defined as she is committed to a full season in Shields ’ car and as well as the Super class .

“ Overall , last year was really good , but it was also very upsetting – in Super Comp , the first five out of six races I lose by a thou ’, “ says Payne . “ We figured out what was wrong with my car , but the first race we figured it out was the last race we could claim points . We learned a lot , and it was fun – but this year will be better . We ’ re being a little bit smarter , and we ’ ll have our car figured out so that we ’ re not just racing races . I ’ m excited to be able to race and be competitive .”

The highest marks for Payne last year came in Las Vegas , the second-to-last national event of the year . There , she mowed through the competition en route to the final , where she squared off with motorsports heavy-hitter – and class newcomer – Tony Stewart . Unperturbed by the fanfare surrounding the guy in the other lane , Payne penned a story for the history books as she defeated her opponent on a holeshot by just . 0002-second .

“ The whole day , I just felt really calm ,” recalls Payne . “ We kept winning rounds , and everything was falling into place . When we got to the semis , Tony [ Stewart ] was in the lane in front of me , and there we so many people up there that wanted to watch him that we couldn ’ t even pull our car into the waterbox . So , when we won the semis , we were expecting that it would be a mess up there for the finals . But when I pulled in the waterbox , all of my friends and family were there . I ’ ve been at the races my whole life – the alcohol people are my family . He had his whole entourage and fans , but it turned out that a lot of people were there for me , and that was so fun .”

As their very close race came to a close , Payne didn ’ t immediately realize she ’ d won .

“ I put my head down , thinking I ’ d lost ,” she says . “ But when I picked my head back up , I saw my win light . It took me by surprise . I think a lot of people thought I ’ d be more excited , but it didn ’ t feel real . It took time for it to sink in .”

With the victory coming so late in the season , Payne was able to hold on to the momentum , and the biggest takeaway , she says , was confidence . Two weeks after their win , Payne was the No . 1 qualifier at the NHRA Finals . She opened this season as the No . 2 qualifier at the regional race in Phoenix .

“ I think that win just gave everybody the confidence to try things and push ourselves , because now we know we can do it ,” she says . “ We know what we can achieve .”

Payne is also looking forward to debuting the Top Sportsman car owned by her grandfather , Brad Anderson . The car was previously prepared for Pro Mod , but respected innovator Anderson updated the car for Top Sportsman and implemented new ideas he ’ s had up his sleeve .

“ It hasn ’ t hit the track yet , but I know this car is going to be amazing with all the work my grandpa and all the people at the shop have put into it ,” she says . “ I ’ ve never driven a short-wheelbase car , and it ’ ll definitely be a challenge – but I ’ m really excited . I ’ m especially excited because my grandpa will be there . He ’ s my best friend , and he ’ s been busy , so he hasn ’ t been able to be at the races like he was when I was growing up . I can ’ t wait to have him back out there .

“ I ’ m excited for this season . We have two really good cars right now , and not only that , but I feel like I ’ m also gaining the respect of others . In the beginning , I think a lot of people thought , ‘ She ’ s only racing because of her parents .’ They didn ’ t really believe I deserved to be here – but I think they ’ re seeing now that I ’ m losing close races , and I ’ m serious about racing . That means a lot to me .” DI

PHOTOGRAPHS BY BOB JOHNSON

40 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 181