Florida is a long way from home for Quincy, Washington native Kasey Kleyn.
For the next several weeks, Kleyn will get acclimated to the humid winter air of the Sunshine State. After racing in the Nov. 10 Florida Governor’s Cup at New Smyrna Speedway, Kleyn will turn his attention toward qualifying for his maiden Snowball Derby at Pensacola’s Five Flags Speedway in December.
Kleyn already has obtained plenty of reps against some of the nation’s best Super Late Model drivers, as he is fresh off running the All American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. With a seasoned team like FatHead Racing on his side, Kleyn is setting high expectations for himself ahead of the Governor’s Cup.
“[FatHead Racing] has had a lot of success in the Pro Late [Models at New Smyrna],” Kleyn said. “Hopefully that translates over to the Super. We were just a little off at Nashville, but now that we’ve got it figured out, I think we can get some better notes. We can have a real shot to win the Governor’s Cup if we get the car right.”
RACE INFO: All about the Governor’s Cup
The consistency Kleyn has enjoyed racing on the West Coast served as a catalyst toward his opportunity with FatHead Racing.
After earning his first Northwest Super Late Model Series victory at Stateline Speedway in 2023, Kleyn put together an efficient campaign on the tour that included five wins and a championship. Kleyn also made his ARCA Menards Series West debut this year, piloting Naake Klauer Motorsports’ No. 88 to a top 10 at Tri-City Raceway.
The triumphs were gratifying to Kleyn, but he knew his development as a driver could only progress so far on the West Coast. By stepping into the national spotlight under the FatHead Racing banner, Kleyn felt he was in an ideal position to capitalize on his momentum and refine his race craft.
“We’re just looking to get me to that next level,” Kleyn said. “[The southeast] looked like the place to do it with all the exposure, and the racing is a lot more competitive. We’ve been winning a lot here, but we got to talking with FatHead Racing and worked out a deal. Hopefully we can win some races and get some people looking.”
Logistically, committing to FatHead Racing has been an undertaking for Kleyn. Since he still lives in Washington, Kleyn regularly takes six-hour red eye flights to commute to his races in the southeast, all while finding time to make up for school work he misses.
Despite the challenges, Kleyn’s time with FatHead Racing has already proved valuable. Not only does Kleyn benefit from a seasoned veteran like Jamie Yelton as his car owner, but he also gets to learn from one of the greatest Super Late Model competitors of all time in Bubba Pollard.
Yelton brought in Pollard as a driving coach for FatHead Racing around the same time Kleyn joined the program. Being able to lean on Pollard’s years of experience in a Super Late Model has provided Kleyn a quality perspective into how he needs to compose himself, particularly for marque events.
“It’s been really good learning from [Pollard],” Kleyn said. “He knows what he’s talking about, and I’m really looking forward to having him at [Five Flags Speedway]. I’ve raced there before, and that track is super hard to figure out. He has it figured out, so it helps having him around. If I need anything, he’s more than willing to help me out.”
Kleyn also credited Yelton for his leadership throughout their first months together. As Kleyn acclimated himself to Nashville’s layout during the All American 400, Yelton reminded him there would be chances to improve the car and to keep persevering regardless of track position.
The result for Kleyn in the All American 400 was a lead-lap finish of 11th behind race winner Jake Garcia. In a field that also featured drivers like Casey Roderick, Stephen Nasse and 2022 Snowball Derby winner Derek Thorn, Kleyn was more than satisfied to depart Nashville with a decent showing and an intact car.
With the accolades his competition possesses, Kleyn tries to maintain a level-headed mindset when it comes to competition. Being in the presence of so many elites in Super Late Models can be intimidating for any driver, which is why Kleyn does not let their status influence the way he competes in their territory.
“I try not to think of them as the best guys in the business,” Kleyn said. “We have Bubba as our driver coach, and I’ve seen what he can do even when he’s not in his own stuff. All those guys are super good, but if you treat them like they’re better than everyone else, then you kind of put yourself at a disadvantage because you get nervous around them.
“You have to treat them like everyone else and drive your own race.”
Kleyn intends to keep adhering to that mindset for both the Governor’s Cup and the Snowball Derby. Although the former event will not have the car count of the All American 400, Kleyn will still have to contest with notable names like Nasse, Spencer Davis and part-time ARCA Menards Series competitor Gio Ruggiero in the field.
New Smyrna is also uncharted territory for Kleyn, as he has never raced at the facility. Kleyn has no idea what to expect from the abrasive surface prior to Sunday’s green flag, but he is confident the equipment provided by Yelton and everyone at FatHead Racing will put him in a great position to contend for victory.
A strong showing Sunday would be beneficial for Kleyn before he and FatHead Racing start planning for the Snowball Derby. Precision will be key for Kleyn the entire week, as any misstep could be the difference between qualifying on speed and having to battle for a transfer spot in the last chance qualifier.
Racing in the southeast has already been far different compared to what Kleyn is accustomed to back home. There are still many aspects about the region’s tracks he is ascertaining, but Kleyn believes consistency will naturally come to him as he spends more time in the southeast with FatHead Racing.
“Showing up to these bigger tracks has been a little bit of a challenge,” Kleyn said. “Back home, we race quarter-mile tracks and don’t have half-mile stuff. It’s a little different, so you have to be more heads up with things happening faster. You have to be more perfect around the track to have fast laps and not lose time to these guys.”
The long-term plan is for Kleyn to get accustomed to his new surroundings. He is working diligently with FatHead Racing on a 2025 schedule that will be challenging while simultaneously helping him get his name out to prominent industry figures.
Kleyn’s journey might involve spending more time away from home, but the young competitor is on his way toward finding his place amidst the brightest stars in the southeast.