .”

This season will be McCreery ’ s transition year in which she can qualify to run both Juniors and full-size cars . She ’ ll also graduate high school this year and enter the University of Northwestern Ohio in the fall , pursuing a four-year degree in Sports Marketing . She ’ s already gained irreplaceable experience in motorsports marketing , handling social media and promotional design aspects for her father ’ s company .

As McCreery now coaches her high school ’ s archery team , which just qualified for states , and is preparing to enter her fourth and final Junior Dragster season with a strong relationship to one of the industry ’ s most respected companies , it seem as though she ’ s got it made .

But the best stories are the ones built on struggle , a hardship that must be overcome .

Over the last four years McCreery has had to give up exercising , working , and archery in attempts to combat a painful disease affecting her chest . Now , she worries it may affect her racing , as well .

“ I have costochondritis ,” she explained . “ It ’ s basically inflamed tissue in my sternum , which causes chronic chest pain . It ’ s like a hidden disease . It doesn ’ t look like I ’ m suffering , but really it ’ s a very painful thing I deal with every single day . If suddenly I can ’ t race anymore , this would be the reason why . It ’ s really taken its toll on everything

I ’ m doing .

“ There isn ’ t a cure . I ’ ve been to five doctors and plenty of tests . They told me if I just stopped doing everything it would go away eventually . Well , I ’ ve had it for four years . I quit archery ; I quit my job ; I turned down other job offers ; now it ’ s to the point where I have to wonder , Am I going to be able to race this year ? It ’ s awful , to be honest . If I look like I ’ m dying in the staging lanes , you ’ ll know what ’ s up . It really is constant pain . Just sitting and talking is painful , and more so if I ’ m driving or walking . It ’ s a daily chore . When I get out of bed , my whole chest and back is locked up .

You hear it all cracking and pulling .”

The disease , while visibly unnoticeable , is also well-hidden by McCreery ’ s energetic and upbeat nature . “ I just know I have to take on a day ,” Mc- Creery says of battling her debilitating pain . “ I know I ’ m going to be in pain , and it ’ s going to be excruciating when I ’ m sitting in class . It ’ s been four years that I ’ ve had it , so I ’ ve found ways to try to deal with it . I can keep a straight face when I ’ m dying in pain . I ’ ve got to try to continue on with my life and keep doing what I can . Every day I try to find something I can do to keep myself going .”

A hardship that must be overcome . Every day McCreery lives the quiet life of an overcomer , smiling through the pain , choosing to enjoy the small gifts of life , fighting to pursue her passion . The true champions are the ones who , when faced with adversity , don ’ t give up . They may not win every battle , but they keep fighting . Mayce Mc- Creery has all the makings of a champion . DI

PHOTO : McCREERY RACING